Lab Notebook Digital
Document experiments and research activities in a digital lab notebook.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I document in my research lab notebook?
Comprehensive lab notebooks record: (1) Date and time of all activities, (2) Research questions or hypotheses being tested, (3) Experimental protocol with step-by-step procedures, (4) Materials/equipment used (with lot numbers, versions, settings), (5) Observations and raw data, (6) Calculations and data analysis, (7) Results including negative or unexpected findings, (8) Interpretations and conclusions, (9) Problems encountered and troubleshooting, (10) Future directions or next steps. Write as you work, not retrospectively. Include enough detail that someone else could replicate your work. Lab notebooks are legal documents demonstrating research integrity and establishing intellectual property.
What are the advantages of digital vs paper lab notebooks?
Digital advantages: searchability, easy data integration (images, graphs, files), automatic timestamps, cloud backup preventing loss, sharing with collaborators, version control. Paper advantages: no technology failures, faster for quick notes, legally accepted for patents. For digital notebooks, use dedicated software (Benchling, LabArchives, Jupyter) not general note apps. Ensure regular backups and institutional archiving. Digital notebooks may require authentication features (cannot alter entries after saving) for intellectual property documentation. Many labs use hybrid: digital for analysis and manuscripts, paper for real-time bench notes.