Learn how Squidr works

 Everything you need to understand the platform, from core concepts to uploading your first dataset.

What is Squidr

Squidr organises research data into a consistent, searchable structure, studies, datasets, and variables, so it’s easier to find, understand, and reuse.

Unlike traditional repositories that store files, Squidr stores knowledge. Every study is broken down into its datasets, and every dataset into its individual variables. This means you can search at any level, not just by topic, but for a specific measurement, method, or data point across hundreds of studies.

The platform supports measurements, questionnaires, omics data, and complex study designs, all in one place, structured around FAIR principles.

How it works

Getting started with Squidr takes three steps.

Set up your organisation

Create a project space and invite your team. Control who has access at the study, dataset, and variable level — so the right people see the right data.

Upload your

Add datasets with a CSV file and metadata. Use consistent design variables so studies can be compared and combined later.

Share & explore

Add datasets with a CSV file and metadata. Use consistent design variables so studies can be compared and combined later.

Study design

How Squidr structures a study

Every study in Squidr is defined by a set of design variables. These create a consistent framework that makes it possible to combine and compare data across studies.

A unique identifier for each object in the study, a person, sample, or specimen. You can use your own identifiers or a globally unique ID from a registry like BioSamples.

Defines which group or cohort a subject belongs to. In a crossover design, each sequence of treatments (e.g. abc, acb) becomes its own startgroup..

The occasion on which you interact with a subject, a baseline measurement, a follow-up visit, or a specific timepoint.

A subdivision of an event, for example, a challenge within a visit that creates distinct sampling moments.

The specific moment a sample is taken from a subject during an event or subevent.

(optional) For multi-site studies where subjects are recruited across several locations.

(optional) Additional design variables can be added if your study design requires it.

Join us

Squidr is built by researchers, for researchers, and it gets better the more people use it. You can contribute by uploading your own studies, testing the platform and giving feedback, or contributing to the codebase on GitLab.

Free and open sourced for ever!