Electronic Lab Notebooks

Electronic Lab Notebooks: Enhancing Scientific Research with Superior Data Management and Collaborative Tools

Understanding the Importance of Electronic Laboratory Notebooks in Modern Research Data Management

Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs) are a pivotal tool for Research Data Management (RDM). They digitize and document experimental data and metadata, making it easy to upload to the most fitting data repositories. ELNs streamline the experimental workflow, enabling automatic data capture from instruments, and offer a versatile workspace for analyzing data from various techniques, like correlative characterization. Utilizing an ELN is a key step, for example in fully digitalizing Materials Science for future information processing.

The systematic implementation of RDM is crucial for efficient data (re-)use within the research community. This facilitates the development and refinement of models for virtual material systems and the creation of materials and technologies with exceptional properties. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), access to well-curated data repositories becomes imperative. This is coupled with the need for automated recording of experimental procedures and metadata.

Exploring Advanced ELNs from Helmholtz Information Centers

Discover the Diverse ELNs from Helmholtz Information Centers: Explore a range of Electronic Lab Notebooks developed to cater to various research needs in materials science and beyond. These tools are designed to facilitate collaborative research, data management, and innovative scientific discoveries.

Kadi4Mat is an open-source software for managing research data, which supports close cooperation between experimenters, theorists, and simulators, especially in the field of materials science.
Introducing Kadi4Mat: Streamline Your Materials Science Research with Our Advanced Data Management and Collaboration Tools
Kadi4Mat is Karlsruhe Data Infrastructure for Materials Science, an open-source software for managing research data. It is being developed as part of several research projects at the Institute for Applied Materials (IAM) and the Institute of Nano Technology (INT) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The web-based application combines the possibility to analyze, visualize and transform said data in the electronic lab notebook (ELN) and the possibility of structured storage of research data and corresponding metadata and data exchange through a repository. The ELN component is focused on the automated and documented execution of heterogeneous workflows, while the repository component focuses on unpublished data that is yet to be analysed further. The ELN can be described as ELN 2.0, which offers automation by providing API. This improved automation provides a more direct way to capture data provenance of the resources in Kadi4Mat. In this way, a virtual research environment is created which facilitates collaboration between researchers. The software was developed to support close cooperation between experimenters, theorists, and simulators, especially in materials science but it has been kept as generic as possible. It also offers the facility to directly publish data on external systems like Zenodo. Research data management with Kadi4Mat increases cooperation between researchers, taking into account the FAIR data philosophy.

The following are the functionalities offered by Kadi4Mat:

KadiWeb, a generally accessible web-based version of Kadi4Mat incorporating a classical ELN and a repository.

KadiStudio, a desktop-based software version that allows the formulation and execution of workflows that can also be used offline.

KadiFS, an open source software for mounting resources from Kadi4Mat into the file system.

KadiAI and CIDS, are Kadi4Mat's interface and solution for integrated Machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Developed at:
Institute for Nanotechnology (INT) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Contact:
For inquiries, assistance, or feedback, please contact Dr.-Ing. Michael Selzer

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SampleDB is a web-based electronic lab notebook with a focus on sample and measurement metadata and the customizability to track metadata for various fields of study

Introducing Sample DB: An Electronic Lab Notebook for Efficient Data Management and Research Collaboration

From sample creation to its location in long-term storage, SampleDB can help you track each step in the sample lifecycle. By documenting how a sample is created or processed, used for a measurement or a publication, you ensure that all information is readily available whenever you need it.

The SampleDB schema system allows you to define exactly what metadata should be stored for each process, from a simple check box to Markdown-powered rich text, timeseries and plotly charts. This way you can represent all kinds of processes which generate metadata, from regular lab tasks to planning research projects, from instrument configurations to simulation setups.

SampleDB also provides a comprehensive HTTP API, which you can use to automate both data entry and common data processing tasks. SampleDB instances can directly exchange data with each other, as well as export data to Dataverse, SciCat or .eln archives supported by other ELNs.

Developed at:
Peter-Grünberg-Institute / Jülich Centre for Neutron Science – Technical and Administrative Infrastructure at Forschungszentrum Jülich

Contact:
For inquiries, assistance, or feedback, please contact Florian Rhiem

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The ELN Herbie enables comfortable ontology-driven interconnected documentation of experimental and characterization processes across different research fields, such as materials science and biology

Herbie ELN: Streamline Biomaterials Research with Custom Data Management and Process Integration for Labs

The ELN Herbie is originally tailored to cover and interlink the heterogeneous process chain of metallic biomaterials research, including materials development, biological characterization, and synchrotron imaging. Due to its modular structure, however, it is already being adapted to other fields of materials science. Herbie is ideally suited for labs with fabrication and characterization processes that are somehow standardized or performed more than once in a similar way. Users enter data in well-structured, pre-defined protocols of each process for comparability, quality assurance, and usability. The protocols are then flexibly linked to reflect the complete lifecycle of a sample or experiment. Additional free-text entries linked with research entities like people, projects, equipment, samples, and data files enable the user to find everything relevant interconnected in one place. The inserted information is easily accessible in different contexts, such as chronological filterable journals or a tabular database view filled from the entries in the protocols. We want Herbie to fit well in the existing software ecosystem, so it provides export, import, an API, and connections to other software, such as the ELN Chemotion.

Developed at:
Institute of Metallic Biomaterials (MB) at Helmholtz-Center Hereon

Contact:
For inquiries, assistance, or feedback, please contact Catriona Eschke or Fabian Kirchner

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Chemotion ELN and its extension LabIMotion support scientists in their daily experimental work, addressing challenges related to documentation and digitalization in the field of experimental sciences, with a special focus on chemistry

Introducing Chemotion and LabIMotion: Revolutionizing Scientific Research and Data Management in Chemistry and Beyond

The ELN Chemotion is a tool designed for chemists and other scientists in related disciplines. Its development began at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and evolved into a collaborative effort within NFDI4Chem, where it was chosen as the reference instance for ELNs. Chemotion provides a wide range of functions for experimental work, encompassing tasks such as scientific experiment calculations, data processing, and measurement data analysis. The LabIMotion extension enables the ELN's utilization and customization for disciplines beyond chemistry, offering versatile functionality to accommodate the requirements of scientists engaged in interdisciplinary environments.

The generic functions are continuously expanded and adjusted within the RF Information. Chemotion ELN, along with the LabIMotion extension, streamlines the publication of research data by facilitating the transfer of data from a user's ELN account to a research data repository. This capability significantly reduces the effort required by scientists to grant access to their research data.

Developed at:
Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems (IBCS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Contact:
For inquiries, assistance, or feedback, please contact Nicole Jung

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Selecting the Ideal Electronic Lab Notebook for Your Research Needs

In the diverse landscape of Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs), finding the right fit for your research can be crucial yet challenging. Each ELN is tailored to cater to specific research needs and workflows, and making an informed choice is essential for aligning with your research objectives and practices. When evaluating ELNs, consider several key factors to ensure that your choice not only meets your current research requirements but also offers adaptability for future needs.

Key considerations include:

By taking these factors into account, you can make a well-informed decision, ensuring that the ELN you choose effectively supports your research while safeguarding data integrity and facilitating collaboration.

Electronic Lab Notebooks

Understanding the Importance of Electronic Laboratory Notebooks in Modern Research Data Management

Kadi4Mat

SampleDB

Herbie

Chemotion and LabIMotion

Selecting the Ideal Electronic Lab Notebook for Your Research Needs

Suitability and Adaptability to Research

Support and Open-Source Options

Data Storage Security

Compatibility and Interoperability

Data Transfer Capabilities

Exit Strategies