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Electronic Lab Notebooks

Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) enable researchers to organize and store experimental procedures, protocols, notes, and data, using their computer or mobile device. ELNs can offer several advantages over the traditional paper notebook in documenting research during the active phase of a project, including searchability within and across notebooks, secure storage with multiple redundancies, remote access to notebooks, and the ability to easily share notebooks among team members and collaborators. View Harvard’s ELN Comparison Grid to learn more about different ELN options and considerations you should make when choosing an ELN vendor. 

LabArchives  

LabArchives is a cloud-based Electronic Lab Notebook to enable researchers to store, organize, and publish their research data. Special features include iOS and Android Apps, classroom integration, and support for funding agencies' data management plan requirements. LabArchives is free to use for Yale community members who have an active Yale email address. 

Key features of lab archives include:

  • Ability to upload and store files including text, tables, images, spreadsheets, and attachments in their original format.

  • Ability to create standard ELN formats and templates for your research group.

  • Compatibility across multiple platforms, including mobile devices.

  • Maintain all revisions of ELN entries.

  • Note: LabArchives can currently only store low-risk data. Learn more about low, moderate and high risk data guidelines from Yale’s Cyber Security Team

There are several online resources to help you get started: