Information for Researchers
Internationally recognized for its research program, Niwot Ridge LTER offers a diversity of expertise, infrastructure, landscapes, and organisms to test your ideas about mountain ecosystems. The very foundation of our LTER is collaboration, and by conducting research at Niwot, you can contribute to a legacy of science that advances theory and informs conservation. All Niwot Ridge researchers are expected to abide by our code of conduct.
Home > Research > Guidelines for Researchers
The Niwot Ridge LTER hosts facilities and field research infrastructure to support ongoing and new research. Research infrastructure is managed by our staff to support the collection of data that is quality controlled and freely available. To learn more about where our work takes place, view this interactive map of research plots.
Permits
All major manipulative experiments will be discussed with the NWT scientific community, with the intent of both increasing collaboration and maximizing field site utilization. Apply for a research permit.
Annual field orientation attendance is required for everyone conducting research on Niwot Ridge as part of LTER. This orientation provides information on safety, our code of conduct, transportation, and data policies. Prior to visiting the Niwot Ridge LTER, we encourage everyone to review the NWT safety orientation document and the NWT code of conduct.
Logistics
We run a shuttle from Boulder to the MRS and Cable Gate parking area for those conducting research on Niwot Ridge. Prior to taking the shuttle, we ask that everyone review our risk mitigation plan for further guidelines on conducting research on Niwot Ridge. You may also fill out an anonymous form to ask questions or report any concerns or incidents.
Mountain Research Station
The MRS provides lodging, parking, and classroom space for summer programs. There are cabins, a cafeteria, 6 classrooms, 2 wet labs, and 3 outdoor activity areas. Please review the MRS safety guidelines prior to your visit.
Best practice is to archive quality-controlled raw data (rather than calculated fields)
Access the detailed instructions from the button below.
REMINDER! All data collected with NWT LTER funds must be archived in collaboration with NWT’s information manager to ensure that it is discoverable through the NWT data catalog. Please do not independently archive NWT data elsewhere without first consulting with our information manager.
If you are using our datasets in your research, or if you are conducting research at Niwot directly, we want to know! Use the form below to share your publications with us. For questions, please email us.
We would love to know how you are engaging scientists, students, and the general public in your work. If you have an outreach project, please tell us all about it using the form below. Or, email us the details.
We adhere to agreed upon Authorship Guidelines .
Publications, models, and data products that make use of NWT datasets must include proper acknowledgement, including the appropriate citation of datasets used. Read about why citing data is important.
The following acknowledgment should accompany any publication that makes use of Niwot resources: Logistical support and/or data were provided by the NSF-supported Niwot Ridge LTER program (NWT VII: NSF DEB – 1637686, NWT VIII: NSF DEB-2224439)
Please consider using the following template for a land acknowledgement statement to include in Niwot manuscripts: The authors respectfully acknowledge and recognize our responsibility to the original and current caretakers of the land, air, and water at Niwot Ridge: the Ute, Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Paleoindian peoples and all of their ancestors and descendants. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work on these homelands.