Store & manage data
We recommend using digital tools and well-designed infrastructure to organize, document, and store research data. There is a solution for every requirement, such as laboratory notebooks to document your experimental research, or DFG-compliant long-term data storage.
A laboratory notebook (or lab book) is either paper-based or electronic (electronic laboratory notebook = ELN). Researchers document their experimental and intellectual work in it.
Laboratory notebooks (lab books) are essential tools for research documentation. There are paper-based and electronic types. Ideally, each entry is dated, has a consecutive page number, and contains comprehensive information on preparing, executing, and following-up on an experiment. Documenting conscientiously forms the basis for quality, reproducibility, verifiability, and publication of research data. Find helpful tips in our handout about lab books (in German).
For a comprehensive overview of electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN), we recommend the ELN Finder of TU Darmstadt and ZB MED. The platform supports you in choosing a suitable tool.
TUM Workbench
Manage your data with TUM Workbench, TUM's in-house open-source solution developed by the University Library.
For storing large data in TUM Workbench, the LRZ Data Science Storage application can be used. The How-to-Guide explains how this works.
Storage solutions
In cooperation with the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ), TUM offers storage solutions for various scenarios. When storing - and thus selecting storage solutions - distinguish between hot (unfinished) and cold (finished) data.
For hot data, consider how the data is used, e.g. whether several people are to work on the same file at the same time, and what storage size you require. Storage solutions for hot data that the LRZ offers include: Personal Cloud Storage, Project Cloud Storage for workgroups, and Data Science Storage for large data volumes. Work on documents collaboratively in Sync+Share and Microsoft 365. For joint development and versioning of software, we recommend LRZ GitLab.
For cold data, the storage solution depends on whether your data is to be backed up or archived, who should be able to access it, and where the data was previously stored. The Archive & Backup System of the LRZ enables regular and automated data backup of servers and computers. The data will be archived for a period of ten years, which can be increased if required.
Further informationen: Handout on Infrastructure Offers for Storing Research Data at TUM (in German)
Get in touch!
For questions on data storage and management, please contact us at researchdata@tum.de!
Further information: Submit application & planning, Archive data, Publish & share data, Reuse data