Projects

Overview

Projects in the Open Lab platform are designed to foster collaboration among researchers by providing a structured way to describe research initiatives, outline specific needs for assistance, associate relevant studies, and invite other users to join as collaborators. The Projects feature is divided into two main tabs: "My Projects," where you can view and manage the projects you have created or joined, and "Search Projects," where you can discover and explore public projects shared by other researchers. This setup allows you to either initiate your own collaborative efforts or find and contribute to existing ones. Key actions include creating new projects, editing details, sending messages to project authors, requesting to join projects, and managing team members with assigned roles. This section provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand and utilize these features to build effective research teams.

To access the Projects section, navigate from the researcher dashboard by clicking the "Find Collaborators" quick-action button or directly visit https://research.open-lab.online/dashboard/projects. Once there, you'll see a tabbed interface that lets you switch seamlessly between viewing your personal projects and searching for public opportunities. This organization helps streamline the collaboration process, making it easier to connect with like-minded researchers.

Screenshot of the Projects interface, showing tabs for My Projects and Search Projects.
The Projects interface, with tabs for managing and searching projects.

My Projects

The "My Projects" tab serves as your personal hub for all projects where you are involved, either as the creator (owner) or as a collaborator who has joined. Projects are displayed in a grid of cards, each providing a summary view that includes the project title, a brief description, specific collaboration needs, the author's name, a list of current collaborators with their roles, and the creation date. This layout allows you to quickly scan and access your ongoing collaborations. If you have pending invitations to join a project, they will be highlighted on the relevant card, prompting you to accept or decline.

Creating a Project

To start a new project and begin seeking collaborators, click the "Create New Project" button located in the top-right corner of the "My Projects" tab. This action opens a form where you can input the necessary details to define your project. The form is straightforward but comprehensive, ensuring that potential collaborators have all the information they need to decide if they want to join.

  1. Provide a clear and concise title for your project in the "Title" field. This should capture the essence of your research initiative.
  2. Write a detailed description in the "Description" textarea, explaining the project's goals, background, and expected outcomes. This helps attract the right collaborators.
  3. Specify your collaboration needs in the "Needs" field, such as required skills (e.g., data analysis, experiment design) or roles (e.g., co-author, advisor).
  4. Select any existing studies from your list to associate with the project. This links relevant research work, providing context for collaborators.
  5. Toggle options like "Make project public" to allow discovery in searches, and "Needs collaborators" to indicate you're open to new members.
  6. Once all fields are filled, click "Create Project" to submit. The platform will validate the input, and upon success, you'll be redirected to the newly created project's dashboard where you can further manage it.

Example: For a project focused on cognitive research, you might set the Title as "Cognitive Study Collaboration," Description as "Exploring reaction times in decision-making tasks using online experiments," and Needs as "Seeking data analysts experienced with lab.js and statistical tools."

Screenshot of the Create Project form, showing fields and study selection.
The Create Project form for starting a new collaboration.

Viewing and Editing Projects

In the "My Projects" tab, each project is represented by a card that summarizes key information. To view more details, click the "View" button, which takes you to the project dashboard. For making changes, such as updating the description or adding more studies, click "Edit," which opens a form similar to the creation interface but pre-filled with current data. After edits, save to update the project. If you have a pending invitation on a card, an "Accept Invitation" button appears—clicking it confirms your participation and updates your status to a collaborator.

Troubleshooting Tip: If your projects don't appear as expected, refresh the page or check your internet connection. For issues with pending invitations, ensure you're logged in with the correct account; if the invitation has expired, contact the project author to resend.

Screenshot of a My Project card, showing details and actions.
A My Project card with view, edit, and accept invitation options.

Search Projects

The "Search Projects" tab is your gateway to discovering collaboration opportunities across the platform. It features a search bar for querying by keywords (e.g., project titles, descriptions, or needs), along with sorting options like "Title A-Z" or "Newest First" to organize results. Public projects appear as cards, each displaying the title, description, needs, and action buttons for deeper engagement. This tab helps you find projects that align with your expertise or interests, promoting a vibrant research community.

Each public project card provides a snapshot of the project and includes buttons to "View" details in a new tab, "Message" the author to express interest or ask questions, or "Join Project" to send a participation request. These actions open modals for confirmation, ensuring intentional interactions.

  • Message Author: Click to open a modal where you can compose and send a message to the project creator, perhaps to discuss potential contributions or clarify details.
  • Join Project: This sends a request to join; a confirmation modal appears, and upon approval by the author, you'll gain access based on the assigned role.

Example: If you're interested in cognitive research, search for "cognitive" to find matching projects. Review the cards, then message an author or request to join a promising one.

Screenshot of the Search Projects tab, showing search bar and project cards.
The Search Projects tab with public project cards.

Project Dashboard

The project dashboard is a centralized view accessible by clicking "View" on a project card. It displays comprehensive details including the title, description, needs, associated studies (with links to view them), and a dedicated section for managing collaborators. This dashboard is where you can monitor progress, add new studies, or oversee team dynamics. Access is role-dependent; for example, owners have full control, while viewers can only observe.

Screenshot of the Project Dashboard, showing details and sections.
The Project Dashboard with studies and collaborators.

Managing Collaborators

Within the project dashboard, the collaborators section lists current team members with their names, emails, affiliations, roles, and statuses (e.g., Pending, Accepted). As an owner or authorized user, you can invite new collaborators by email (specifying a role) or search public profiles to invite directly. Update roles for existing members or remove them as needed. Roles like Owner, Editor, Viewer, Data Analyst, and Participant Manager come with specific permissions and descriptions to guide assignments.

  • View the list of collaborators, including pending invitations.
  • Invite via email: Enter an email and select a role; an invitation is sent.
  • Search public profiles: Query for users by name or expertise, then invite with a role.
  • Update or remove: Change roles or delete collaborators from the list.

Roles are predefined with descriptions, ensuring clear expectations (e.g., Owner has full control, Viewer can only observe).

Screenshot of the Collaborators section, showing list and invite options.
The Collaborators section for managing team members.

Accepting Invitations

When invited to a project, you'll receive a link via email. Clicking it directs you to an acceptance page. If logged in, it automatically processes the acceptance; otherwise, it prompts login. For pending invitations visible in "My Projects," click "Accept Invitation" on the card to join. Upon acceptance, your status updates, and you gain access according to the assigned role.

Troubleshooting Tip: If the invitation link is invalid or expired, contact the project author to request a new one. Ensure you're using the account associated with the invited email.

Next Steps

With projects set up, explore the following sections to manage collaborators or analyze data on the Open Lab platform:

  • Collaboration

    • Collaborators: Find, invite, and collaborate with other researchers.

  • Data

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