Electronic lab notebook for LIV scientists
Welcome to Labfolder at LIV
Since 2022, LIV employees have access to Labfolder, an electronic laboratory notebook system in order to optimize data recording and management. Thus, the ELN replaces the handwritten lab book for PhD students, postdocs, technical assistants and permanently employed scientists at the institute.
Among other things (please see below), an ELN offers advantages in standardization and direct usability of availability of digital data.
LIV uses the cloud version of Labfolder. The data stored in Labfolder belong to the respective institution where the researcher is employed.
General Information when using Labfolder at LIV:
- Each research unit has a defined number of licenses.
- License costs are paid from the respective group budget.
- An increase in the number of licenses is possible at any time. A reduction is only possible at the end of LIV’s contract year.
- Each license can be allocated to a user within the research unit. Accordingly: One person occupies one license.
- It is possible to transfer a license to another person within the group at any time (independent of contract period timing).
- Usage of Labfolder goes along with §3 of the LIV rules for good scientific practice.
- Further and detailed information can be found in the LIV CMS (Publications → Board of Directors → Labfolder)
What are the benefits of using an electronic lab notebook?
Integrate all your data directly into your records
Search and filter through full texts to find entries
Customize entries by dragging and dropping different elements
Collaborate with colleagues
Create templates and protocols for recurring workflows
Set up multiple databases to organize laboratory materials
Securely encrypted via SSL and backed up regularly
Signature workflows enable witnessing processes and full compliance
To see a full list of features, click here.
Labfolder White Papers
Our white papers section provides important information on compliance regulations and guidelines that are typically implemented in laboratories and how Labfolder helps you to comply to these.
Use Labfolder with your group at LIV
For ordering new licenses, the group leader or a person authorized by the group leader can either write an email to labfolder@leibniz-liv.de.
Invite your colleagues
Group administrators have the capability to invite their team members, regardless of whether the team member has created their own accounts at the time of invitation. Once invited, your colleagues will receive an email providing instructions on how to register and/or join the group.
To invite your colleagues, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Navigate to “Groups” using the navigation panel on the left side.
Step 2: Select the Group to which you would like to invite new members.
Step 3: Click the “+ Add” button and select “Invite user”.
Step 4: Enter the member’s email address and choose the (Sub-)Group you would like the member to be invited to. Then click “Invite”.
Step 5: After receiving the confirmation message, click “OK”.
Step 6: You can view the status of your group invitations in the group menu at any time.
Join your group
After joining your group, you can use your electronic laboratory notebook to collaborate with your colleagues in real-time. Together, you can add entries to common projects, create a shared repository of protocols, comment on each other’s data to improve troubleshooting, and even assign and receive tasks to improve lab efficiency.
Step 1: Open the email titled “You have been invited to join a Labfolder group!” from cloud@labforward.app. Click on the “Accept invitation” button in the middle of the message. The link to the Labforward login page will automatically open in a new tab.
Login with your existing credentials. If you don’t have an account yet, simply create one using the button provided. Once signed in, navigate to “Groups” using the left-side navigation panel.
Step 2: Click on “Invitation pending” on the top panel.
Step 3: The admin who invited you and the group that you will join is stated in the dropdown window. A warning message will also be displayed if the admin of the group prevents private projects. Confirm by clicking the “Join Group” button.
Self-training materials to set up your ELN for success
To get yourself acquainted with Labfolder, we recommend that you take a look at our guide. Here, you will find step-by-step explanations and animations demonstrating how to use each feature.
Our website also provides a helpdesk where you can find frequently asked questions. Questions are sorted by topics, but you can also use the search bar at the top of the page to find them.
We also provide video tutorial series for Labfolder and Labregister. In these videos, you learn everything you need to know to get started with our electronic lab notebook and our inventory management system.
Your Labfolder Success Manager
Hi, I am Katharina. As the LIV success manager I am supporting you with the optimal implementation of Labfolder by consulting you in individual introductory calls and providing you with training sessions.
Before joining Labforward, I worked in various biochemical as well as biotechnological laboratories. Starting out working with traditional notebooks before using ELNs myself, I am convinced that ELNs are the future for modern labs as they make daily work and collaboration so much easier.
Select one of the buttons below depending on which online training workshop you would like to select for your teamor schedule a Kick-Off Session here:
In case you have any specific questions or requests, you can also contact me via katharina.marx@labforward.io.
Available Training Types
Labfolder Training: Learn all ELN functionalities
Are you ready to optimize your data, improve collaboration, effortlessly comply with laboratory standards, and make your day-to-day lab work easier overall? Then schedule a Labfolder training session to successfully implement your ELN.
This training consists of two parts:
- a 30-minute administrator training, in which all administrative functions of the Labfolder ELN are explained, including the management of Labfolder groups and projects
- a 60-minute user training, providing a comprehensive introduction to all ELN features so you can use Labfolder efficiently
During this interactive training, you can ask any questions you may have about your ELN!
Schedule a Labfolder training workshop
Labregister Training: Learn how to benefit from our integrated inventory system
Every scientist works with a variety of materials, such as antibodies, chemicals, or plasmids. You may also wish to catalog the equipment used in your laboratory.
With the integrated inventory system, you can organize your inventory lists into categories and manage access rights accordingly. In addition, you can link inventory items directly in your lab notes, helping you improve the traceability and reproducibility of your experiments.
Interested in managing your inventory with Labregister? Then book this session.
Schedule a Labregister training workshop
Q&A Session
When getting started with new software, it is usually helpful to familiarize yourself with all available features or go through tutorials. However, the truly challenging questions often arise only once you start actively using your ELN. Feel free to contact us via the support button in the ELN, or collect all the questions you (and your entire team) have and book a personal Q&A session.
Labforward Live Webinars
On our webinar page, you can find information about upcoming webinars and view recordings of previous webinars around various aspects around Lab 4.0.
Latest Cloud Updates
To keep yourself up to date on any updates, such as new features and bug fixes made Labfolder, please take a look at our cloud release notes.
Blog Updates
Read our most recent blog articles here.
Labfolder’s Support Team
Labfolder’s support team is entirely composed of former scientists, understanding the struggles in the laboratory. We are happy to help you with any questions you may have about using our ELN. In order to quickly address any problems you are experiencing, we would kindly ask you to send a short description together with some screenshots to feedback@labfolder.com.
We are also the right people to contact if you have any suggestions for features that you think are missing in Labfolder. Again, please explain want functionality you are looking for and what you are trying to achieve with this.
LIV Project Team
If you have any specific questions about the structure of your Labfolder group or any administrative issues as well as genereal questions about Labfolder at LIV, please send an email to labfolder@leibniz-liv.de.
This mailing list contains the scientific management (Vorstandsreferat) as well a representative of the IT team.
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