Source: eLabFTW
In the ever-evolving landscape of research, documentation remains a cornerstone of scientific progress. Traditionally, researchers have relied on analog lab journals, but the shift towards digital solutions offers numerous advantages. Electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) not only enhance searchability, allowing easy retrieval of past experiments, but also ensure consistency through structured templates and metadata profiles.
RWTH Aachen University has adopted eLabFTW as its central ELN, hosted as a software-as-a-service by the French company Deltablot. This partnership reduces the demand on our IT Center and provides a flexible, customizable platform suitable for diverse research fields, reflecting the university’s multidisciplinary research environment. eLabFTW boasts a robust user community within German academia and beyond, with close ties to its developers.
For most, eLabFTW will suffice for documenting work, linking experimental data, and managing basic lab workflows. However, it’s important to note that highly sensitive data, such as patient information, should not be stored in the ELN at this time.
While eLabFTW is designed to meet the needs of all researchers, some fields may require more specialized solutions. Researchers are encouraged to explore the ELN Finder for additional options.
Source: from B. Adam, L. C. Bossert, M. Cyra et. al, Raus aus dem Kladdenchaos: Elektronische Laborbücher als zentrale Dienstleistung – Erfahrungen und Empfehlungen, Bausteine FDM, 2023. https://doi.org/10.17192/bfdm.2023.5.8553
Pilot Phase Launched
The pilot phase of eLabFTW began in mid-June 2024 and will run for one year. Post-pilot, we aim to continue the service seamlessly, utilizing feedback to streamline support, and improve workflows for team requests and adding new users. This phase will also help us determine how to scale the service and potentially adjust our agreement with Deltablot based on demand.
To join the pilot phase, please review the information on ITC Help and submit your request to the IT-ServiceDesk. New pilot groups will be evaluated individually. You can also check out the live eLabFTW demo to better determine if this ELN is right for your research.
As soon as eLabFTW enters regular operation, we will publish an article for the series Central RDM Services at RWTH.
Responsible for the content of this article is Nicole Parks.
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