Research & Manage

The research landscape encompasses a diverse array of disciplines and methodologies. In empirical research, you will collect and analyze a collection of facts or statistics: qualitative or quantitative data. In theoretical research, the collection and analysis of data may take diverse forms, such as examining existing literature, formulating hypotheses, and engaging in critical discourse within the academic community. Disciplines such as theoretical physics, philosophy, and other conceptual domains often rely on abstract reasoning, mathematical models, thought experiments, and philosophical frameworks to advance knowledge and generate new insights. Theoretical frameworks provide the intellectual foundation upon which empirical research often builds by guiding the formulation of research questions and the interpretation of findings.

The processes of data collection and analysis are both strongly connected to the methodology developed in the Conceptualize & Submit phase (see the Develop methodology tab) and the resources and contracts planned and established in the Conceptualize & Submit and Plan & Prepare phases (see the Define partners and your team tab, the Identify facilities and resources tab, and the Conclude contracts with partners tab). This step mirrors what you have prepared in the Data Management Plan (DMP), including monitoring the quality of the data and managing data protection if relevant.

Normally, the principal investigator (PI) is responsible for managing the data from collection through publication to long-term archiving. This involves ensuring that their team observes all the relevant regulations and good research practice during the data management process.

Tools and infrastructure

Please contact your supervisor, research group, institute or faculty to learn about the services and infrastructures for data collection that are directly available to you.

UniBE Core Facilities

The Core Facilities offer various state-of-the-art research-services and infrastructure to researchers at UniBE and the Inselspital. The expertise and infrastructure at the Core Facilities can support you in conducting your research project.

Online tools and software

If you want to manage your research data collaboratively, these online tools can support your goals.

The University Library offers discipline-specific overviews of online tools on the Subject information page: click on one of the disciplines under Portals and scroll down until you find the Tools  tab; more  information is available on the German version of the page. 

Many institutes and research groups hold domain-specific software licenses. Discuss with your team what software would support your data collection and analysis. The IT Services show what software is already available and licensed (German only) for UniBE members. If you think you will need to procure transversal software that could be of use to several domains at the UniBE, please contact the Research Management Office.

High-performance computing and data science

The IT Services are operating a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster to support scientific computing at the University of Bern. The cluster is available to all researchers having a demand for high computing power.

For data science projects, the Data Science Lab (DSL) offers another partner for planning and implementation. They provide University-wide support and training in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and research-IT-related matters.

Digital Scholarship

The University library provides support for digital, data-driven methods such as data analysis, machine learning, and big data technologies by making data and tools available and educating and offering guidance on their use.

Considerations and regulations

Please note the ethics compliance requirements that apply to data management and security during this phase.

Open research data practices should be observed wherever possible at all stages of your research data management. Please note the compliance and good research practice requirements for open science, open access, and open research data, and contact the Open Science Team at the University Library for information and support. The findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR) guiding principles for scientific data management and stewardship can guide you through the data management process, improve the reproducibility of your research, and enhance the credibility of your research output.

Your data has been collected and analyzed. Now you need to prepare the data for interpretation and make it fit for sharing and reuse in other projects and research groups. Files need to be organized, named, and formatted and versions controlled. Documenting your data and data sets and including your study protocol both shows transparency and supports the re-use of your data.

In theoretical research, “data” may consist of theoretical models, mathematical formulations, conceptual frameworks, and philosophical arguments. These “data” are often not captured in the same way as empirical data and may not require the same level of organization and formatting. Instead, the emphasis may be on clearly articulating the theoretical underpinnings of the research, presenting logical arguments, and engaging in critical discourse within the academic community. However, even theoretical research benefits from adopting practices that promote transparency and facilitate the sharing and reuse of research output. This may include documenting the theoretical assumptions, methodologies, and reasoning processes employed in the research. By providing clear documentation and explanations, researchers can enhance the reproducibility of their work and support the advancement of knowledge within their fields.

Therefore, although the specific practices for preparing and documenting data may vary across research disciplines, the underlying principles of transparency, reproducibility, and openness to sharing research outputs remain relevant.

Services and advice

The Open Science Team at the University library supports you for questions regarding the handling of documentation and metadata.

