Tips on Maintaining an Effective Lab Notebook for Bench Research

Abstract

Efficient and organized data storage is an essential aspect of bench research and helps to maintain the integrity of the laboratory. Such processes allow investigators to report scientific data with confidence, accuracy, and transparency. The recording of experimental techniques and protocols also facilitate experimental reproducibility. These elements of scientific record maintenance are key requirements of academic institutions as well as federal funding agencies that support the work. In the modern era, paper laboratory books cannot keep up with the varied forms and volumes of data that can be generated with current investigative tools. The integration of electronic data storage into the laboratory record-keeping process enables investigators to catalog all the complex information derived from scientific investigations. It also allows for accessibility for collaboration. Regardless of the type of laboratory notebook, detail, accountability, and transparency are key elements of maintenance and require diligence on the part of the investigator to consistently achieve these goals.