diff --git a/setLocalDataPath.m b/setLocalDataPath.m
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41296ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setLocalDataPath.m
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+function localDataPath = setLocalDataPath(varargin)
+% function LocalDataPath = setLocalDataPath(varargin)
+% Return the path to the root CCEP  directory and add paths in this repo
+%
+% input:  
+%   personalDataPath: optional, set to 1 if adding personalDataPath
+%
+% when adding personalDataPath, the following function should be in the
+% root of this repo:
+%
+% function localDataPath = personalDataPath()
+%     'localDataPath = [/my/path/to/data];
+%             
+% function localDataPath = personalDataPath(1)
+%     % to load path from personalDataPath
+%
+% personalDataPath is ignored in .gitignore
+%
+% dhermes, 2020, Multimodal Neuroimaging Lab
+
+
+if isempty(varargin)
+    rootPath = which('setLocalDataPath');
+    ccepRepoPath = fileparts(rootPath);
+
+    % add path to functions
+    addpath(genpath(ccepRepoPath));
+
+    % add localDataPath default
+    localDataPath = fullfile(ccepRepoPath,'data');
+elseif ~isempty(varargin)
+    % add path to data
+    if varargin{1}==1 && exist('personalDataPath','file')
+        localDataPath = personalDataPath();
+        
+    elseif varargin{1}==1 && ~exist('personalDataPath','file')
+        sprintf(['add personalDataPath function to add your localDataPath:\n'...
+            '\n'...
+            'function localDataPath = personalDataPath()\n'...
+            'localDataPath.input = [/my/path/to/data];\n'...
+            'localDataPath.output = [/my/path/to/output];\n'...
+            '\n'...
+            'this function is ignored in .gitignore'])
+        return
+    end
+    
+    % add path to functions
+    rootPath = which('setLocalDataPath');
+    ccepRepoPath = fileparts(rootPath);
+    addpath(genpath(ccepRepoPath));
+end
+
+return
+