Bielefeld Center for Data Science

Statistics as a discipline is goal-oriented and universal. Its task spectrum ranges from empirical surveys and experiments to methodological, mathematical research. Important key areas of application are medicine and biometrics as well as economics and econometrics. Statistical methods have also found their way into a variety of other areas such as sociology, psychology, demography, epidemiology and insurance and many more.

This broad spectrum demonstrates that contemporary statistics is versatile and interdisciplinary. Therefore, adequate statistical knowledge can be regarded as a key skill for success in areas where data is used for decision making or control. The Center for Statistics (ZeSt) aims to emphasize the central role of statistics in teaching, research and practical application at Bielefeld University.

The ZeSt also initiated a Statistical Consulting Center (Statistisches Beratungs Centrum - StatBeCe). At StatBeCe, researchers can find support and counsel for the statistical analysis of their data. Occasionally, also external projects (e.g., industry projects) are counselled as well.

Research data are data that are generated and used during the research process or as a result of that process.

• The range of data includes measurements conducted during experiments, observations or interviews, results of technical processes and model-based analyses or simulations as well as data from the exploration of scientific collections and the digitization of historical sources.
• Research data can be presented in a large variety of types and formats and at different levels of aggregation.
• For the qualified (re-)use of research data, it is essential that the context of their generation, the tools used to produce the data and the legal framework, are adequately documented.

The organization and administration of the procedures associated with the generation, processing, documentation and archiving of research data is known as research data management.

The Coordination Center for Research Data, among others, provides information on research data management, best practices and current funding guidelines. In addition, it helps to draw up data management plans for research projects.

In a resolution on research data management published in 2013, the Rectorate of Bielefeld University explicitly encouraged its scholars and scientists to make their research data easier to find and, if possible, to make them accessible and reusable by third parties. Bielefeld University thereby became the first German university to adopt such a resolution. Further information on research data management and, in particular, on the registration, archiving, publication, and citation of research data, can be found on the university website.

The Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) is a central academic institute at Bielefeld University. It bundles biotechnology and bioinformatics research to foster cross-linking of research approaches and technologies from different research fields and to develop innovative projects within its two main research areas: Large Scale Genomics and Big Data Bioinformatics and Metabolic Engineering of Unicellular Systems and Bioproduction. The availability of comprehensive technological infrastructure as provided by CeBiTec’s Technology Platforms is crucial for successful scientific work. The Technology Platform Genomics provides high throughput technologies for genome and post-genome research generating complex data sets enabling holistic approaches to describe microbial, plant, animal and human cells. The Technology Platform Bioinformatics provides software solutions, ranging from functional genome analysis and metagenomics to transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. A comprehensive computation and storage infrastructure including cloud computing environments, is made available for researchers from Bielefeld University and project partners.

CeBiTec and its technology platforms offers an environment which is considered unique at German universities. The CeBiTec was chosen to host the Coordination and Administration Unit of the German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure (de.NBI), a service and training network funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It is composed of eight service units across Germany, one of which is located at the CeBiTec.