Author Archives: Amy Koshoffer

Open Access Week 2026 – a graduate student’s experience

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by Collin Brice, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Collin Brice, Ph.D., CCC-SLP graduated from the University of Cincinnati in August of this year. He is a speech-language pathologist and an assistant professor at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania in the Occupational Therapy and Communication Sciences and Disorders department. 

After five years of practicing as a speech-language pathologist, I applied to a PhD program out of frustration with what I still didn’t know about my field. While I am grateful for the experience and the career I chose, it wasn’t until I heard about open science that I realized what I didn’t know may have simply been hiding behind a paywall. Part of open science involves open access, a practice that makes research available without a subscription to a database or journal. 

Open access appealed to me from both sides of my career. As a citizen of the United States and a practicing clinician, I found it compelling that the science my tax dollars fund can (and should!) be freely accessible to me. As a budding researcher, I found it equally compelling that whoever wants to read or interact with my hard work should be free to do so. 

It wasn’t until diving in a bit more that I realized open science doesn’t just make research accessible; it also holds researchers accountable. Practices like preregistration, for example, ask you to commit to your plan publicly before collecting any data. To come up with a research idea as a PhD student is one thing; to commit to and describe every detail of my study before it begins is another. That commitment felt daunting at first, but I wasn’t starting from scratch. Because others had shared their work openly, I was able to find similar experimental designs, templates to plan and justify every step of my data organization and analysis, and even open educational resources so that I did not have to reinvent the wheel for every course I teach. As a new student and now a new professor, I still find these resources invaluable, and they’ve shaped how I see my role in the field. 

The world of science and education is changing, and the demands on those of us in these roles keep growing. Open science reminds me that we are a community who can share the burdens of academia together, build on the foundations others have laid, and make our commitment to science more than a single ripple. 

Open Access Week 2026 – Open Data Repositories: Choosing the Right Home for Your Research Data

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By Tiffany J. Grant, PhD

Traditionally, research findings were published in journal articles, but much of the data gathered in the process was seldom made available. Now funders, publishers, and institutions demand that both publications and supporting data be openly available. Open research does not stop at publications; it also includes all research outputs, such as data, code, and even open peer review. Open access can help increase the impact of research and potentially speed up new discoveries.

Federal policies require researchers to deposit federally funded research in open data repositories. While open-access publishing makes research findings freely available to readers, open data repositories enhance transparency by providing access to the datasets underlying those findings.  Open access publishing and open data repositories advance the principles of open science by promoting greater openness, reusability, and reproducibility in research. While open access publishing gives readers access to the story, open data repositories give readers access to the evidence behind the story, allowing others to examine and reuse it.

Open data repositories are places where researchers can share data to make it easier to find. Many open data repositories provide DOIs (digital object identifiers), or digital tags, to help researchers cite their data, support long-term storage, and meet funder and publisher requirements to share data. Sharing research data in a trustworthy open data repository can make your data more accessible, reusable, and compliant with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.

Considerations for Selecting a Data Repository

Open Access Week 2026 – Open Data Repositories: Choosing the Right Home for Your Research Data

Simplified flowchart for choosing a research data repository. Created with BearChatGPT based on author specifications, October 14, 2026.

Selected Repository Options

Generalist Repositories

General repositories accept research data, code, and scholarly outputs regardless of subject matter, data format, or academic discipline. These are good options when no disciplinary repository exists.

  • Figshare: Supports datasets, code, figures, posters, presentations, and other research outputs. Provides DOIs, versioning, and sharing controls, making it popular among universities and research institutions. UCFigshare is the data repository available for federally funded University of Cincinnati researchers to promote the sharing of scientific data in compliance with. UCFigshare provides a data sharing platform consistent with the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) data principles and is provided via a partnership between the Office of Research, UC Libraries, and DTS.
  • Zenodo: A free multidisciplinary repository that allows researchers to share datasets, software, publications, and other research products while receiving a DOI.
  • Dryad: A curated repository commonly used for datasets associated with scholarly publications, particularly in the life and environmental sciences.

Domain Specific Repositories

Domain-specific repositories are specialized repositories that collect, preserve, and share data, code, or research outputs tailored to a particular academic field, scientific discipline, or data type.

