Have you ever considered becoming a data steward?
Not sure if this role might interest you or feel like you’re already doing parts of the job? Try answering the following questions:
Do you work with research data?
- Do you organize, archive, or manage access to data during a project?
- Are you checking that the data is properly structured, secured, or protected according to rules (e.g., GDPR)?
Do you assist colleagues with data management?
- For example, with data storage, backups, or sharing?
Are you responsible for documentation and metadata?
- Do you create or maintain data descriptions that help other researchers interpret and reuse the data?
Do you contribute to data management planning?
- Do you create or assist with Data Management Plans (DMPs) for research projects?
Do you collaborate with IT teams or librarians on data management?
- Do you consult with them on efficient data storage and management, e.g., in institutional repositories?
Do you work on making research data accessible to the public or other researchers?
- Do you assist colleagues in selecting appropriate data repositories and licenses?
If you answered YES to several of these questions,
you are likely already performing some of the tasks of a data steward. Congratulations, and welcome to the community of data stewards! You're in the right place...
If your answers were somewhat NO,
the data steward can still help you in many aspects. You can just read on to find out what the role involves.
What is the definition of a data steward?
A data steward is an expert in research data management who ensures data is high-quality, secure, accessible, and, most importantly, FAIR—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. They serve as a bridge between researchers, institutions, and technology, playing an indispensable role in modern science.
Data stewards may differ based on their scope and focus. Central or institutional data stewards coordinate data management across an entire university or institution. Faculty, departmental, or domain-specific data stewards specialize in academic fields. The closest to research teams are project or team-level data stewards, who focus on the specific data needs of individual research projects.
What do data stewards say about their work?
The role of a data steward is not only about technical expertise but also requires specific personal qualities and communication skills. Experienced data stewards highlighted this we interviewed recently.
What does a data steward's workload look like?
"Much of the workload will involve consultations, which I can imagine taking up 40–50% of the time. The lower the position, the more hands-on data work will be involved. I imagine institutional data stewards will focus on ensuring data is published correctly, that datasets are linked to articles, and vice versa."
Martin Schätz,
data steward at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague
Communication and a Supportive Approach Are Key
“Communication is crucial, but more in terms of openness. Motivation and willingness are far more important than any other prerequisites. Of course, it helps if someone has been part of a project or a team before. The data stewards I know come from different backgrounds. I’m a researcher; some are librarians, and all are successful. Sometimes, openness and interest are enough.” Martin Schätz
The Right Personality for a Data Steward
"If we talk about the personality of a data steward, they need to be perceptive and empathetic. They can be extremely enthusiastic, which is great but can also intimidate researchers. They shouldn’t push too hard. Change won’t happen overnight—it’s a process that takes years..."
Tereza Motalová,
data steward at Palacký University in Olomouc
Recommended Videos on the Role of a Data Steward
If you are interested in the role of a data steward and want to understand its importance in research and data management, we recommend the following videos:
To Be Continued...
Don’t miss the next episode of our series, Guardians of Data: Mission FAIR — Follow us on social media and be among the first to know when the next episode is released!
