Building research data infrastructure for emerging research institutions using an open-source model design

The National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities (CFDA 47.083) awarded the University of San Diego $720,641 on October 1, 2025, to develop ResDataNexus, an open-source data infrastructure platform designed to support emerging research institutions (ERIs). The project will deliver an integrated research data monitoring and forecasting system that tracks research and development (R&D) activities, expenditures, and grant outputs while predicting future research return on investment. Over the three-year performance period (October 1, 2025–September 30, 2028), the primary deliverables include a scalable open-source framework for building interactive data dashboards, a machine learning forecasting model that correlates financial inputs with publication metrics and funding outcomes, and a composite research activity index. The platform will automate data collection and analysis to enable data-driven institutional decision-making, strengthen research collaborations, and enhance institutional competitiveness at resource-constrained ERIs.

The project will proceed through three phases: framework development, prototype testing and validation at partner institutions (Pepperdine University and Elon University), and iterative refinement with broad dissemination. Pepperdine University will support framework development, conduct administrator surveys regarding research productivity drivers, facilitate technical validation, and provide model refinement recommendations. Elon University, partnering with the University of San Diego as a fellow ERI, will establish institutional infrastructure in Year 1, pilot implementation and validate data in Years 2-3, and deploy customized dashboards including a Higher Education Research and Development Data Dashboard, Research Publications Dashboard, and Sponsored Programs Dashboard. The project will also engage students in hands-on data analytics to develop future research talent while establishing strategic partnerships that advance institutional research capacity across the higher education sector.

Abstract

Emerging research institutions (ERIS) are vital incubators of scientific discovery but often lack the resources and infrastructure to support a robust institutional research enterprise. ERIS thus face challenges with essential research management activities like tracking research performance, outputs, and funding. Resdatanexus will provide an open-source framework to build interactive data platforms that monitor research and development (R & D) activities and expenditures while forecasting future opportunities. By automating data collection and analysis, resdatanexus will support informed, data-driven decision-making, strengthen collaborations, and boost institutional competitiveness. The project also engages students in hands-on data analytics, helping build future research talent and encouraging strategic partnerships that drive innovation and national research progress. The resdatanexus project will explore ways of developing a cost-effective, low-maintenance, open-source data infrastructure for ERIS to systematically track research outputs, R & D expenditures, and grant activities. The project will unfold in three phases: framework development; prototype testing and validation on partner campuses (university of SAN diego, elon university, pepperdine university); and iterative refinement with broad dissemination. Resdatanexus will integrate diverse data sources, build interactive dashboards for real-time monitoring, and apply machine learning to create a forecasting model and research activity composite index. By correlating financial inputs with publication metrics and funding outcomes, the model will predict institutional research return on investment. Scalable and customizable, resdatanexus will empower ERIS with data-driven planning, strengthening research capacity and competitiveness. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.