Using Evernote as an electronic lab notebook in a translational science laboratory.

Area of Science:

• Translational science
• Biomedical research
• Laboratory informatics

Background:

• Traditional paper laboratory notebooks (PLNs) remain prevalent in academic research despite the documented advantages of electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs).
• Biopharmaceutical companies widely adopt ELNs, while academic and government research labs show lower adoption rates.
• The transition from PLNs to ELNs in academic settings requires evaluation of practical implementation and user experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) in replacing paper laboratory notebooks (PLNs) within an academic research environment.
• To identify the advantages and limitations of ELNs compared to PLNs from the perspective of academic researchers.
• To determine if a specific ELN, Evernote, can be a viable replacement for PLNs in a translational science laboratory.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month trial using Evernote as the primary electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) for recording experimental data.
• A survey administered to research students at New York University School of Medicine (NYUSoM) to compare perceptions of ELNs and PLNs.
• Analysis of user-reported limitations, specifically the inability to freehand, and exploration of workarounds using digital tools.

Main Results:

• The study found that the advantages of using Evernote as an ELN significantly outweighed the limitation of not being able to freehand directly into the notebook.
• Survey results indicated that both electronic and paper notebook users identified the lack of freehand capability as a drawback of electronic methods.
• Workarounds such as importing snapshots and utilizing drawing program add-ons effectively addressed the need for visual input in the electronic format.

Conclusions:

• Evernote serves as an effective electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) replacement for traditional paper laboratory notebooks (PLNs) in academic research settings.
• The benefits of utilizing an ELN, such as enhanced data management and accessibility, surpass the challenges associated with the absence of direct freehand entry.
• Implementing ELNs in academic labs can streamline research documentation and offer numerous advantages over traditional paper-based systems.