The federal government normally assigns ownership of data generated in activities that it funds to a grantee institution (i.e., UNH), not an individual (i.e., principal investigator). As this study is federally-funded, the institution owns the data, not the faculty member.

Supposing this situation takes place at UNH, the University assigns custody of research data that it owns to the principal investigator (faculty member) who is expected to discharge his/her custodial responsibilities in accordance with responsible data management practices as outlined in the UNH Policy on Ownership and Management of Research Data. These address collection, recording, sharing, and retention of, and access to, research data. Therefore, although the faculty member is responsible for custody of the data, he does not own it.