Research Data Management at CSHL: Electronic Lab Notebooks

Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) facilitate data storage and organization and, compared to print lab notebooks, provide advanced features that allow for data storage, searchability, data integration, data analysis, and the ability to share among collaborators. 

Pictured below: Examples of two ELN interfaces (Benchling, left; Labfolder, right).

Benefits of using ELNs:

• searchability
• remote access 
• ability to easily share with collaborators
• easy to decipher
• allows for capture and incorporation of high-quality images
• provides a timestamp for future patent protection
• ability to import / export data files
• allows for long-term storage and preservation 
• easy to copy and paste entries to adapt future experiments instead of rewriting the same material

Downsides of ELNs:

• Potential costs (e.g., when data storage or number of users exceed limits)
• Reliance on network connections and stability of the company
• Time and effort to figure out what best suites your research

Resources 

Popular, higher rated ELNs:

• Hivebench
• Benchling
• RSpace - Video overview here
• SciNote - Video overview here
• LabArchives - Video overview here
• Docollab
• Labfolder
• Mbook
• Labguru

Information on what ELN suites you best:

• Article from Nature describing how to pick an electronic lab notebook
• ELN comparison grid from Harvard 
• Advice and guide from labfolder.
• Additional comparison tables from University of Cambridge

Creating and maintaining ELNs:

• iBiology - https://courses.ibiology.org/courses/course-v1:iBiology+LE+SP/info
• NIH - https://www.training.nih.gov/assets/Lab_Notebook_508_%28new%29.pdf
• MIT - http://web.mit.edu/me-ugoffice/communication/labnotebooks.pdf
• Rice Univ. - https://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/notebook/notebook.html

Please contact us for assistance and recommendations on Electronic Lab Notebooks:

Phone: +1 516.367.6872
Librarian Email: libraryhelp@cshl.edu