Considerations and regulations

Depending on your methodology, requirements for documenting the data collection and analysis differ. Please contact the following discipline-specific support units:

Knowing how to organize and manage research data is one of the most important prerequisites for the quality, security, durability, and reproducibility of research data, both during a research project and afterwards. This is relevant to both empirical and theoretical research, although it manifests differently in each type of research.

Services and advice

The Open Science Team has much information, services, and infrastructure available to UniBE members. It advises individually and in groups.

• Research Data Management
• Data Management Plan (DMP)
• Documentation and Metadata
• Data-Sharing and Reuse
• Data protection
• Training

Tools and infrastructure

The University library lists useful tools in Research Data Management.

Reporting to the funder on research findings, the status of the work, and project finances is a crucial aspect of the research process that ensures transparency and accountability. Regardless of the research discipline or funding source, you are expected to provide clear and comprehensive reports, usually at various stages of the research project and certainly at the very end. Below is a general overview. Always consult the contract or agreement with the funder for specific details.

Progress Reports

You may be required to submit progress reports to the funding agency at regular intervals during the project. These interim reports provide updates on the status of the project, including milestones achieved, challenges encountered, and any deviations from the original plan. Scientific and financial progress reports help funding agencies monitor the use of funds, assess the project’s progress, and identify any issues that may need to be addressed. Many funders pay in installments and must sign off on reporting for the next payment to be released.

Data Management Plans

Many funding agencies now require you to include data management and sharing plans in their grant proposals (see the Develop methodology tab). If your project is required to have a data management plan, you may also need to update it during the project.

Research Findings and Publications

Upon completion of the research project, you are expected to report your findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, and other dissemination channels. For further information, consult the Publish & Disseminate phase.

Final Reports

At the conclusion of the research project, you are typically required to submit a final report to the funding agency. This report summarizes the key findings, achievements, and outcomes of the project and any challenges or lessons learned. Final reports may also include recommendations for future research directions and policy implications arising from the research findings. A final financial report is also usually required. Some funders withhold the final payment until they have approved the report.

Discipline-Specific Reporting Guidelines

Some research disciplines may have specific reporting standards or conventions that researchers are expected to follow. For example, in medical research, researchers often adhere to reporting guidelines such as the CONSORT 2010 statement for clinical trials and the STROBE statement for observational studies. It is important for researchers to familiarize themselves with the reporting guidelines relevant to their discipline and ensure compliance in their reports.

It might be helpful or even necessary to travel abroad for a certain amount of time during your research, for instance, to collect data, to conduct interviews or on-site observations, to access documents, archives or libraries, to participate in fieldwork, or to exchange with colleagues. For information on travelling for the purpose of conference attendance, please visit the Scientific conferences tab in the Publish & Disseminate phase.

If your travel costs are higher than expected or you have unforeseen travel that was not included in your original budget, you may be able to move money between budget categories, up to the maximum awarded amount. If this is not possible, you could search for supplementary funds specific for travel in one of the databases outlined on the Select funding tab (in Tools and infrastructure).

Services and advice

You will find general information on how to prepare for a trip abroad under Information about preparing for a trip (Uni intern) on the UniBE Travel platform.

For general advice concerning travelling abroad, your supervisor, faculty, or institute should be your first point of contact. Otherwise, UniBE International might also be of help.

If you are travelling to countries with a questionable safety situation, please contact the Safety Office. Security concepts should be designed early on in the process: often, grant providers will want to see first thoughts at the proposal stage).

Some faculties have funds available for travel costs. The University has limited funds available for research stays abroad:

• UniBE Doc.Mobility – Funds for PhD students who are not funded by the SNSF to undertake a 6-12 month research stay at a university or research institution abroad.
• UniBE Short Travel Grants for (Post)Docs – Up to CHF 8,000 for PhD students, early and advanced postdocs, and senior research assistants to undertake a 2-8-week research stay abroad.

Tools and infrastructure

UniBE International provides a list of summer and winter schools which may be relevant to you or to members of your project team.

They also provide information on the possibilities for travel through the ERASMUS staff exchange program and a map showing staff exchange and research agreements that exist between UniBE and institutions abroad.

To book your trip abroad, please use the UniBE Travel platform.

Considerations and regulations