UAL Graduate Student Data Management Ambassador Program

The University Libraries Graduate Student Data Management Ambassador Program invests in transforming University of Arizona PhD students into the next generation of leaders who will make an impact on their academic community.

We're looking for passionate, motivated students from all U of A colleges and departments who: 

• enjoy working with people
• get things done
• are curious and analytical
• get excited about open research and data management
• are good instructors who like to share knowledge and teach others

Through our program, which is specifically focused on the National Institutes of Health Data Management and Sharing Policy, library mentors will help you become a champion in advancing Data Management & Sharing Plan (DMSP) literacy across campus.

Your work as a Data Management & Sharing Ambassador will focus on:

• building a culture of DMSP literacy at your college/department;
• providing resources, training, and support to researchers at your college/department; and
• developing customized programs that cater to the specific needs of your college/department.

Ambassadors will receive:

• A $2,500 stipend for an academic year commitment,
• Training and support to foster DMSP literacy, and
• An incredible opportunity to contribute to the success of data management practices at the University of Arizona.

Application deadline: May 2, 2025, at 11:59pm.

Call for Participation for all UArizona Colleges

Important

• Please share this opportunity with department heads, chairs, and PhD students. 
• This initial debut is specifically focused on National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded requirements.
• This program requires participation of a college/department sponsor who agrees to support the student with their DMSP outreach efforts.

We are seeking submissions from enthusiastic PhD students to support data management & sharing plan (DMSP) literacy at the University of Arizona. 

• Selected applicants will develop a program of support and engagement that reflects and advances the data management & sharing plan needs of their college. 
• All ambassadors will receive training and support to foster DMSP literacy in their respective college/ department.
• Ambassadors will also receive compensation of a $2,500 stipend ($1,250 each semester) for an academic year commitment and approximately ~90 hrs for the program. 
• Applications are due May 2, 2025, at 11:59pm.

Program Description

The Data Management & Sharing Ambassador Program capitalizes on disciplinary knowledge and networks in the UA graduate/professional student population. 

Data Management & Sharing Ambassadors serve as a resource within their college to help researchers with: 

(1) data management & sharing plan related questions through consults, training, and/or referrals to the right resource and experts on-campus or online and 

(2) developing training or other data management & sharing plan (DMSP) literacy programs that are specific to the needs of their college/department. 

In short, Data Management & Sharing Ambassadors are champions for data management & sharing plan literacy in their college/department!

Eligibility

Currently enrolled PhD students from all U of A colleges/departments are encouraged to apply.

Priority will be given to PhD Students who have:

• Completed at least one year of their program,
• Demonstrated interest in data management & sharing plan literacy,
• A college/department sponsor who agrees to support the student with their DMSP outreach plan, and
• Are from U of A colleges focused on NIH funded requirements.

Application Process

Eligible candidates must submit a single PDF that includes the three required items listed below to LBRY-DMSP@email.arizona.edu by May 2, 2025, at 11:59pm:

1. A signed Sponsor Agreement Form from the college/department-level support for the ambassador
2. Current résumé or CV (3-page limit)
3. A statement (1-page limit) that addresses the following: 
   1. What year you are in; 
   2. Why you’re interested in DMSP literacy and the DMSP ambassadorship; 
   3. Your relevant previous and/or current work or educational experiences, such as applications of DMSP or teaching/instructional experience; and 
   4. One or two preliminary ideas about how you would like to engage with and/or serve your college/department or the University of Arizona in the context of DMSP training and literacy.

If you have any questions, contact us at LBRY-DMSP@email.arizona.edu.

Expectations: Ambassadors are expected to support DMSP literacy in their respective college/unit through a variety of means. Examples may include:

• Connect with key research administrators, e.g., Associate Deans of Research for support of work
• Design and administer a DMSP survey for UArizona dept / college level that captures disciplinary needs and existing knowledge
• Align survey results to design customized disciplinary training
• Advocacy for training such as DMSP workshops
• Ambassadors will generate a calendar of training opportunities on campus and share it with respective units and other means for the campus community
• Develop and deliver training workshops, either as stand-alone sessions or in existing programs such as the UA Libraries’ Workshop series or in established college or departmental programming, e.g., research symposiums, during departmental lab meetings, at faculty meetings, etc.
• Developing free and accessible learning resources, such as video instructions or written documentation
• Design assessment and feedback to use during the evaluation of the DMSP outreach plan efforts
• Providing DMSP consults and guidance to researchers

Meet your mentors: 

Elizabeth Kline	Jim Martin	Angela Murrell	Ahlam Saleh

Meet the Ambassadors:

Recruitment in progress!