Data Management

For any research project involving data, it is important you understand your rights and responsibilities. The following links will assist you as you consider issues such as intellectual property, security and privacy.

• Office of the Vice Provost for Research
  Lists research policies and contacts, as well as a research checklist that will direct you to the relevant policy or to the appropriate office you will need to contact.
• Office for Sponsored Programs
  Lists additional University policies, such as Retention of Research Data and Materials, that correspond to a particular phase of the award life-cycle.
• General Records Schedule (University Archives)
  Regulates how long to keep different types of records, and whether to send records to an archive or destroy them when they are no longer needed; it covers common types of records found across the University in all formats – including electronic records and email.
• Office of Technology Development
  Includes helpful information on licensing, intellectual property, material transfer along with other guidelines, policies, forms and agreements.
• University Information Security Policy
  Find University policies on information security and privacy such as confidential information, passwords, requirements at different security levels and more.
• Office for Scholarly Communications
  Hosts a section on open-access policies at Harvard along with a guide for researchers who have questions about when and how the policy applies to their work.

For a summary of various policies and for guidance on creating data management plans for a specific funding agency, see DMPTool's DMP Requirements (California Digital Library).

Consult the Office of General Counsel if you are still uncertain about your rights surrounding data usage and sharing.

• Faculty of Arts & Sciences:

• Susan O'Connor Gomes, Director of Research Development and Strategy, FAS
  phone: (617) 496-9448
• Erin Cromack, Senior Research Development Officer, FAS Research Administration Services
  phone: (617) 496-5252

• School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

• Pamela Baker-Webber, Senior Director of Research Administration, SEAS
  phone: (857) 488-6890

• Harvard Medical School Research Administration
• Sponsored Research Administration (HMD/HSDM)
• Research Records Management (University Archives)
  Serves Central Administration, the graduate and professional schools (other than those listed below), research centers and institutes, and affiliated Harvard entities.
• Archives and Records Management Program at Countway Library of Medicine (for HMS/HSDM)
• HBS Archives at Harvard Business School (HBS login required)