IMBA has been awarded a Data Stewards grant from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). The funding will enable IMBA to establish a dedicated Cryo-electron tomography (CryoET) Data Steward position, supporting one of the newest and most data-intensive research areas on campus. 

Introduced to the Vienna BioCenter by joint IMBA-IMP group leader Sven Klumpe, CryoET is a cutting-edge imaging technology that allows researchers to visualize macromolecular and cellular structures in their native state with unprecedented detail. However, each CryoET session generates enormous datasets—often 1–2 terabytes in size—that pose significant challenges in terms of storage, annotation, sharing, and long-term preservation. Without dedicated expertise, valuable scientific data risks being underutilized or lost, and researchers face growing pressure to comply with international data management standards such as the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). 

Building a Framework for CryoET Data Stewardship 

Over the next 30 months, IMBA’s new CryoET Data Steward, embedded in the Klumpe lab, will focus on building a comprehensive framework for data management tailored to the unique needs of this technology and the Vienna BioCenter. This includes designing standardized data organization methods, streamlining workflows and data sharing into public repositories, and implementing rigorous quality control. The Data Steward will also provide hands-on training and support to Vienna BioCenter researchers using CryoET to foster a strong data stewardship culture on campus. 

The initiative will ensure that CryoET datasets generated at IMBA are of the highest quality, streamlining the path to full FAIR compliance. Beyond improving reproducibility and collaboration, the curated datasets will also serve as a valuable resource for developing advanced computational methods, including AI and machine learning tools for automated tomogram analysis. 

By investing in dedicated data stewardship, IMBA is supporting and promoting sustainable data management in structural and cellular biology, such that transformative CryoET research achieves its full scientific impact.