b. Perform your research

About searching scientific information and data sets, storing / sharing / collaborating on research data, securing research data, data analysis (VRE, Jupyter, SURF-HPC) and organizing an event.

  • Searching scientific information and data sets

    When doing research you will need time and effort in searching and using scientific literature and, in some cases, finding suitable data sources.

    Literature sources

    The digital library is your starting point for finding scientific information about your research topic. You can use the FindUT search tool to discover the collection of the UT library, most of it full text online available. Furthermore the digital library presents an overview of available literature databases and other (scientific) information sources. There is also an advice section about searching for scientific information per discipline. 

    Data sources

    To discover data relevant for your research have a look at the following portals and/or data providers:

  • Storing, sharing and collaborating on research data

    During your research the collected or generated data need to be stored safely. Moreover, you often want to share or in some cases collaborate on the data with fellow researchers.

    Storing and sharing of and collaborating on data refers to its dynamic phase during the research project. As soon as your research datasets are stable and static they can be archived for long-term preservation. For more information see: preserving research data.

    Storing and sharing research data

    The data you collect, generate and use during your research are a valuable asset. At any cost you should avoid loss, theft or unauthorized access to these data. Therefore, in principle all research data, including related materials (e.g. protocols, models or questionnaires), must be stored in the ISO 27001- and NEN 7510-certified UT storage facilities. 

    Copies for sharing or collaborating can also be stored on other facilities. In any case, never use the local drive on your laptop or computer as the main storage medium for research data.

    More details, including a help functionality for choosing the best storing and sharing solution for your research data, can be found on the research data management page.

    If you have lost personal or confidential data (data breach), please check the Cyber Safety page.

    Collaborating on research data

    When you need to collaborate on data or documents you can use web-based, collaborative platforms offered by the UT: e.g. SharepointSurfdrive, Google-workspace (aka G-Suite), Onedrive, or Microsoft Teams

    When collaborating it is important to have a Version Control System (VCS) or DevOps system like GitHub/Gitlab for tracking changes in computer files and coordinating work on those files among multiple people. It consists of a client and a server. It is primarily used for source code management in software development, but it can be used to keep track of the changes in any set of (text)files. For more information see the Systems for Version Control and Devops (Gitlab) page.

    Selecting the best UT facility

    Use this tool to find the best facility for handling research data during your research.

    For support contact the data steward in your faculty or send your question to the Research Support Desk.

  • Securing research data

    Especially when research data are to be considered as confidential, for instance in case of personal or sensitive information, data security is needed. When you are processing personal data you need to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), in Dutch: the Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming (AVG).

    Relevant issues are for instance how to avoid data loss or theft, or unauthorized access to research data. In many cases encryption is strongly advised, both of the device (e.g. your computer harddrive) and the data files. 

    Pseudonymization or anonymization is needed when working with personal data. In short, pseudonymization is a method to substitute identifiable data with a reversible, consistent value. Anonymization is the destruction of the identifiable data.

    For more information see the Research data management page.

  • Data processing

    When processing research data you may need specific infrastructure, computing services, and software.  Furthermore, data labs and data visualization can offer you a solution to certain data analysis demands. 

    Compute servers

    If you need to perform computer calculations during your research and you are unable to run these on your own system, there are a number of possibilities.

    See text and links below for more information about the possibilities described per column.

    For information described in the columns see the text in the list below:

    Research software

    When you need to develop software for your research you can get support from the Netherlands eScience Center, the Dutch national center of excellence for the development and application of research software to advance academic research.

    Research labs

    For data processing researchers can also make use of specific research labs.

    Data visualization

    Visualization makes it easy to identify connections between data or gain other insight into your datasets. SURFsara offers a powerful remote visualization service that combines high performance with ease of use.

  • Organizing an event

    When you need to organize an event, such as a symposium or conference, you can get support from CongresAssociatie Twente.

    Making and publishing proceedings

    For making digitally available contributions to a symposium, workshop or conference organized by you or the organization you represents, a suitable platform is UT proceedings. You can choose to make these contributions available before or after the event. Especially if you want to make the contributions available before the event, pleadse be aware of the planning of depositing and ingest of the publications.

    For support contact the information specialist of your faculty or send your question to the Research Support Desk.

Previous step: Prepare your research                                                 Next step: Publish your research

My favorites

About My Favorites
Use the Bookmark this page button on Service Portal pages to add that page to the My Favorites section. To add web applications, use the star icon in the webapplication list. To add pages outside the Service Portal, use the Add custom bookmark button above. Add your favorite apps to your bookmarks by using the favorite button

Please wait a moment...