As you all know, working in the lab is not always a walk in the park. Luckily, there are some websites you can use to make your day easier! After talking about the best apps to have while in the lab, let’s check the websites.
The best websites to use while working in the laboratory
1) Communication
Slack
I already wrote about this one in the “best apps to get in the lab” post, but I have to talk about it again here as I use it so much.
Slack is probably my most used app/website in the lab. It’s basically like Whatsapp but for the workplace, meaning it’s a fast and easy way to communicate with your team. There is a desktop and a mobile app, and it’s free !
It offers real-time messaging, file sharing, and integrations with various tools and services. With features like channels, threads, and customizable notifications, Slack enhances productivity by keeping conversations organized and accessible in the lab.
Features :
- Communicate with your team and organize your conversations by topics, projects, or anything else that matters to your work
- Message or call any person or group within your team
- Share and edit documents and collaborate
- Integrate into your workflow, the tools and services you already use including Google Drive, Salesforce, Dropbox, Asana, Twitter, Zendesk
- Easily search a central knowledge base that automatically indexes and archives your team’s past conversations and files
Links to Slack on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
2) Organisation
Notion
Notion is a versatile productivity app and website that allows users to create and organize a wide range of content, including notes, documents, databases, and project plans. There is a customizable workspace where users can collaborate in real-time, integrate tools and media, and tailor their workflows to suit individual or team needs.
It’s the one I use for my daily tasks, and I can only recommend it !
Links to Notion on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
3) Inventory
LabSpend
I do hope you’re keeping up with the inventory in your lab, as the opposite is a nightmare to work with. We used Quartzy before they decided that “forever free for academic labs” meant nothing. I’m still mad about that, you traitors.
Instead we decided to switch to LabSpend, which is a bit less instinctive than Quartzy, and has fewer options. However, it still works for us. We mainly use the inventory part, but there is also Analytics and Price Search options.
It’s great to keep track of what’s in the lab and where!
4) Electronic Lab Notebooks
If you’re not stuck in the medieval times, you probably use some type of ELN in your lab. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in mine where we still have to write down everything like old-time peasants.
Nevertheless, here are some ELN I’ve heard about and wanted to include in this list of the best websites to use in the lab. Keep in mind that these are not free to use though!
LabArchives
LabArchives is a suite of SaaS applications that help scientists manage and document their research data, prove & protect discovery, collaborate securely, and manage inventory, samples, and lab resources.
The LabArchives ELN features a notebook, collaboration options, data management and security management all in one place. You can connect your favorite softwares and they even have an in-built inventory as well.
Benchling
Benchling is designed to power scientific work, from everyday lab activities through end-to-end program management.
With the Benchling notebook you can capture and format experimental data with entries and templates. Collaborate on samples, runs, and results with shared tables, to do lists, files, and live editing. The website also features some molecular biology options, a registry, an inventory, insights and workflows possibilities.
RSpace
RSpace is a next-gen digital research platform for Institutional Research Data Management. It is an integrated ELN & Sample Management, connected to an ecosystem of tools & services to simplify, enable and empower digital research.
It features an electronic lab notebook, an inventory and a bunch of integrations options.
5) Calculator
It’s always the same, it’s 6pm on a Friday night in the lab and your brain is fried. Unfortunately that’s also when you suddenly need to calculate dilution volumes. That’s when a calculator comes handy !
I use the Promega Calculator as it has a bunch of options. You can use it for DNA and proteins conversions, as well as dilutions and molarity calculations. They also always give you the formula they use. No more doubting and remaking your calculations three times!
6) Informations
WolframAlpha is a unique engine for computing answers and providing knowledge. It works by using its vast store of expert-level knowledge and algorithms to automatically answer questions, do analysis and generate reports.
It works for a lot of topics but the best for the lab are the Mathematics and Science & Technology ones. For maths, you can get information about arithmetic, algebra, calculus, differential equations or anything in between. For science, it can solve problems involving physics, chemistry, engineering, computational sciences and many other domains.
If you go to the Molecular Biology section you can :
- Calculate the molecular weight or melting temperature of a specified oligonucleotide sequence
- Explore genome information, including DNA sequences and characteristics of chromosomes, genes, associated SNPs and translated proteins
- Visualize a metabolic pathway
- Explore chemical properties of a given biomolecule
And much more ! It’s a great website, go explore !
7) Publications
If you’re drowning in papers and publications, Mendeley is a free reference manager that can help you store, organize, note, share and cite references and research data.
Features :
- Automatically generate bibliographies
- Collaborate easily with other researchers online
- Easily import papers from other research software
- Find relevant papers based on what you’re reading
- Access your papers from anywhere online
Conclusion
There you have it, no more worries in the lab with this list of all the websites you can use. Hopefully you’ll find them useful in your little day-to-day lab life.
Comment below if you want to share other websites !
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