LabArchives is an electronic laboratory notebook that can help you organize and manage your research safely and quickly.

 

The University of Rochester has selected LabArchives as our institution-wide, electronic lab notebook solution. Researchers at URochester can access LabArchives free of charge to manage both research labs and laboratory courses. Our team at URochester Libraries’ can provide more information, help you get set-up in the platform, and troubleshoot any issues you encounter. We also facilitate regular training sessions for the platform provided directly from the experts at LabArchives.

 

2026 LabArchives trainings

Representatives from LabArchives will the university on April 28 and 29, 2026 to offer a variety of public and private trainings. Visit this page to learn more about past offerings. If you would like a similar session for yourself or your lab, please fill out this form.

Schedule so far, some sessions are subject to change:

Getting Started with LabArchives

Time and Location: April 28, 1:15 - 1:45 pm, Studio X, Carlson Library 1st floor

New to LabArchives? This training is an essential starting point! This is a comprehensive overview of the features available in LabArchives Electronic Lab Notebook, Inventory, and LabArchives Scheduler. Perfect for new users, this session will equip you with the foundational skills to streamline your research workflows with LabArchives.

Responsible Data Stewardship: Conversation with ORISE

Time and Location: April 28, 2 - 3:15 pm, Studio X, Carlson Library 1st floor

Join URochester’s Office of Research Integrity, Stewardship & Ethics (ORISE) and the Libraries to learn more about best practices for data management and stewardship, and how LabArchives can help with research compliance. Registration is optional but recommended. Speakers:

  • Sonya Hadrigan, Associate Vice President for Research Integrity
  • Jimmy Paulino, Senior Counsel
  • Sarah Siddiqui, Reproducibility Librarian
LabArchives Biomedical Edition

Time and Location: April 28, 3:30 - 4:15 pm, Studio X, Carlson Library 1st floor

Learn more about advanced notebook features and topics of interest for Biology and Biomedical Engineering. During this session we will show the seamless tools for documenting Biological and engineering experiments in LabArchives ELN. We will also cover real time inventory tracking of samples and reagents in LabArchives inventory and scheduling of equipment with LabArchives Scheduler. Join us to discover how one unified research platform improves reproducibility, increase compliance, and saves valuable research time.  

LabArchives Chemistry Edition

Time and Location: April 28, 4:15 - 5:00 pm, Studio X, Carlson Library 1st floor

The session explores how LabArchives can be used by chemists plan, track and record experiments in the lab. This will include working with exports from software such as ChemDraw or exports from analytical equipment like NMR and LC-MS. We'll show real examples of publicly available chemistry notebooks highlighting some of the chemical drawing tools and search for chemical structures. We'll also discuss tracking reagents LabArchives Inventory and scheduling equipment usage with LabArchives Scheduler.  

LabArchives Session for the Center for Musculoskeletal Research

Time and Location: April 29, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, URMC

Advanced Notebook Features

Time and Location: April 29, 1 pm - 2 pm, Ryan Case Method Room

Learn how you can use LabArchives to effectively manage code, scripts, and output datasets. The session will also include a review of widgets and the new forms feature that can be used throughout the lab notebook to standardize documentation. 

Notebooks and Scheduler for Physics, Optics, Astronomy, and more

Time and Location: April 29, 3 pm - 4pm, POA Library, 374 Bausch & Lomb

LabArchives includes data storage up to 16 GB per file, inventory tracking of research materials, and scheduling of research equipment. This session explores storing data within LabArchives, referencing large data stored in other systems, integrating code and scripts, the Jupyter notebook integration, and communication across the entire research team. 

Getting Started

 

LabArchives Features

  • Organize your research and make your notebook searchable
  • Backup your research work on the cloud
  • Share your research or keep your work secure using LabArchives’ access controls
  • Add DOIs and make your work citable
  • Use LabArchives in your classes (with optional integration with Blackboard)

 

Frequently Asked Questions - General

Am I required to use LabArchives?

No, LabArchives is opt-in.

 

What is the cost?

LabArchives is free to use for University of Rochester faculty, staff, and students.

 

Are there LabArchives trainings?

Yes, URochester Libraries provide training for individuals, small groups, and labs. Additionally, LabArchives hosts multiple webinars a week. 

 

Will you allow sensitive data, restricted data, confidential data, Personal Health Information (PHI), Identifiable health information (IHI), deidentified health information, or Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulated data in LabArchives?

No.  Personal Health Information (PHI), Identifiable health information (IHI), deidentified health information, or Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulated data should be stored in Box or another university approved data storage service and linked to LabArchives.

