Building Resilient Research Practices: Integrating RDM into Graduate Education

Kathleen Flynn, Emily Kilcer

As institutional and funding body expectations for robust data management and compliance with Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) principles grow, research data management (RDM) instruction has become an indispensable service provided by academic libraries. Further, providing training to graduate students on RDM best practices can enhance students’ graduate experience by providing key skills necessary for success in today’s research landscape. Leveraging the success of collaboratively delivered RDM 101 workshops, UAlbany’s Data Services Team launched an innovative partnership with a faculty member from the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity (CEHC) to introduce a guest lecture on RDM best practices as part the College’s mandatory graduate-level Research Methods course. The 3-hour session integrated targeted instruction with active learning techniques, including 1) real-time polls to gauge understanding, 2) guided discussion to encourage critical thinking, and 3) hands-on revision exercises to reinforce key RDM concepts, equipping social science graduate students with practical RDM skills tailored to their research contexts. Following the session, feedback from both students and the faculty members was collected and will be used to refine the offering. The team intends to propose this pilot as a recurring module within CEHC’s curriculum, with plans to adapt and scale the initiative across additional colleges, ensuring all graduate students receive foundational RDM training. Integrating essential RDM practices and tools into mandatory research methods courses establishes RDM as a cornerstone of graduate education. By institutionalizing these practices, universities can ensure their graduates are not only competitive in the research landscape but also leaders in promoting transparency, rigor, and ethical research practices, regardless of discipline.