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Electronic Research Notebooks (LabArchives)

Quick Links: Key Benefits I Getting Started I More How-to I Videos

The University of Pittsburgh offers a cloud-based Electronic Research Notebook service–formerly referred to as Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN)–to all University students, faculty, researchers, and staff. LabArchives research notebooks can be used to organize and manage laboratory data safely and conveniently using multiple platforms and devices. Whether managing a research lab as a principal investigator or reviewing students’ lab work as an instructor, LabArchives can be used to ensure effective research data management plans and help improve student learning.

 Two additional products are now available — Lab Inventory and Lab Scheduler.

Key Benefits

  • Add attachments, files, photos, and data instantly - it gets backed up and protected immediately.
  • Store any types of data you chose - rich text data, tables, images sketches, as well as annotations of images.
  • Store and organize in an intuitive folder structure - then keep everything sorted the way you want.
  • Share and collaborate selected content with others, or keep it private - work, build, organize, share.
  • Assign, grade, monitor and communicate with your students - early detection of student misconceptions and under performance.
  • Provisioning for data compliance - supports funding agencies data management plans and requirements.
  • Provide continuity - notebooks from departed researchers and staff can be preserved.
  • Manage your lab environment - keep abreast of developments in your lab even while traveling.
  • Search and preserve research data - Maintain notebook integrity and reproducibility. Notebooks store every version of every file and are time-stamped to guard against misconduct.

Getting Started with Electronic Research Notebooks is Easy

Activate your account using one of the following options:

You are a student who received an invitation to use an Electronic Research Notebook as part of a course

  1. You will receive an email invitation to a course. Follow the instructions provided in the invitation. Click Activate Your Account Now.
    Email invitation to a course with Activate Your Account Now highlighted

  2. Make sure to select the University of Pittsburgh as your institution, then click Go to Your Institution's Login.
    Note: Electronic Research Notebooks uses multifactor authentication.
    LabArchives Login Screen

  3. Start using Electronic Research Notebooks.
    Electronic Research Notebooks landing page

First time login for faculty, staff, or other lab personnel

  1. Log in to Electronic Research Notebooks (LabArchives) via My Pitt (my.pitt.edu) with your University Computing Account username and password.
    Electronic Research Notebooks Task with Start Button Highlighted

  2. Make any updates to your contact information, then click Update.
    Update your Electronic Research Notebooks contact information screen
    Note: You will also receive an activation email.

  3. When you are done with any updates, click the folder bearing your name. Follow the on-screen prompts to start using Electronic Research Notebooks.
    Electronic Research Notebooks Folder List with your name highlighted

Enhance your Electronic Research Notebooks experience:

Set Up Your Mobile Device

The Mobile app for iOS or Android devices features an updated appearance (user interface) and page navigation. It has the ability to take and upload video and audio files, use a sketch tool, and provides fully functional assignment entry so that students can submit work via the app. 

To use the LabArchives mobile app:

  1. Use your mobile device to search for, download, and install the free LabArchives app. You will need to do this once for each mobile device that will access LabArchives.
    Note about Downloads: The LabArchives app is available from the iTunes store or Google Play.
    LabArchives Icon
    Note for Android Users: During the installation of the new version of the mobile app, you may need to enable the permission settings that allow LabArchives Mobile App to access your photos, camera, and cellular data.
  2. Tap the LabArchives app on your mobile device to open it.
    Note for setting your initial location: Users who install and open the mobile app will be shown a setting page where they can select their location. The default is U.S. and the rest of the world but other options can be selected.
    Select Your LabArchives Location Mobile Screen
  3. Locate and tap the Sign in with Institution link.
    Lab Archives Mobile Login Screen with Sign in with Institution highlighted
    Note: The name of this link may be different for the app for your specific mobile device platform.
  4. Locate University of Pittsburgh in the list or drop-down menu and tap to select it.
    Institution List with University of Pittsburgh Highlighted
  5. The Pitt Passport authentication window displays. Enter your University Computing Account username and password. Click Submit.
    Note: Do not enter your email address or an email alias in the Username field.
    Pitt Passport login
  6. Mobile users who have set up two-factor authentication will need to be required to provide a second method of authentication using Duo Mobile. A Duo Mobile request will be created when as part of your authentication via Passport. You can authenticate several different ways. Send Me a Push is shown here. Other methods include Send a call or Send a Passcode. Additional information on how to download and install Duo Mobile is available on our Multifactor Authentication webpage. If you have already installed Duo Mobile, take the following step (otherwise skip this step):
    1. Tap the Login Request.
      Duo Mobile Login Request Pop-up
      Note: If you are unable to tap the push notification you can locate and tap the Duo Mobile app on your mobile device.
      Mobile App List
    2. Tap the Request Waiting notice.
      Duo Mobile App with Request Waiting. Tap to Respond Highlighted
    3. Tap Approve.
      Duo Mobile Approve/ Deny Screen with Approve Highlighted
  7. Locate and tap the LabArchives app on your mobile device.
    Mobile App List
  8. Locate and tap your Username.
    Notebooks Screen with Username Highlighted
  9. The list of folders that make up your LabArchives collection will be displayed. Tap on a folder to see its contents.
    Folder List

More information can be found about mobile app features here.

Use your Electronic Research Notebooks:

Access your account anywhere

Securely log in using multifactor authentication through Pitt Passport:

Note: You can also access LabArchives.com. Select Sign In, choose University of Pittsburgh from the list of institutions, click Go to your Institution's Login, then authenticate using multifactor authentication through Pitt Passport.

Take a quick tour to see how the Electronic Research Notebook service works.

 

More Ways to Get the Most from Electronic Research Notebooks