How can I create persistent identifiers (such as DOIs) for data, and what is the process?

Persistent identifiers, such as RCDigital Object Identifiers (DOIs) Mints DOIs for scholarly work deposited in DataCore & IUScholarWorks RC Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) , play a vital role in making research data discoverable, citable, and traceable. A DOI serves as a stable, permanent link to a dataset, ensuring that it can be found and referenced even if the storage location changes over time. At Indiana University, researchers can obtain DOIs for their data through institutional repositories such as RCDataCORE (IUB) Provides access & preservation services for digital research data RC DataCORE (IUB) and RCDataWorks (IUI) Repository for preserving and sharing IUI digital research data RC DataWorks (IUI) , both of which are integrated with DataCite, a global DOI registration agency specifically designed for research data.

The process for creating a DOI at IU begins when a researcher deposits their dataset into one of these institutional repositories. During the submission process, authors are asked to provide key descriptive information, including title, author or contributor names (with RCORCIDs Solution for researcher identity management RC ORCIDs if available), an abstract or summary, keywords, and funding information. IU’s data librarians assist with formatting this metadata to ensure it meets DataCite standards and supports effective discovery. Once the metadata is finalized, a DOI is automatically generated and linked to the dataset's landing page, which includes access instructions, licensing terms (e.g., Creative Commons), and download options, if applicable.

Additionally, IU supports the creation of metadata-only DOI records for datasets that cannot be shared openly due to privacy, regulatory, or contractual constraints. In these cases, the DOI still points to a descriptive record that provides citation information and instructions for requesting access, thereby preserving the visibility and scholarly value of the dataset even when the data itself is restricted. This option is particularly useful for researchers working with human subjects, community-engaged data, or proprietary datasets.

Researchers who are unsure which repository to use, or whether a DOI is appropriate should consult with a RCdata librarian Contact information for IU Research Data Services Librarians RC data librarian on their campus. Data librarians can help choose the right platform, prepare metadata, and ensure the DOI is integrated into publications, data availability statements, or CVs.