Data Curation Service

Owned by Thu-Mai Lewis
Last updated: 2024-08-15 by Mandy Gooch
3 min read

This article describes the Data Curation service offered by the UNC Research Data Management Core (RDMC) and how to submit a request for this service.

RDMC Data Curation Service

The UNC Research Data Management Core (RDMC) offers a data curation service to the UNC research community. This RDMC Add-on Data Management Service is designed to ensure that datasets housed in data repositories are discoverable, understandable, and usable. Members of the RDMC research data stewardship team work with investigators and project teams to develop and execute data curation workflows for data file packaging and repository ingest that align with standards and best practices for data preservation and data quality.

Learn more about Data Curation

Data Curation Service Scope of Work

The scope of work for the RDMC Data Curation service for most projects will include the following primary data curation activities:

Dataset File Preparation

Assembly and review of dataset files and associated materials to ensure that the data package submitted to the designated repository upholds FAIR data principles for findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability.

Dataset Record Creation

Creation of standardized descriptive and administrative metadata based on client-provided information about the data types, allowable uses, and research context.

Dataset File Transfer

Upload of dataset files to a dataset record. Includes creation of file-level metadata, checksums review, application of access restrictions (if required), and inspection of files in the repository to confirm successful transfer.

For other data management and sharing needs that fall outside of this scope of work, please visit RDMC Add-on Services for information about other services offered by RDMC that may meet your project needs.

Requesting the Data Curation Service

Requests for the RDMC Data Curation service can be submitted via our Help Center.

When submitting requests for the Data Curation service, please be prepared to provide the following information:

  • Program solicitation URL

  • Data sharing policy URL

  • Project proposal draft

  • Data management and sharing plan

  • Project start and end date

  • Estimated total project budget

  • Estimated budget for data curation

Detailed information about your project allows the RDMC team to determine what services you need and accurately estimate costs based on those needs. Information about the funding sponsor and their data management and sharing policies allows the RDMC team to recommend services that the sponsor considers allowable costs and that meet the sponsor’s specific data management and sharing requirements.

Once the RDMC team reviews the submitted materials, you will receive a quote for the data curation service that includes a recommended scope of work. Please note that this quote is offered as a broad-brush scope of work estimate based on several assumptions about project needs and timelines. If these assumptions are inaccurate or if the scope of work changes, the associated fees will be updated.

Budgeting for the Data Curation Service

Data curation may be considered by funding agencies to be an allowable cost that can be included in the proposal budget. Costs for data curation varies based on several factors including the type, volume, complexity, and sensitivity of the data.

Review funding agency policies for guidance on allowable costs for data management. If you have questions about whether or not a service is considered an allowable cost, please contact OSPHelp@unc.edu for assistance.

Data curation service fees are based on hourly recharge rates approved by the UNC Office of Sponsored Programs. Please visit RDMC Add-on Services for current rates and hourly minimums.

The text below describing the RDMC Data Curation Service may be used in the budget justification component of the project budget as applicable.

The RDMC Data Management and Curation service fee covers the cost of executing standards-based data curation workflows for data file packaging and repository ingest, which includes file format normalization, document preparation, metadata generation, dataset package quality review, and transfer of dataset packages to the specified repository. These curation activities are carried out by RDMC data curation specialists with the specific needs of the data type, format, size, and content in mind to ensure that the data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (i.e., FAIR), and to satisfy all DMSP requirements.

To learn more about the RDMC Data Curation Service or to obtain a quote, please submit your request via our Help Center.