Pilot Study of an Electronic Laboratory Notebook for Research and Development

The laboratory notebook is the fundamental record for research and development. The emergence of cloud-based digital tools to replace or augment the laboratory notebook has shown promise for groups that are multidisciplinary, working asynchronously, or in multiple locations. This paper details a recent pilot study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) comparing an electronic lab notebook (ELN) with traditional paper lab notebooks (PLN), including members of SNL’s Primary Standards Laboratory (PSL). Partly motivated by a related pilot study conducted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the focus of the present study was on the integrability of an ELN within the unique constraints of a national lab, including security protocols that limit cloud capabilities and limited WIFI. The study used Microsoft OneNote and commercially available mobile computing hardware. The pilot included 18 participants from the PSL, biosciences, and materials science/engineering labs. In addition to OneNote, participants were provided one of two options for a computer to be used as their note taking device (including a stylus). Usability and gap analyses, as well as interviews with pilot participants were conducted by members from Sandia’s human factors group. Findings from this study indicate that ELNs may be particularly useful for teams where sharing of procedures and results is important. Participants believed that use of the ELN increased organization of their work and facilitated reporting much more than paper lab notebooks (PLNs). Other benefits included searchability and capability for access on multiple devices. Many of the identified drawbacks were specific to the unique constraints of working at a national lab, but some constraints are more general (e.g. use of ELNs in wet labs where hazardous materials may be of concern). Overall, it was found with proper training, collaboration on best practices, and technical support, that ELNs appear to be a promising tool for modernizing recording practices in research. Some examples from PSL will be highlighted, including R&D for qualifying measurement systems, calibration processes, and procedures.