 

Is there a max amount of data that I can store?

No, unlimited storage is available, and you can create as many notebooks as you like. The maximum file size that can be uploaded is 16GB. For files that are larger than 16GB you can link the file from another storage location. Contact University Libraries to understand other data storage options available to URochester researchers.

 

Who can answer additional questions about data storage?

You can contact University Libraries for any additional questions about data storage within LabArchives or learn about other options.

 

Who can access my notebook(s)?

Owners of lab notebooks have full administrative control, including what is shared, with whom, and what they are allowed to view and edit within your notebook. If you share your notebook outside of UR, it is your responsibility to ensure that the recipients follow the appropriate policies and have the appropriate data sharing agreement in place. Contact library staff for information on data sharing agreements.

 

How can I give collaborators access to my content?

You can give URochester and non-URochester people read-only or edit access to your notebook or parts of your notebook via their email address. When you add them, a link will be emailed to them. Here are detailed instructions for sharing your content.

 

Can I export information from my notebook?

Yes, you can export the entire notebook or any portion of a notebook as a PDF. You can also choose to create on offline notebook which creates a zip drive with HTML files for the notebook and a directory of attachments.

 

Can I share my notebooks publicly through Share URL or through DOI?

Yes, you can choose to share your data publicly. PIs are responsible for following any data use agreements or funder requirements when sharing publicly.

 

What happens to my notebook(s) when I graduate (student) or if I leave URochester (employee)?

Before your departure, we recommend reviewing ORPA’s guidelines on PIs leaving the organization. You can transfer ownership to another URochester researcher if they would like the notebook to continue being updated accessed. You can also export the notebook as a PDF.

 

I'm new to URochester and have used LabArchives at another institution. Can I transfer my data?

Yes, URochester allows data to be transferred as long as your previous institution allows this. Please contact the libraries for support.

 

Does LabArchives integrate with other platforms such as protocols.io?

Yes, LabArchives integrates with various platforms including but not limited to SnapGene, GraphPad Prism, Jupyter, and protocols.io.

Learn more about the LabArchives' external integrations and specifically more about the protocols.io integration.

 

Frequently Asked Questions - For Education

What is the difference between LabArchives for Education and LabArchives for Research?

They run off the same electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) platform, so they run the same. No matter which one you sign-in under, you will have access to all of your notebooks.

 

Should I grade directly in LabArchives or use the Blackboard integration?

You can learn more about the LabArchives Integration with Blackboard on URochester's University IT webpage. We also recommend you talk to URochester Libraries’ or LabArchives support to discuss which option is better for you. Additionally, LabArchives has several articles on using the Blackboard integration with LabArchives.

 

I do not have access to course manager / I do not have the ability to make assignments.

When you are logged in to LabArchives, click on your name and go to “User Properties.” Then you can choose to check “Instructor.”

 

Is an electronic laboratory notebook the same as a print notebook, but just online?

No, LabArchives allows everything to be kept in one place. You can have your procedures, safety guidelines, instructions, observations, documentation, analyses, conclusions, write-ups, quizzes, lecture videos, and all other course materials in LabArchives. It also has version control, a history of all changes, and easy copying and sharing.

 

Is LabArchives useful for humanities and social science classes?

Any course where students document their work, collaborate, upload files, and get feedback from their instructor, could benefit from using LabArchives. This blog post discusses how LabArchives can be used in non-STEM courses.

 

What are the benefits of using LabArchives in my classes?

  • Electronic submission of assignments with instantaneous feedback
  • Easy to navigate folder and file structure - well-organized
  • Students can have all of their observations, documentation, analyses, and conclusions in LabArchives.
  • Version control and complete history of all changes
  • Collaborative tool where multiple people can edit
  • Notebooks can be archived once the class is complete.
  • Integrates with popular tools - Blackboard, Box, Jupyter, Google, Microsoft, Word, Excel, RedCap, YouTube, SnapGene, and more.
  • Electronic laboratory notebooks are becoming the standard in research labs and industry, so it is beneficial for students to become familiar with them early.

 

What challenges should I look out for when implementing?

  • Setting up the notebook may be time-consuming. Once the notebook is setup, you can copy it and reuse it other semesters.
  • Students will need some training in how to use LabArchives.
  • Students will need to have access to laptops in the lab. You will need to ensure there is a safe spot for these laptops to be situated, or have a plan in place to ensure the technology is safe. You can read more about this in a Knowledgebase article.