Social Sciences and Education

Health and Biomedical Sciences Repositories

Environmental and Earth Sciences Repositories

Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Computing

2026 National GIS Day celebration – Powering Purpose and Innovation 

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November brings National GIS Day.  UC’s celebration is a collaboration of the Department of Geography & GIS and UC Libraries, and sponsored by the Office of the Provost.  GIS or Geographic Information Systems is a powerful tool for analyzing spatial data to identify patterns, solve problems and better understand the world we live in.  Please join us on November 18, 2026 in the Faculty Enrichment Center from 10 am to 2 pm for lightning talks featuring UC researchers across disciplines, lunch, and a careers panel.   

This is the poster for GIS day. It has a title of GIS:Powering Purpose and Innovation. Nov 18, 2026. There are four landscape images at the bottom - desert, water, trees and the earth.

Agenda for the Event: 

10 – 10:30 am Welcome (donuts, coffee, tea)  

10:30  – 12 pm UC Researchers Lightning Talks  

12 – 1pm Lunch and networking 

1 – 2 pm Jobs panel 

The event is free and open to all. 

Register through Faculty One Stop 

Data Focus – Upcoming Workshop “Introduction to ArcGIS Online”

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Do you want to know more about working with spatial data? Attend the upcoming workshop “Introduction to ArcGIS Online” on October 7 from 1:30 om to 3:00 pm. Registration and workshop details are available in Faculty Onestop. The workshop is free and open to any Bearcat who wants to learn more about the Ersi Platform ArcGIS Online, how to get an UC Esri account, and how to find data with spatial attributes.

Workshop description: This introductory in-person workshop introduces the fundamentals of web mapping and spatial analysis using ArcGIS Online. No previous GIS or ArcGIS experience is required. ArcGIS Online runs directly in a web browser and is available to participants with a UC login.

The workshop will begin with an introduction to GIS and spatial data, followed by a guided tour of the ArcGIS Online interface. Participants will learn how to sign in, navigate Map Viewer, find and add spatial data, work with map layers and attributes, change basemaps and symbology, and explore geographic patterns.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have experience creating and interpreting a web map in ArcGIS Online and will have a foundation for applying GIS tools to their own research or projects.

The workshop will be facilitated by Le Tu, Research and Data Services GIS research consultant. If you want to explore spatial data and GIS resources deeper after the workshop, Le is available for consultations. Visit the GIS Services lab in 412 Langsam.

Woman at computer

Open Access Week 2026 – What Researchers need to know

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Person looking at a library exhibit on Open Access. The exhibit is three posters in a glass cabinet.

Join UC Libraries in celebrating International Open Access Week October 19 to 23, 2026.  During this week, there will be several opportunities to learn what Open Access means and how you can use UC Libraries resources to further the impact of your research.  Join us for the many activities going on this week

  • Check out the Open Access display on the ground (4th floor) of Langsam Library
  • Watch LiBlog for special Open Access week content
  • Visit the Open Educational Resources (OER) gallery in the Faculty Enrichment Center
  • Register for workshops, panel discussions, and other Open Access Week events
    • Attend the Open Access Panel “What Researchers Need to Know About Open Access in 2026” – Monday Oct 19th @ 2 pm [Link to register].
    • Attend one of the two workshop “Demystifying Open Access: Busting Myths and Taking Questions” [Oct 22 | Oct 23 ].
  • Set up a consultation with our Scholarly Communications Librarian Melissa Moreau to discuss your plan for publishing your work.  [Pro-tip: start when you are planning the project].
  • Learn more about the open access initiatives at UC Libraries.

Pick and choose which workshops meet your needs and fit your schedule! See the full list of workshops and register online.

Join your research peers at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Summer Learning Community 

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box of donuts

Do you have summer plans yet?  We would love for you to join us in the library for research fun and skills.  The 2026 Undergraduate Research Summer Learning Community is a great way to learn about research, acquire research skills and meet other undergraduates either interested in or currently doing research.  This year the community will run from June 3 to July 22 and meet every Wednesday morning from 9:30 am to 11 am.  The first session will include a celebratory meal and networking to kick off the 8 weeks of skills, friends and fun.  Each session will be facilitated by a mentor engaged in undergraduate research support and will be offered as both in-person and virtually via zoom.  In-person sessions will also have donuts and coffee. The final session will be in-person and feature an Opportunities Fair and more networking time. Attendees of at least 5 sessions will get a digital certificate of attendance which will look great on your LinkedIN profile. You can register and learn more information about the program and weekly topics by visiting the URSLC webpage.  Email askdata@uc.edu for more information and if you have any questions.   

