Data steward services

The services provided by data stewards are intended to support researchers, academic staff, and students at all stages of the research data life cycle. This support helps them better understand the principles of research data management and ensure that the data obtained during the research process are organized, securely stored, clearly described and, where possible, available for reuse.

The goal of data stewards is to help researchers make informed decisions about data management, taking into account best practices, legal and ethical requirements, as well as funder conditions.

Data stewards’ working hours are on business days from 9:00 to 17:00.

Data steward services

The services provided by data stewards are intended to support researchers, academic staff, and students at all stages of the research data life cycle. This support helps them better understand the principles of research data management and ensure that the data obtained during the research process are organized, securely stored, clearly described and, where possible, available for reuse.

The goal of data stewards is to help researchers make informed decisions about data management, taking into account best practices, legal and ethical requirements, as well as funder conditions.

Data stewards’ working hours are on business days from 9:00 to 17:00.

Support provided by data stewards:

• consultations and practical support for researchers and students on research data management issues
• support in creating and updating data management plans
• assistance in preparing datasets for deposit in a repository
• consultations related to research data storage, security, sharing and publication
• support for the implementation of open science and FAIR principles
• development and advancement of research data management policies and guidelines for scientific institutions
• cooperation with partners at the scientific institution and national level in the field of research data management

Support provided by data stewards:

• consultations and practical support for researchers and students on research data management issues
• support in creating and updating data management plans
• assistance in preparing datasets for deposit in a repository
• consultations related to research data storage, security, sharing and publication
• support for the implementation of open science and FAIR principles
• development and advancement of research data management policies and guidelines for scientific institutions
• cooperation with partners at the scientific institution and national level in the field of research data management

How can data stewards help at each stage of a study?

Research data management begins already at the research planning stage. Data stewards can provide recommendations on documenting a study, including the development of the research protocol and data management plan (DMP). Consultations help clarify what data are planned to be collected, how they will be processed, stored and shared during the study and after its completion. In addition, assistance is provided in preparing DMPs on online platforms (for example, Argos), as well as explanations of funder requirements, informed consent issues and the need for an ethics committee opinion.
Consistent and transparent data organization is essential during the data collection stage. Data stewards can provide consultations on creating folder structures, file naming principles and access rights management so that data are easy to find and understand both for the researcher and for other project participants. Secure data sharing within the project is also explained. Particular attention is paid to personal data protection requirements (GDPR) when sensitive personal data are processed in a study.
To ensure that research results are transparent and reproducible, it is important to document the data processing and analysis steps. Support includes recommendations on how to describe the methods, software and workflow used. Consultations are provided on preparing metadata, choosing appropriate metadata standards and developing documentation elements, such as ReadMe files and codebooks. This helps ensure that data remain understandable over time and can be used in other studies.
Data quality is a prerequisite for reliable research results and data reuse. Support for ensuring data quality includes assessing data accuracy, completeness and consistency, as well as recommendations for organizing and supplementing a dataset. When necessary, data quality control procedures and their implementation are explained so that the data comply with institutional and international requirements.
Secure data storage is essential at all stages of a study. Support is provided on creating backups, data recovery and choosing suitable storage solutions. Particular attention is paid to the protection of sensitive data by explaining practices such as encryption, anonymization and pseudonymization. In addition, recommendations are provided on access restrictions and other ethical aspects that should be considered when working with research data.
At the conclusion of a study, it is important to ensure that data are prepared for long-term preservation and, where possible, sharing. Data stewards provide consultations on types of repositories and selecting the most appropriate repository, preparing datasets for publication and preferred file formats for long-term preservation. Support also includes assistance with preparing metadata for publication, licensing issues (for example, Creative Commons licences), the use of persistent identifiers (DOIs) and the preparation of a data availability statement.
Data reuse allows existing resources to be used more efficiently and promotes open and transparent research. Support is provided in searching for datasets, using secondary data in research and correctly citing datasets. This helps researchers understand how reusable data can be integrated into a new study while respecting copyright and licence conditions.
The FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) serve as the basis for modern research data management. Data stewards provide support for implementing these principles in practice. This includes consultations on optimizing data structure, formats and metadata so that data are easy to find and use by both people and computers.

How can data stewards help at each stage of a study?

Research data management begins already at the research planning stage. Data stewards can provide recommendations on documenting a study, including the development of the research protocol and data management plan (DMP). Consultations help clarify what data are planned to be collected, how they will be processed, stored and shared during the study and after its completion. In addition, assistance is provided in preparing DMPs on online platforms (for example, Argos), as well as explanations of funder requirements, informed consent issues and the need for an ethics committee opinion.
Consistent and transparent data organization is essential during the data collection stage. Data stewards can provide consultations on creating folder structures, file naming principles and access rights management so that data are easy to find and understand both for the researcher and for other project participants. Secure data sharing within the project is also explained. Particular attention is paid to personal data protection requirements (GDPR) when sensitive personal data are processed in a study.
To ensure that research results are transparent and reproducible, it is important to document the data processing and analysis steps. Support includes recommendations on how to describe the methods, software and workflow used. Consultations are provided on preparing metadata, choosing appropriate metadata standards and developing documentation elements, such as ReadMe files and codebooks. This helps ensure that data remain understandable over time and can be used in other studies.
Data quality is a prerequisite for reliable research results and data reuse. Support for ensuring data quality includes assessing data accuracy, completeness and consistency, as well as recommendations for organizing and supplementing a dataset. When necessary, data quality control procedures and their implementation are explained so that the data comply with institutional and international requirements.
Secure data storage is essential at all stages of a study. Support is provided on creating backups, data recovery and choosing suitable storage solutions. Particular attention is paid to the protection of sensitive data by explaining practices such as encryption, anonymization and pseudonymization. In addition, recommendations are provided on access restrictions and other ethical aspects that should be considered when working with research data.
At the conclusion of a study, it is important to ensure that data are prepared for long-term preservation and, where possible, sharing. Data stewards provide consultations on types of repositories and selecting the most appropriate repository, preparing datasets for publication and preferred file formats for long-term preservation. Support also includes assistance with preparing metadata for publication, licensing issues (for example, Creative Commons licences), the use of persistent identifiers (DOIs) and the preparation of a data availability statement.
Data reuse allows existing resources to be used more efficiently and promotes open and transparent research. Support is provided in searching for datasets, using secondary data in research and correctly citing datasets. This helps researchers understand how reusable data can be integrated into a new study while respecting copyright and licence conditions.
The FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) serve as the basis for modern research data management. Data stewards provide support for implementing these principles in practice. This includes consultations on optimizing data structure, formats and metadata so that data are easy to find and use by both people and computers.

Events and training

To strengthen knowledge and skills in the field of research data management, data stewards organize training, seminars and information events. The event calendar can be followed on dataverse.lv or on university websites.

Events and training

To strengthen knowledge and skills in the field of research data management, data stewards organize training, seminars and information events. The event calendar can be followed on dataverse.lv or on university websites.

Development of information materials

Data stewards develop teaching and information materials related to research data management topics. The materials are compiled in the Research Data Management Guide.

Development of information materials

Data stewards develop teaching and information materials related to research data management topics. The materials are compiled in the Research Data Management Guide.

Development of guidelines in scientific institutions

In cooperation with scientific institutions, data stewards develop policies, guidelines and various institution-level documents that help ensure a unified approach to research data management within the scientific institution.

Development of guidelines in scientific institutions

In cooperation with scientific institutions, data stewards develop policies, guidelines and various institution-level documents that help ensure a unified approach to research data management within the scientific institution.

Latvian Data Stewards Network

The Latvian Data Stewards Network brings together specialists who support data management at Latvian higher education and scientific institutions. The Data Stewards Network jointly develops materials and organizes events related to open science and research data management. The Network promotes cooperation and knowledge exchange among data management specialists across different scientific institutions, thereby providing researchers with coordinated and professional support.

datukuratori@vpc.lv

datukuratori@lbtu.lv

datu.kuratori@lu.lv

datukuratori@rsu.lv

datukuratori@rtu.lv

Latvian Data Stewards Network

The Latvian Data Stewards Network brings together specialists who support data management at Latvian higher education and scientific institutions. The Data Stewards Network jointly develops materials and organizes events related to open science and research data management. The Network promotes cooperation and knowledge exchange among data management specialists across different scientific institutions, thereby providing researchers with coordinated and professional support.

datukuratori@vpc.lv

datukuratori@lbtu.lv

datu.kuratori@lu.lv

datukuratori@rsu.lv

datukuratori@rtu.lv