How to maintain a lab notebook and organise your research

What will you learn?

  1. What lab notes are and their role in good research practice
  2. Know the key sections of a lab notebook
  3. How to make entries in a lab notebook
  4. Legal and ethical responsibilities involved with lab notes
  5. All you need to know about electronic note-making
  6. An overview of documents based on lab notebooks

Course Description

As a researcher, your lab notebook is your most valuable tool and main working document that will include hypotheses, experimental setup, evaluations, data, interpretations, calculations, and early analysis. It is in fact, the first record of your research activity from experiment to observation and must be meticulously maintained.

This structured program highlights several useful tips on the types of sections and entries a researcher should ideally maintain, and the basic thumb rules to follow. It outlines the legal and ethical implications of keeping notes, wraps up with an overview of electronic note-making and documents based on lab notes. The course also dwells on how keeping a well-maintained lab notebook is a good scientific practice and crucial in lab research for organizational and legal purposes.


What topics will you cover?

Lecture 1: Introduction

Lecture 2: Objectives

Lecture 3: What are lab notes?

Lecture 4: Legal and ethical implications

Lecture 5: Design of a lab notebook

Lecture 6: The front matter

Lecture 7: The body

Lecture 8: Non-obligatory rules

Lecture 9: Electronic laboratory notebooks

Lecture 10: Documents based on lab notes

Lecture 11: Summary


Your Instructor


R Upskill
R Upskill

Part of Cactus Communications’ R ecosystem of tools and solutions for researchers, R Upskill is a learning platform that comprises of the largest collection of researcher-focused programs, developed by top academic experts. Learn anytime, anywhere with bite-sized online programs on research writing, journal publication, career development, science communication, funding, researcher wellness, and more. Our multi-format programs come with expert advice, practical examples, and a certificate on course completion, which allow researchers to apply what they’ve learnt to excel in real-world scenarios. Trusted by top academic institutions, and over 15,000 researchers, R Upskill empowers researchers to master new skills on the path to all-round researcher success.


Course Curriculum


  How to maintain a lab notebook and organise your research
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