Dear LMU Faculty,

ITS is here to support your summer research endeavors. In this edition of the Instructional Technology team's newsletter, we've collaborated with groups around campus to preview the comprehensive suite of support resources available to you.

You'll learn from: 

Advances in AI have introduced tools that can surface scholarly literature in ways that conventional databases cannot.

For example, as a supplement to traditional library database searches, some AI-powered tools may leverage natural language and conversational search.

Hannon Library offers several tools (all with free tiers), including:

Hannon Library also offers an AI Research Tools LibGuide, which outlines the key features, benefits, drawbacks, and potential applications of AI-powered research tools. The guide uses a framework for ethically evaluating AI tools called TAAP, which stands for Transparency, Authority, Accuracy, and Privacy. These principles help guide responsible selection and use.

Remember: avoid uploading sensitive or confidential materials to AI tools without first checking the tool’s privacy policy. Sensitive materials include student data, unpublished research, or anything covered by FERPA.

For questions about using AI tools to support your academic research, contact Susan Archambault, Head of the Reference and Instruction at Hannon Library.

The ITS Research Computing Services team partners with faculty at every stage of the research process, to help faculty translate their research questions into computational support. Key elements of that support can include software, computing infrastructure, data management strategies, and security practices.

Whether you're exploring new analytic methods, managing complex or sensitive datasets, scaling computation beyond a personal device, or preparing for grant-funded work, Research Computing Services offers consultative support designed around your research goals. Rather than navigating tools and compliance on your own, you can work with the team to design sustainable, secure, and scalable research environments that let you focus on advancing knowledge.

Learn more about getting support for your work at the Research Computing web page.

As an LMU employee who works with research data, you play an important role as a data steward.

The way data is stored and shared directly affects research participants, collaborators, and the university. Risk increases each time data is copied or shared, but small, thoughtful decisions can significantly reduce the threat.

As a reminder, external drives and third‑party storage services (such as personal cloud accounts) introduce additional risk beyond your LMU devices, and should be reviewed with ITS before use.

The following tips can help ensure that you, your devices, and data remain secure: 

RISK MANAGEMENT

Keeping data in fewer, well‑protected places, and limiting access to only those who need it, helps protect participants and reduce exposure if a system is ever compromised.

Key questions to consider before storing or sharing research data:
•  How sensitive is the data in terms of personal,
    confidential, or regulated information?
•  Who truly needs access to do their work?
•  How long must the data be kept?
•  Will the data be shared with external tools,
    vendors, or collaborators?

STORAGE PRACTICES

• Use Box for cloud storage. Box is the university‑recommended platform for research data storage and collaboration, and helps manage access, restrict downloads, and set expiration dates on shared links within a secure, institution‑supported environment.
• Use LMU‑managed devices for physical backups. LMU devices are encrypted by default, and can be used for limited or temporary local storage when necessary. For highly sensitive data, or in case a device is lost or accessed by someone else, add encryption with a password at the file level for an extra layer of protection.

For more tips and best practices, visit the Data Protection and Secure Storage web page.

If you plan to engage in research involving human subjects during the summer months, LMU's Institutional Review Board (IRB) provides helpful tips and best practices.

You can access CITI training information, links to all forms and documents required for protocol submission, and other helpful resources. The IRB also shares recommendations on how to plan around summer review timelines.

Visit the IRB website for more information.

310.338.7777
servicedesk@lmu.edu

213.736.1097
servicedesk@lls.edu

Produced by LMU Information Technology Services

This communication was approved by LMU Internal Communications.

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