Researchers from the university of tennessee, knoxville, the university of indiana, and the university of colorado will use findings from an analysis of workforce competencies among data management…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the University of Tennessee $399,786 on September 1, 2026, under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313) to build knowledge and establish national standards for research data management certificate programs and workforce credentialing.

Researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the University of Indiana, and the University of Colorado will analyze workforce competencies among data management professionals, develop national standards for assessing research data management certificate programs, and gather employer and employee perspectives on emerging career credentialing. The project addresses standardization and quality control needs in research data management education, providing a foundation for quality control of the profession and a model for credentialing other library, archives, and information careers.

Performance occurs in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. The award is classified as a Project Grant, an assistance type that supports professional development and workforce capacity-building in library and archives fields consistent with the program's goal to recruit, develop, and retain library and archives professionals meeting community information needs.

Researchers from the university of tennessee, knoxville, the university of indiana, and the university of colorado will use findings from an analysis of workforce competencies among data management professionals to build a body of knowledge. They will also develop national standards for the assessment of research data management certificate programs and gather employer and employee perspectives on workforce credentialing for these emerging careers. In a data-driven economy, building human capacity for data management professionals is a necessity, and this applied research project addresses a need for standardization and quality control in research data management education. The lessons learned will provide a foundation for quality control of this growing profession and a model for the credentialing of other library, archives, and information careers.