CHM Undergrads - How to Keep a Lab Notebook
Contents
Paper Lab Notebooks
Traditional paper lab notebooks are the choice of many top researchers and scientists for their simplicity and ease-of-use.
Features
- Sturdy, gridded or lined or blank notebook
- 50-200 pages
- Stitched binding
- Medium-sized
- Large enough to write and sketch clearly, small enough to carry everywhere
- Notes written in pen
Electronic Lab Notebooks
"An ELN (electronic lab notebook) is a software tool that in its most basic form replicates an interface much like a page in a paper lab notebook. ELNs have been widely used in private sector labs for many years, but only recently have major higher education institutions started to offer this service to their researchers. In online notebooks you can enter protocols, observations, notes, and other data using your computer or mobile device. Benefits of an ELN include searchability, sharing, links, portability, and data calculation." (Source: LabArchives at UW-Madison) ELNs have special compliance and data guidelines.
To learn more about ELNs, visit https://eln.wisc.edu/.
Using Your Lab Notebook
In a fast-paced, multitasking lab, it is more important than ever to keep a clear and detailed record of your activities. Your lab notebook does the following:
- Permanent, consecutive, dated notes/details of your work
- Clear and consistent central repository for all important information relating to your research.
- A place to review your work, ideas, and results
- Record for your coworkers who may use your data in the future
- Evidence of authorship or inventorship in case of a disagreement, lawsuit, or patent dispute.
Your lab notebook should include:
- Your name, supervisor, office number, and phone number
- Today’s date on the top of the page for each new entry
- Page numbers
- No removed pages or erasures
- Neat, organized, and legible writing
- Only your writing/notes
- Your understanding of the purpose, aims, and hypotheses of the experiment
- Description of what you’re trying to accomplish and how
- Details, details, details
- Ideas on improving your research
- Any equations, formulas, and scientific assumptions relevant to your current work.
- All data tables required for the current study/session/trial (or their location)
- Experimental observations
- Calculations
- Notes of discussions
- Copies of charts, graphs, diagrams, and photos
- Equipment settings
- Test measurement values
- Names of coworkers
- Details of mistakes, problems, or lapses in data collection
- Changes in protocol
- Notes from lab meetings and team meetings
Note: Supervisors may have special instructions for lab notebooks in their lab. Please contact your supervisor if you have any questions.