What is protocols.io?
protocols.io is a platform for documenting research methods and protocols in all subjects, computational workflows, operational procedures, and safety checklists. It is an open repository of publicly shared protocols with interactive commenting. It is also a platform for creating and storing private protocols and for collaborating with groups. Protocols can be forked and run within the program, enabling step-by-step checks, notes, and modifications during the experiment.
UCSF's license
UCSF’s premium account provides researchers with additional features beyond what's available to a free individual account. Features of the premium account include:
- Unlimited workspaces for private collaboration
- Unlimited internal (UCSF) users and up to 10 external users per workspace
- Unlimited private protocols for individuals and workspaces
- Free protocol entry service (promo code is displayed when logged in)
- Premium technical support
All individuals can create an unlimited number of public protocols, which are published under an open access Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
The premium protocols.io account was introduced as a UC-wide pilot in 2019 and renewed for two years in 2022. It has been supported by the UCSF Library since 2024, in collaboration with the UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) libraries.
Getting started
To get started, create an account at protocols.io using your UCSF email address to benefit from the premium account features.
If you already have an account with a non-UCSF email address, edit your user profile after logging in and click “Upgrade”. "Select University of California, San Francisco" from the dropdown list of universities, then verify your account by providing your UCSF email address.
Online help guides and tutorials are available. Group training can also be arranged.
Contact protocols.io or the Library's Data Science and Open Scholarship team for help.