Spotlight on: Myrte Vos
Every other week, the Thematic DCCs and the Data Steward Interest Group (DSIG) put the spotlight on one research data steward working in the Netherlands to stimulate knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning.
What drew you towards the research data management field?
All my experiences in doing research, if I'm honest! From dropping a hard drive full of raw field data during my first research internship (and watching my PI's face go white), to losing an experiment's worth of data during my MSc, to assembling a fully browser-based approach to collecting eye-tracking data during my PhD. I always found myself enjoying the logistics and metascientific aspects of the research I was doing.
What is an activity/task of your role that you find yourself looking forward to?
One-on-one consults with researchers are always fun! I love learning about the cool stuff they're working on, and it's nice to help them build confidence in managing their data, or discover new ways of sharing it. I also love nerding out with other data stewards 🙂
What is something unexpected that you can offer help with, if a colleague reaches out to you?
Webcam/browser-based eye tracking experiments! And creating well-organized data/analysis projects in RStudio. I'm also interested in/regularly confronted with research methods and RDM frameworks that challenge the FAIR Principles in some way (such as arts-based research, or the CARE Principles for Indigenous data governance), so I'm always happy to spar about that.
What do you think your community of research data professionals is missing?
I think we could use a broader set of values (or even code of ethics) coupled with a strategic vision that goes beyond 'just' making data FAIR. That's often determined by the institutions in which we are embedded - understandably! - but we can take a more active role in shaping research policy that way.
What is a topic you would want to collaborate on with others?
You can nerd-snipe me for almost anything (the limiting factor is time!). If someone has a great idea for next year's Lowlands Science and wants a partner-in-crime, email me!
How would you like to see your current field of work evolve in the next 5 years?
I'd love to see us prioritize and engage critically with the growing ecological impacts/resource demands of digital data, particularly as it becomes a valuable resource itself in the widespread adoption of GenAI.
Get in touch with Myrte on ORCID
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