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Applications open for WDS Data Stewardship Award

Deadline: 16-Jan-2026

The World Data System (WDS) has opened applications for the 2026 WDS Data Stewardship Award, honoring early-career professionals who demonstrate excellence in data management, curation, and open science practices. The award recognizes contributions that ensure data integrity, accessibility, and ethical compliance while providing international visibility and opportunities to shape data-driven research.

What is the WDS Data Stewardship Award?

The WDS Data Stewardship Award celebrates early-career individuals who have shown outstanding commitment to managing and stewarding research data throughout its lifecycle. This includes activities from project design to long-term preservation, ensuring that research data is high-quality, accessible, ethically managed, and reusable.

Key Features

  • Award Focus: Data stewardship, curation, open science, and ethical data management

  • Eligibility: Early-career professionals within ten years of completing a Master’s, PhD, or equivalent training

  • Nomination: Self-nomination or nomination by peers, organizations, or institutions

  • Recognition: International visibility and opportunities to influence open data practices and policies

Who Can Apply?

  • Target Audience:

    • Early-career researchers, data managers, and professionals in data-intensive fields

    • Individuals demonstrating excellence in data lifecycle management, including design, curation, and long-term preservation

  • Fields: Interdisciplinary; past winners have included environmental science, health informatics, glaciology, geospatial research, and more

  • Nomination Requirements: Evidence of impactful work, ethical and open science practices, and contribution to data reuse and integrity

Why the Award Matters

  • International Recognition: Raises visibility for individuals contributing to global open science

  • Career Advancement: Past winners have shaped research careers and led data-science programs

  • Impact on Science: Encourages best practices, trustworthy data repositories, and standards for data reuse

  • Community Engagement: Connects recipients to a global network of data stewards and researchers

How to Apply

  1. Check Eligibility: Ensure you are within ten years of completing your Master’s, PhD, or equivalent training

  2. Prepare Application or Nomination: Include evidence of excellence in data management, ethical compliance, and open science practices

  3. Submit Nomination/Application: Can be self-nominated or nominated by peers, organizations, or institutions

  4. Evaluation: Applications are reviewed based on quality, impact, innovation, and contribution to data stewardship

  5. Award Announcement: Recipients receive recognition, visibility, and opportunities to engage with the global WDS community

Tips for Applicants

  • Highlight specific achievements in data curation, management, and preservation

  • Demonstrate adherence to ethical and open science principles

  • Provide evidence of impact on research practices, policy, or community standards

  • Emphasize contributions to interdisciplinary or collaborative projects

  • Include recommendation letters or endorsements when applicable

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who is eligible for the award? Early-career professionals within ten years of completing their Master’s, PhD, or equivalent training.
2. Can I self-nominate? Yes, self-nominations are accepted alongside peer or institutional nominations.
3. Which disciplines are considered? All fields; past winners include environmental science, health informatics, glaciology, geospatial research, and others.
4. What are the evaluation criteria? Excellence in data stewardship, impact, ethical compliance, and contribution to open science.
5. What benefits do recipients receive? International recognition, visibility, networking opportunities, and career advancement potential.
6. Is prior leadership required? Not necessarily; the focus is on demonstrated impact and excellence in data stewardship.
7. Can non-academic professionals apply? Yes, any data steward contributing to research data management and open science practices is eligible.

Conclusion

The 2026 WDS Data Stewardship Award provides early-career professionals a unique opportunity to gain international recognition for excellence in data management. By highlighting contributions that enhance data integrity, accessibility, and ethical compliance, the award strengthens global open science practices and helps shape the future of data-driven research across disciplines.

For more information, visit WDS.