The mission of NFDI4Microbiota is to facilitate and stimulate data sharing according to the FAIR principles to ensure easy, open and efficient access to microbial research data and their associated metadata. An important means to achieve this goal is to implement Use Cases. These are scientific projects in the broad field of microbiology research that are performed at partner and participant institutions with the involvement of one or multiple additional stakeholders (e.g. single institutions, research consortia, societies). Use Cases should help to

1. test and fine-tune solutions developed in NFDI4Microbiota based on actual scientific projects and generate actual scientific results or reusable tools.
2. bring the expertise of several stakeholders involved in the Use Cases together to create elaborate solutions that can be easily adapted by other research projects to make their work more efficient.
3. nurture ideas for the consortium to implement additional measures to address newly detected needs.

NFDI4Microbiota has an overview of currently active Use Cases. The project leads are always welcoming input and contributions to expand and check how relevant their solutions might be to other scientists.

To learn more about the possibility to contribute, check out the “How you can contribute” section of each Use Case that you are thematically interested in. If your profile, interest and knowledge overlap with what the Use Case project leads seek, you are more than welcome to contact the project leads directly or use our contact form with the issue type “Use Cases” to get in touch."

As a selected UC, you have the following benefits

• Access and support from the NFDI4Microbiota community concerning services, trainings, technical infrastructure, etc. targeted to your Use Case application
• Participation in workshops to present and discuss
• Networking and connecting with the community
• Possibility to apply to NFDI4Microbiota’s project funding (Flex Funds)

By submitting a UC, you commit to the following points

• Contributing to UC workshops
• Actively contributing to the Use Case
• Working with NFDI4Microbiota to ensure smooth integration with our offered services
• active communication with NFDI4Microbiota

Use Cases can be submitted by

• NFDI4Microbiota partners
• NFDI4Microbiota participants and their ambassadors
• externals with a relation to the topics research data management and microbiome research.

The next round of submissions will open in 2023. The submission will take place via a form and upload function on the web portal. Stay tuned for more information.