1) Either a web or Windows application can work here, although a web application would work better if they are geographically spaced far apart, or if you had a lot more than 25 researchers. I would recommend that you program on the platform that is most comfortable to you. In either case, you should implement some kind of authentication scheme so that only authorized researchers can upload data.
2) SQL database.
3) I don't know what are the licensing terms for the student editions (read carefully!), but if you're so worried about that, then you can use the Express Editions of Visual Studio. Those in fact can be used for commercial development.
In silico
2010-06-17 08:36:28