Staking out the Stakeholders: Using NIST’s Research Data Framework Within a Public University System

Purpose: This article first introduces and contextualizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Research Data Framework (RDaF) and then explores its application in a local context. Setting/Participants: The State University of New York (SUNY) System, both at a system-wide level and at two individual SUNY campuses, developed an approach to applying RDaF to improve research data management (RDM) practices. Brief Description: As institutions work to establish sound, coordinated services and infrastructure that meet local needs, they look to strategic guidance and established best practices for doing so responsibly and successfully. Modeled after their Cybersecurity and Privacy Frameworks, NIST began developing RDaF in 2019 to address pressing research data community needs. The RDaF provides a comprehensive, structured approach to be used by diverse stakeholders to better understand the benefits, risks, and costs of research data management (RDM). Results/Outcome: NIST continues to work with other organizations on RDaF’s utility in different contexts, and SUNY’s application offers both a use case and lessons learned that may offer other institutions a practical, grounded approach for leveraging the power of RDaF to improve their RDM strategy. Conclusions: RDaF’s comprehensive guidance offers a robust, flexible framework for building thorough RDM strategy, whatever an organization's institutional readiness.