How to Make Your Research FAIR: Sharing Manuscripts, Data & Code with DOIs

If you’ve applied for grants or looked at journal policies recently, you’ve probably seen the word “FAIR.” It’s usually mentioned in the same breath as data sharing, compliance, or reproducibility. FAIR stands for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Nice acronym. But what does that mean for you, the person actually trying to get a manuscript out the door?

The short version: FAIR is about making your research usable. Not just today, but in a year, five years, or even longer. If another researcher comes across your work down the line, can they track down your data? Can they actually open it? Will they understand what it contains and whether they can use it? If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.

What FAIR means in practice

Let’s make it concrete.

• Findable: Your dataset or code should be easy to discover. Not hidden in a forgotten lab folder, but in a repository with a DOI and decent metadata.
• Accessible: Once someone finds it, they should be able to reach it. That could mean open access, or it could mean a clear process for requesting access. What it shouldn’t mean is a broken link in your supplementary materials.
• Interoperable: Think about file formats and standards. A CSV is usable almost anywhere. A custom format from outdated software is not.
• Reusable: This is about context. A dataset with no documentation is basically a mystery file. Add a README, explain your variables, and choose a license that makes reuse possible.

FAIR isn’t about over-engineering everything. It’s about taking the extra steps that make your outputs part of the scientific conversation instead of dead weight.

Why research outputs go beyond manuscripts

The manuscript is the visible part of your work, but it’s not the whole story. Behind every figure are datasets, scripts, models, and protocols. Too often, those stay locked away.

Think about it: a paper that claims a big result but doesn’t share the underlying data is basically untestable. A methods section without code is a recipe with half the steps missing. On the flip side, when data and code are published alongside the article, the research becomes something more. It’s not just a static PDF anymore, it’s a resource.

That’s what the shift toward FAIR is all about: treating data, code, and other outputs as first-class research products.

Benefits of DOIs: credit, citations, visibility, funder compliance

Here’s where DOIs come in.

A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is not just a link. It’s a permanent, citable marker that makes sure your dataset or code isn’t lost in the shuffle. For researchers, this matters because:

• DOIs make it possible to get credit when others use your work.
• Citations to data and code are increasingly tracked. That visibility counts.
• DOIs help your outputs show up in repositories and search tools.
• Most funders now require open sharing. DOIs are the simplest way to prove you’ve complied.

In short: without DOIs, your supporting files can fade into obscurity. With them, they become part of your professional record.

Step by step: planning, preparing, depositing, linking DOIs

You don’t have to reinvent your workflow to do this. A few adjustments go a long way.

1. Plan early: Decide which outputs you’ll share and check the relevant funder or journal rules.
2. Prepare: Clean your files, write README docs, and make sure your code runs without you hovering over it.
3. Deposit: Use a repository that issues DOIs. Zenodo is a solid general option, but many fields have their own.
4. Link: Connect everything. The manuscript should point to the data and the code. Those outputs should point back to the paper.

Once you’ve done this a couple of times, it becomes a natural part of your research routine.

How DeSci Publish streamlines integrated sharing

Here’s the reality: most researchers end up scattering their outputs across multiple platforms. Manuscripts on a preprint server. Data somewhere else. Code on GitHub. Keeping it all connected is messy, and half the time readers miss key pieces.

That’s why we built DeSci Publish. Instead of juggling three or four different systems, you can upload your manuscript, datasets, code, and any other outputs in one place. Each piece gets a DOI. The platform automatically links everything, so anyone who finds your work sees the complete package.

It saves you time. It makes FAIR compliance straightforward. And it gives your research more visibility, because everything is connected and citable from the start.

FAIR principles might feel like one more set of rules to follow, but they’re really about making your work matter more. Sharing your manuscripts, data, and code with DOIs doesn’t just tick a box for funders. It ensures your research is findable, usable, and lasting. With tools like DeSci Publish, it’s easier than ever to do it right.

‍