Classroom of students. They sit in groups at tables that each have a computer monitor at the wall near them

The URSLC is sponsored by UC Libraries and is offered in collaboration with the TRIO McNair Scholars, University Honors Discover program, and the CEAS Office of Professional Development & Community Impact.  The program is free and open to any undergraduate (UC and beyond) interested in research. 

Significant Changes to the NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan requirements starting in May

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Starting May 25, 2026 the NIH will require researchers to submit a data management and sharing plan based on updated elements. See for more details – NOT-OD-26-046. 

The background for the changes as listed in the guide is “to clarify common areas of confusion in the research community while streamlining and simplifying DMS Plans. Since the DMS Policy went into effect in 2023, NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices have evaluated over 1,100 DMS Plans and found that while the majority were acceptable either initially or after minor revisions, many included extraneous details and exceeded the recommended DMS Plan length. NIH is revising DMS Plan elements and requiring the use of the corresponding format page to aid compliance monitoring.”

If you have questions about the new format or general data management questions, email askdata@uc.edu.

Here is a comparison of the current and the updated version questions.

2020 versionAfter May 25, 2026 version
Data Type: briefly describe the scientific data to be managed, preserved, and shared[100 words max] Asks for the key types of scientific data anticipated to be generated during the project to be included in a table, along with information on the repository (or an example repository) where the scientific data may be managed and shared.  
Related Tools, Software and/or Code: specify if needed 
Standards: indicate what standards will be applied to the scientific data and associated metadata  
Data Preservation, Access, and Associated Timelines:  describe what repository will be used, persistent identifiers to use, and when the data will be available.Element 1. Answer Yes or No: Will there be maximum appropriate sharing of scientific data underlying peer-reviewed publications and other findings resulting from the work supported by this award (including preprints, refereed papers reported at conferences, and other findings)?  
Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations: describe any applicable factors affecting subsequent access, distribution, or reuse of scientific dataElement 2. Answer Yes or No: Will the scientific data underlying peer-reviewed publications be shared by the time of publication or, for other findings, by the end of the period of performance, which includes no-cost extensions?   Element 3. Answer Yes or No: Will shared scientific data be made available for at least as long as required by applicable data repository policies and/or journal policies?
New Element for 2026 – Element 4: [200 words maximum] If you answered “NO” to elements 1, 2, or 3, or if you anticipate that sharing will be limited in some other way, please describe these limitations and the ethical, legal, or technical factors for them (see for example FAQ B.5 and other relevant FAQs). Your response should specify a particular reason(s) for limiting sharing.
Oversight of Data Management and Sharing: indicate how compliance with the Plan will be monitored and managed, frequency of oversight, and by whom (e.g., titles, roles).Answer Yes or No: If scientific data derived from human research participants will be shared, will privacy, rights, and confidentiality of participants be protected as outlined in NOT-OD-22-213, including whether any scientific data will be shared using access controls? 
New Element for 2026 – For studies subject to the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy (GDS) (e.g., using NIH funds to generate large-scale human genomic data): Answer Yes, No, or Not Applicable: Will you share all large-scale human genomic and associated data in a NIH-designated repository according to the accelerated timelines expected in the GDS Policy?. If “no,” address in element 4. If “no,” address in element 4. Answer Yes, No, or Not Applicable: Do you anticipate that when sharing large-scale human genomic data that you will be able to meet the expectations of the Institutional Certification in the GDS Policy (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-124.html; IV.C.5)? If “no,” address in element 4.

UC Libraries GIS Services attends the Urbanism Club Meeting

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a slide from the introduction to GIS workshop offered by the urbanism club The title of the slide is GIS Tips, Tricks, and secret tools followed by a GIS help session.

The UC Libraries GIS research consultants attended the Urbanism Club in support of the club’s Introduction to GIS session. GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems and is the process of collecting, analyzing, and managing data with spatial attributes. Fenley Jones, Kayra Koprulu, and Jaclyn Mauro were great hosts and put on an incredibly informative session that covered access to software, how to increase your knowledge base through trainings, and how they personally use different tools. It was really great to see the various ways students are using GIS resources and how the club supports students who are interested in learning more about GIS. To find out more about the club, visit their campuslink page. And the club will be offering additional GIS sessions on March 9th and April 13th.

