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Tool

DMPTool

Create and share data management plans to meet funder requirements — and as a best practice for managing your research data — with this online tool.

What is DMPTool?

With DMPTool you can create and share data management plans. It provides step-by-step guidance for creating your own DMP, including templates and sample plans to help you address requirements specific to Harvard and your funding sources.

Using DMPTool at Harvard

Harvard is a DMPTool partner institution. Log in using your Harvard credentials.

  • Go to DMPTool.
  • Enter your Harvard email address in the "Sign in / Sign up" box and click "Continue"
  • After you see the prompt "Your address is associated with: Harvard University (harvard.edu)," click "Sign in with Institution to Continue" 
  • Enter your Harvard Key credentials and click "Sign In"

 

 

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Have questions about DMPTool or need a data management plan review?

What do I include in a DMP?

Information contained in a data management plan describes your plan for addressing many aspects of working with data. A DMP doesn't need to be long. It should include things like:

  • Types of data: What is the source of your data? In what formats are your data? Will your data be fixed or will it change over time? How much data will your project produce?
  • Contextual details (metadata): How will you document and describe your data?
  • Storage, backup and security: How and where will you store and secure your data? 
  • Provisions for protection/privacy: What privacy and confidentiality issues must you address?
  • Policies for re-use: How may other researchers use your data?
  • Access and sharing: How will you provide access to your data by other researchers? How will others discover your data?
  • Archiving and providing access: What are your plans for preserving the data and providing long-term access?

View Sample Data Management Plans

Harvard DMPTool Templates

There are two templates available on the DMPTool that provide Harvard specific guidance, resources, and policies to help you create a relevant and useful data management plan for grants or other research projects.

Harvard University General DMP Template

This template provides guidance so you can create a data management plan. It uses the new NIH Data Sharing and Management structure but can be used for a variety of research types.

View the General template

Harvard Medical School Biomedical DMP Template

This DMPTool template offers organization-specific guidance for Harvard Medical School constituents. This is a funder agnostic template and can be used for a variety of grant types.

View the HMS template