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How EpistaBase organizes your work

The lab-facing hierarchy behind projects, experiments, runs, samples, and data entries.

conceptReviewed 2026-06-26

EpistaBase uses a hierarchy that mirrors wet-lab work:

Workspace        Your lab or program boundary.
  Project        A research goal or campaign.
    Experiment   One scientific question and its record.
      Run        One execution of the assay.
        Sample   Biological material from that run.
      Data entry An analyzable file or parsed dataset.

Terms you will see

TermPlain meaning
WorkspaceThe lab or organization space you are working in.
ProjectA group of related experiments and collaborators.
ExperimentThe question, protocol snapshot, runs, samples, data, analyses, notes, and figures.
RunOne execution, such as one acquisition, plate, sequencing batch, or protocol attempt.
SampleBiological material from a run.
FileThe uploaded object and processing state.
Data entryWhat a file means inside an experiment.
Catalog assetA governed data or analysis object that can be searched, opened, queried, and traced.

Why File and Data entry are separate

A File is storage and processing state: original bytes, checksum, preview, parser metadata, and upload status.

A Data entry is scientific meaning: this FCS file belongs to this experiment, run, sample, and assay context.

That separation is what lets EpistaBase keep raw files, parsed tables, viewers, and lineage connected without making users manage storage details.

Programs are optional

Programs can group work at a higher level, but Projects and Experiments are the main product path. Treat a Program like a label or portfolio grouping, not the place where assay data lives.

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