Better data starts with a better system.
Every research project is different. My databases are built around your specific data collection needs, whether that means transforming your existing paper or Excel forms into a fully functional FileMaker system, or designing something new from the ground up in close collaboration with you.
Each database is:
Relational, linking tables of records, attributes, and images in a structured system.
Deployable on iPad via FileMaker Go for offline field use, and accessible on any Mac or Windows computer with FileMaker Pro.
Designed with standardized data entry in mind: pop-up menus, value lists, and visual guides that keep your data clean and consistent, especially when working with teams or student users.
Can be powered by scripts that allow you to level up your workflow beyond the database (e.g., formatted exports and reports).
Built to accommodate field and laboratory settings.
Care for your workflow
A database is only as good as the workflow around it. I can also advise on broader digital data collection strategies, including how your FileMaker database fits into your project’s overall recording, storage, and analysis pipeline. This includes guidance on file management, backup protocols, deployment in remote environments, and integration with other apps or tools you may already be using.
A database changes how you work — and how you think about your data
Researchers who move from paper forms or spreadsheets to a relational database often find that the change is more than logistical. When your data are structured, linked, and immediately searchable as you collect them, patterns become visible earlier. Connections between contexts and materials that might take weeks to organize and identify manually can surface in minutes. Data entry becomes more consistent, errors are caught sooner, and the record you build is one you can actually analyze, not just archive.
A well-designed database doesn't just store your observations. It helps you ask better questions of them.