This is intended as a self-assessment tool to evaluate your data across five dimensions:
  • Data Silos and Accessibility
  • Metadata and Documentation
  • System Interoperability
  • Governance and Stewardship
  • Reusability and Compliance
There are 15 assessment questions that should take approximately 3 minutes to complete.

Answer each question for how it applies to your laboratory/organization as best as you can. At the end, you will receive your score and what to do with it.
Data Silos and Accessibility

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1. Can researchers locate specific datasets from 6 months ago in under 30 seconds without asking a colleague? (Required.)

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2. Is data stored in a centralized repository (LIMS/ELN/Data Lakehouse) rather than on local instrument PCs or USB drives? (Required.)

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3. Does the system allow for automated data retrieval via APIs, or is manual export/import still required? (Required.)

Metadata and Documentation

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4. Are globally unique persistent identifiers (PIDs) assigned to every new dataset automatically? (Required.)

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5. Do naming conventions follow a standardized lab-wide policy, or are they left to individual scientists' discretion? (Required.)

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6. Does every file include rich metadata (e.g., instrument model, method version, ambient temperature, and sample ID)? (Required.)

System Interoperability

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7. Are instruments speaking the same language (e.g., converted from proprietary vendor formats to open standards like JSON, CSV, or ODT)? (Required.)

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8. Is there a business glossary/ontology in place to ensure terms like HCl and hydrochloric acid are recognized as the same entity across all systems? (Required.)

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9. Can your AI models pull data directly from your LIMS/ELN without 80% of the project time being spent on manual formatting? (Required.)

Governance and Stewardship

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10. Has a Data Steward been formally assigned to oversee the quality and lifecycle of your scientific data domains? (Required.)

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11. Are there automated policies that mandate metadata creation at the point of data origination rather than retrospective cleanup? (Required.)

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12. Is there a clear authorization protocol defining who can access, edit, and share sensitive research data? (Required.)

Reusability and Compliance

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13. Is every dataset accompanied by a standardized README detailing the provenance (origin and history) of the data? (Required.)

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14. Does your data remediation process maintain a GxP-validated audit trail for 21 CFR Part 11 or ISO 17025 integrity? (Required.)

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15. Can a collaborator or auditor verify your findings by accessing the raw data and the exact processing steps used? (Required.)

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17. Please enter your information so we can personalize your results. (Required.)

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