Data Services

Help Desk: The Data Services team aims to support WashU users. The team offers a regular schedule of  Help Desk availability:

Mondays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tuesdays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

1-1 Consultations: We ask that those interested in an appointment with our Data Services Team (related to any of our core services) complete a short questionnaire. Your responses will allow the Data Services team to better assist you and to understand your needs and the needs of the campus community.  Request an Appointment

Data Sharing and Curation: Funders often require FAIR data sharing for federally funded research. Share your Data via the WashU Research Data (WURD) repository. We provide:

• Digital Object Identifies
• full DataCite Metadata
• Robust curation
• github integration
• long-term access and preservation
• FAIRness review

Workshops: Data Services at University Libraries offers several opportunities for groups, teams, departments, or labs to receive workshops in a broad array of areas. If you do not see the topic you need in the core services options below, please contact us to discuss developing a customized workshop. Request a Workshop

Newsletter: We send out regular communications via our Data Digest twice a year, and irregular updates via Data Bytes. Subscribe

Service available to All entities, including for-profit organizations.

Priority service for Washington University and other non-profit organizations.

• Data Exploration & Visualization - Using tools to prepare data, understand patterns and trends in the data, and effectively communicate data stories.
• Research Data Management Sharing & Curation Making - Support for data generated throughout the research lifecycle research projects FAIRly available to a wide audience.
• Data Sourcing - Finding, Evaluating, and understanding the application of data and documentation.
• 3D/AR/VRCreating and capturing information in three dimensions and using augmented and virtual reality to explore data in 3D.
• Digital Humanities Using digital tools and computational methods to support research and teaching in the humanities.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Leveraging geographic information systems and location data to explore interdisciplinary problems.

• AVA (Audiovisual/Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality) Studio:

  • Headsets:
    • MetaQuest 2
    • MetaQuest 3
    • Vive
    • Hololens
    • Hololens 2
  • Camera Setup:
    • Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera
    • Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 Lens
    • Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens
    • (3) Aputure LS-1c LED Lights
    • (3) Impact LS-96-HAB Light Stands
    • Backdrops: Green, Black, White
    • (2) 5-in-1 42" Collapsible Circular Reflector Disc
  • Audio Setup:
    • 1 Zoom F8 recorder
    • 1 AKG HP4E headphone amp
    • 2 Cloudlifter CL-2
    • 1 Shure SB-7 mic
    • 3 Rode Podcaster mics
  • Reserve AVA

• Research Studio.

  • Six robust (Windows) workstations with software
  • focused on data visualization data analysis
  • Remotely available

• DaVE (Data and Visualization Exploration)

  • Photogrammetry Equipment and software
  • Structured-light scanner
  • Hololens and Virtual Reality headsets for research and teaching
  • Available by appointment

Pricing is subject to core verification

Tiers of Service

Enterprise Tier

The six core Data Services services include data curation, sourcing, management, sharing, wrangling, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS.) We can help you develop skills to achieve your research goals through consultation, instruction, resources, and (when necessary) referral. We provide scoped instruction 1-1 and to groups. You can schedule a consultation or visit our regular Help Desk hours.

Recharge Tier

The Recharge Tier is intended for WashU in St. Louis affiliated researchers who wish to leverage data wrangling and tools as a part of their inquiry but cannot do the work themselves. This is a scoped, task-based service; see our menu of services below:

Recharge Service Menu

The availability of these services is on a first-come-first-served basis.

How to Utilize Recharge Services

Reach out to Data Services for a consultation on the Recharge Tier offerings. If it is determined that the request is within the scope of recharge services, Data Services will calculate the hours needed and present you with a time and cost estimate. After the work is carried out, Data Services will charge the appropriate department or grant funding source for the final amount.

Research Sprints

Data Services will offer the opportunity to get recharge service at no cost via research sprints. Sprint teams include:

• the researcher
• a member of data services

The sprint team will spend up to one academic-work week (five days) to achieve research data-related project goals. Sprints occur in six-month intervals, and researchers must apply for a sprint.

Partnership Tier

In some cases, Data Services can partner on a funded project. Although availability for the Partnership Tier is extremely limited, researchers are welcome to approach the Head of Data Services Jennifer Moore if you are looking for this type of partnership. Evaluating whether this is something Data Services can engage in may take several weeks. When appropriate, Data Services may refer potential partners to one of our campus partners if better suited.