Career Pathway Interview: Dana Ransby, Data Manager and Editor at PANGAEA (Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science) — Empowering Environmental Scientists to Leverage Data for Discovery

In this interview, we feature Dana Ransby (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3643-333X), Data Manager and Editor at PANGAEA (Fig. 1).

I first got to know Dana between late 2018 and early 2019. At that time, data papers were still relatively unknown in the scientific community, particularly in the field of aquatic science (Cloern and Soranno 2019). I wanted to prepare one to facilitate the easier and more straightforward reuse of the ecological data I had collected during my MSc and the early fieldwork campaigns of my PhD. To do so, I needed to deposit my data in a dedicated repository, and I chose “PANGAEA—Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science” (Felden et al. 2023; see also https://www.pangaea.de/). Shortly after submitting my data, I received a polite and professional email from Dana, informing me that my submission required significant restructuring to meet the repository's guidelines and formatting standards. From that point on, she became my primary contact at PANGAEA, always offering her support with good humor and exceptional competence. Dana continued to assist me with each subsequent data submission—but fortunately, I eventually learned how to format everything correctly on the first attempt!

Here, I asked her more about her work at PANGAEA and how she came to this role.

A.S.: CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOUR BACKGROUND AND THE POSITION THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN?

D.R.: I am a geoscientist with an academic background in geophysics and geochemistry from Charles University in Prague, where I developed an unexpected fascination for marine geology; quite unusual for a rock-lady from a land-locked country. This interest became more relevant after moving to North Germany, where I pursued a PhD in environmental physics at the University of Bremen. My doctoral research focused on radiometric dating of recent sediment cores from diverse aquatic environments, while my postdoctoral work at the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM), University of Bremen deepened my expertise in artificial radionuclide tracers and oceanic sediment pathways. Currently, I am a data manager and editor at PANGAEA at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, in Bremerhaven. My responsibilities include managing, curating, and publishing datasets to support a wide range of environmental science communities, including the aquatic science field.

A.S.: HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM ACADEMIA TO YOUR CURRENT POSITION?

D.R.: It happened gradually. During my postdoc at MARUM, University of Bremen, a significant part of my responsibilities involved supporting PhD students within a marine sciences graduate school. This experience opened my eyes to various science services roles and non-academic career paths. While developing my own research, I also invested in learning coding skills that were crucial for data analysis—skills my initial studies had barely covered. Surrounded by colleagues who inspired and guided me, I built a toolkit that prepared me for broader roles. Although I initially aspired to a lab management career, I stayed flexible. When a position as a data editor at the PANGAEA data repository became available, I recognized it as a great opportunity to combine my scientific background with my growing technical and collaborative skills.

A.S.: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO FOLLOW YOUR CAREER PATH?

D.R.: To be honest, my initial motivation to follow the data management career path was tied to my dream to work at the Alfred Wegener Institute, known for its excellent research and impressive polar and marine science infrastructure. While I had tried to join the institute in the past, this role turned out to be the perfect match. My position within the wonderful PANGAEA team places me at the intersection of science and IT within the institute's computing center, allowing me to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. For instance, soon after joining PANGAEA, I supported the data flows and data publication efforts for the MOSAiC Arctic Ocean drift experiment (Frickenhaus et al. 2022). Working with project scientists and data managers from other data repositories presented an enormous learning curve, but it only reinforced how rewarding it is to contribute to scientific discovery.

A.S.: WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD TELL PEOPLE CONSIDERING A CAREER AS A DATA EDITOR/MANAGER/CURATOR? WHAT DO YOU WISH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN?

D.R.: It is ideal to build strong skills in data analysis and programming early on and keep up to date with evolving technologies. However, this role is not just about technical expertise. Communication and collaboration skills are equally important, as we work closely with researchers to provide a service that meets their needs. Challenges can arise, such as tight deadlines, system limitations, or users who may not be fully motivated to engage with best practices in data management. Navigating these situations requires patience, diplomacy, and creative problem-solving. Resilience under stress and maintaining a user-focused mindset is key to success in data management. Ultimately, our field is as much about working with people as it is about working with data.

A.S.: WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT YOUR POSITION? WHAT ASPECTS DO YOU NOT ENJOY?

D.R.: One of the most exciting aspects of my position is its interdisciplinarity. At PANGAEA, we serve a diverse range of environmental science communities, and working with such varied users is both refreshing and inspiring. It is motivating to see the practical impact our work has on advancing open data dissemination and reproducible science. Interacting with researchers from around the world and ensuring that valuable datasets are preserved and effectively reused is rewarding. That said, some aspects of the job can be less enjoyable. Routine tasks can become repetitive, and it is sometimes challenging to work with contributors who are not in tune with the data management process (Fig. 2). However, these challenges also bring opportunities to educate and improve workflows. As part of the team responsible for training, both new colleagues and PANGAEA users within and beyond our institute, I enjoy fostering better understanding and collaboration.

A.S.: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

D.R.: A unique part of my role is how closely I get to know the data. Sometimes, I find myself understanding datasets almost as deeply as the researchers who collected them. While we are not responsible for a full content peer review, we often spot inconsistencies or errors. When authors entrust us with their data, we can team up to present it in a way that enhances its value and reusability—something I enjoy contributing to.

When the work becomes tedious, I find inspiration in the stories behind the data. Plotting georeferenced datasets on a map often takes me on a mental journey to the places where the research was conducted: a mosquito-infested peat bog, an Antarctic station shrouded in the polar night for months without end, or a vibrant coral reef beneath the waves. It is a reminder of the extraordinary environments we are working to understand and protect, making even the most routine tasks feel meaningful.

AS declares he is an Associate Editor of Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin.