PASTA‐ELN : Simplifying Research Data Management for Experimental Materials Science

Research data management remains a persistent challenge across scientific disciplines, as many electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) impose steep learning curves, rigid workflows, or network dependencies that hinder everyday use. We present PASTA‐ELN , an open‐source, cross‐platform ELN designed from the scientist's perspective to simplify documentation while supporting the transition toward FAIR and machine‐actionable data practices. PASTA‐ELN employs a local‐first‐then‐sync architecture, ensuring full offline functionality, user control over data, and seamless, optional synchronization with server‐based ELNs such as elabFTW . Its hierarchical folder structure mirrors natural laboratory organization, while modular Python add‐ons enable customizable data extraction, visualization, semantic annotation, and project reporting without altering the core system. All information is stored in open, standards‐based formats facilitating long‐term preservation and interoperability via RO‐Crate and the .eln file profile. By combining intuitive desktop usability with robust research data management, PASTA‐ELN provides an accessible, extensible framework that facilitates the transition from basic file organization to digital workflows with user‐defined levels of FAIR compliance.