diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ab0ddf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+# Documentation
+# https://docs.github.com/en/code-security/dependabot/dependabot-version-updates/configuration-options-for-the-dependabot.yml-file
+version: 2
+updates:
+-   package-ecosystem: github-actions
+    directory: /
+    schedule:
+        interval: monthly
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate_cff.yml b/.github/workflows/validate_cff.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c32e153
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate_cff.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+name: validate CITATION.cff
+
+on:
+    push:
+        branches: main
+    pull_request:
+        branches: ['*']
+
+jobs:
+    validate_cff:
+        runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+        steps:
+        -   uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        -   name: Check whether the citation metadata from CITATION.cff is valid
+            uses: citation-file-format/cffconvert-github-action@2.0.0
+            with:
+                args: --validate
diff --git a/CITATION.cff b/CITATION.cff
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..132117c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CITATION.cff
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+cff-version: 1.2.0
+
+title: "giga_connectome"
+
+version: 0.4.1dev
+
+abstract:
+  "generate connectome from fMRIPrep outputs."
+
+message: "If you use this software, please cite it as below."
+
+repository-code: "https://github.com/SIMEXP/giga_connectome"
+
+contact:
+  - email: htwangtw@gmail.com
+    family-names: Wang
+    given-names: Hao-Ting
+
+authors:
+  - family-names: Wang
+    given-names: Hao-Ting
+    email: htwangtw@gmail.com
+  - family-names: Dessain
+    given-names: Quentin
+  - family-names: Natasha 
+    given-names: Clarke
+     
+
+license: MIT