The Research Coordination Office of KU Leuven opens the position of Research Data Management Advisor for the purpose of Job Shadowing, offering PhD candidates (≥ 3rd year of the PhD trajectory) / postdocs affiliated with 1 of the 5 Flemish universities the possibility to see for themselves what tasks and responsibilities come with this particular job function. 

The mission of the KU Leuven Research Coordination Office is to inform, stimulate and support researchers in performing research and securing research funding. The Office carries out a range of advisory and supporting tasks regarding the policy and functioning of scientific research in its national and international dimensions, including all tasks relating to inventory, administration, information and assistance associated with research at the university.

The Research Data Management (RDM) Team as part of the Research Coordination Office gives RDM support to researchers at KU Leuven to realize high-quality research. The team translates funders' (FWO, EC, BOF-IOF, etc) RDM requirements into RDM practices and provides advice, training and support. The RDM Team plays a key role in the development and refinement of tools, infrastructure, and services to support researchers to develop their Data Management Plan (DMP). Its responsibilities include the coordination of DMP reviews and providing support to researchers in translating their DMP into the practical implementation of good data management practices. In this they work closely together with colleagues from the Libraries and ICTS. They also work with internal and external stakeholders on broader RDM and Open Science initiatives.

Job Shadowing may include:

- introduction to the KU Leuven Research Coordination Office and the RDM team
- assisting in the preparation or delivery of a training session
- attending a regular meeting with the Working Group on RDM Advice, Training & Communication, or the RDM Competence Centre
- visiting a research group to explore and discuss their RDM needs
- observing a consultation session of our Book-a-Data-Manager service to see how tailored RDM advice is provided to researchers
- participating in the testing and evaluation of new and existing features in our DMP tools
- contributing to the assessment and improvement of RDM tools
- assisting in enhancing and updating our RDM website
  

> Open to PhD candidates / postdocs from all academic disciplines. Preference will be given to candidates who have some prior knowledge of research data management. 

KU Leuven offers a 1-day Job Shadowing experience. The date, between 6 and 10 October, will be decided upon in close consultation with the selected candidate.