Dead Ends Make Sense, says Helena Reichlová in an Interview on Open Data, International Collaboration, and the Future of Spintronics

Our center was established by the Max Planck Society and the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports as a research institution focused on fundamental science. In my field, basic research can be motivated by potential applications. Still, I want to emphasize that my goal is not to develop specific products, but to discover new physical principles and materials that may eventually be applied. On an international level, I collaborate mainly through joint experiments, exchanging researchers, and organizing scientific meetings.

Data sharing is an integral part of modern science. The challenge is setting rules that consider the practices of different scientific disciplines. For example, shared data without detailed documentation and knowledge of the experimental setup is almost unusable for other researchers in my field. On the other hand, I see an excellent opportunity to share information about unsuccessful experiments, which are usually not published in scientific journals. Recording these “dead ends” makes a lot of sense because it helps prevent multiple research teams from unnecessarily going through the same mistakes.

Our experimental group typically generates data from transport measurements stored as text files. To make this data meaningful, it is essential to carefully document the measurement procedures and setup (component type, experiment geometry, wiring). Data storage is a given – it serves not only for further analysis but also for potential re-evaluation, for example, in light of newly formulated theoretical concepts. In such cases, it is possible to return to previously measured data and verify whether these earlier results confirm a theoretical prediction.

Do you work with your team's data management specialists (data stewards)? How can such experts best assist researchers, and what role should they ideally play in the team?

Our institution provides full support in data management, and a data management expert is an integral part of projects across various funding schemes. These specialists can advise on the optimal way to store and share data, considering the specifics of our field. They can also recommend procedures that comply with the requirements of different funders or publishers.

I believe that team diversity contributes to better results and a more pleasant atmosphere, as team members can complement each other on different levels. The best motivation is when members work on projects that are close to them or have designed themselves. Therefore, I give them relative freedom in deciding which direction to take, even if they want to initiate new collaborations. The pressure associated with expected results is a natural part of scientific work. It can even be a stimulus to some extent, and does not exceed a reasonable limit in our group.

If you were to design ideal support for working with experimental data, what should it include so that researchers see a clear benefit from collaboration and open science?

In my field, access to data is undoubtedly proper. Still, to ensure the reproducibility of experiments, it is often necessary to share the samples themselves or replicate experimental sets in another laboratory. This, however, falls more into direct collaboration between researchers.

I have ideal support from data experts when data management and sharing take as little time as possible. Therefore, I welcome functional software solutions that allow safe and efficient data sharing and storage.

My international experience has undoubtedly significantly influenced my approach to scientific work, from practical aspects such as measurement methods and data analysis to access to the latest knowledge in our field. Equally important is the network of contacts a researcher can build and actively use through international experience. This applies not only to the circulation of people (most of my team members come from abroad) but also to obtaining samples of interesting materials, access to specialized measurement equipment, or involvement in organizing international conferences and preparing international grant applications.

Balancing a demanding research career and personal life can be challenging. How do you manage both, and what advice would you give younger colleagues facing similar situations?

My work indeed requires a high degree of planning for family life. When it comes to combining starting a family with a scientific career, spending this period outside the Czech Republic proved practical, where support for parents of young children is minimal. Currently, the most effective approach with school-age children is to share household responsibilities equally between both parents. Another great advantage is the help of devoted grandparents. Although more demanding initially, I have also found that teaching children independence greatly facilitates family logistics in the long run.