Weiye (in grey sweater) and Andrew Ho (in red shirt), UC Libraries GIS Research Consultants

The UC Libraries GIS services is available to help students and researchers plan GIS projects, access software, understand how create visualizations such as maps and analyze spatial data. The lab is located in 412 Langsam and is open in the spring during the following hours:

  • Mon 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 
  • Tues 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 
  • Wed 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 
  • Thurs 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 
  • Fri 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

Weiye Li (Left – Phd student – Geography & GIS) and Andrew Ho (Right – Undergraduate – Planning) look forward to meeting you and learning about your GIS interests.

UC Libraries GIS Services attends the Urbanism Club Meeting

Welcome Weiye Li, GIS Research Consultant for Research and Data Services

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Welcome Weiye Li, GIS Research Consultant for Research and Data Services

Weiye is a PhD candidate in Geography at the University of Cincinnati. Originally from Shenzhen, China, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Land Resource Management at China University of Geosciences.

His research focuses on geospatial data science, socio-environmental sustainability, and health geography, with a particular interest in applying advanced modeling and algorithms to understand human–environment interactions. He has contributed to several projects including land management, nature-based climate solutions, and urban perception analysis using street-view imagery, and has presented his work at academic conferences such as the American Association of Geographers (AAG) annual meeting.

As a GIS Collab consultant, Weiye looks forward to supporting others while continuing to expand his analytical toolkit in GIS-related analysis. He can share information, offer advice, and even partner on certain projects (on a case by case basis).

The Data & GIS collab is located in 412 Langsam with the hours of

Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Tuesday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Wednesday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Thursday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Friday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Updates for Data Sharing at UC

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The UC Office of Research supported repository  UCFigshare is now available for data deposits resulting from any Federal Funder.  If you are funded by any of the 15 federal agencies such as NIH or NSF which have a data sharing requirement as part of the grant, you can contact the UCFigshare team and request access to deposit.  The UCFigshare website provides instructions on how to request storage, upload datasets, and use the system. It also provides important budget considerations.

Updates for Data Sharing at UC

Research data sharing has been encouraged as a part of grant funding since the publication of the 2013 Holdren memorandum entitled “Expanding Public Access to the Results of Federally Funded Research”.  The 2022 Nelson OSTP memorandum accelerated the timeline and included required sharing the article and the data supporting without embargo as soon as the grant period ends.  Under the recent May 2025 executive order entitled Restoring Gold Standard Science, this is still the case that federally funded research data needs to be shared per the agency policy (1). It is now required to indicate the repository where you will share the data as part of the data management and sharing plan (DMSP). 

Agencies with Updated Policies in Effect

AHRQ | CDC | Ed | DOE | EPA | FDA | IMLS | NASA SMD | NEH | NIH | Smithsonian

Agencies with Updated Policies Published but not yet in Effect

ACF | ACL | Census | CMS | CPSC

Even if your research is not funded by a federal agency, sharing research data can benefit a researcher greatly.  Research data sharing accelerates research discovery, facilitates research reproducibility, helps identify issues with the data, and increases research impact.  Sharing the data and other research outputs such as registrations, protocols, code, and preprints helps the next generation of researchers better understand and reuse the outputs. Data sharing comes with the cost of extra time invested to create good documentation and uploading the data and other project associated research outputs to the designated repository.  Planning from the start of any project can help ease this additional labor.  These planning steps are also part of writing the DMSP accompanying a grant application.  Some recommended steps (2) are:

  • Identify a data repository as early as possible for the informed consent forms and to specify in the DMSP
  • Establish a file naming convention and organization
  • Include file-level Information
  • Keep track of sensitive information
  • Keep memos about analytic decisions
  • Create a “data narrative” and a readme file
  • Prepare your data for sharing
  • Make a human readable form and a raw / machine readable form
  • Promote your data  

UC researchers have several platforms for data sharing including the Office of Research managed UCFigshare, and UC Libraries managed repositories such as the Qualitative Data Repository (QDR), Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the Open Science Framework (OSF), and Scholar@UC. UC Libraries Research and Data Services unit can advise researchers on data management and sharing plans, metadata, and workflows. Email askdata@uc.edu if you have questions, need assistance, or want to learn more about university resources. 

References

(1) Badger, K., Biszaha, A. Sadvari, S., and Walsh, M., 2025 Federal Sponsor Updates to Article and Data Sharing [Webinar]. Ohio State University Library. 12-11-2025. Personal communication.

(2) Karcher, Sebastian; Kirilova, Dessi; and Page, Christiane, “Sharing and Managing Qualitative Data” (2019). Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. 2. https://surface.syr.edu/miga/2

Updates for Data Sharing at UC