r/labrats
Welcome to r/LabRats! A space for scientists, researchers, and lab workers to share experiment fails, lab wins, and PI woes. Do you need…
How to think about r/labrats
The community serves as a hub for scientists, researchers, and lab workers to share their experiences, including both successes and failures in laboratory settings. Members often discuss topics related to various scientific fields such as biochemistry, microbiology, and bioinformatics. The distinct focus on real-life lab experiences fosters a supportive environment where individuals can learn from each other's challenges and triumphs, making it a valuable resource for those in the scientific community.
Confidence 4/5
Audience
Participants primarily include scientists, researchers, and students at various educational levels, from undergraduates to postdocs. The community is characterized by a collaborative and often humorous vibe, as members share both the struggles and victories encountered in the lab. They are typically passionate about science and eager to engage in discussions that can enhance their knowledge and skills in research and experimentation.
Posting culture
Content that thrives includes personal anecdotes about lab experiences, tips for overcoming common research challenges, and discussions on scientific techniques and methodologies. Posts that are overly promotional or lack authenticity are likely to be downvoted. The community values transparency and humor, and members often engage in lighthearted banter, making it important to maintain a friendly tone in contributions. Regular posting is encouraged, but quality and relevance are prioritized over quantity.
Brand engagement notes
Brands should approach this community with caution, as members are often skeptical of overt promotional content. Authentic engagement, such as sharing useful resources, educational content, or tools that genuinely assist researchers, is more likely to be well-received. Collaborating with community members to create informative posts or hosting AMAs with scientists can foster goodwill. However, brands should avoid direct advertising or self-promotion, as this can lead to backlash from the community.
Top keywords
What r/labrats talks about
Weighted by how often each term appears in posts and comments, relative to baseline frequency. The largest words are the strongest signals of community focus.
External signals
Where the community looks
Top external domains linked from posts and comments — a quick read on the sources of truth this audience trusts.
Top contributors
Who shapes the conversation
The most active and most-upvoted posters and commenters in this community. Useful when planning outreach or studying a community's tastemakers.
Top posters
By post count
- u/sciencecatincognito
- u/AinslieLab
- u/[deleted]
- u/anirudhsky
- u/Striking-Warning9533
- u/pahakuru
- u/ThroawayAccount9785
- u/TheGenuineVictorian
- u/Derpazor1
- u/Hiraaa_
- u/NotAPreppie
- u/tuatara_teeth
- u/Nagnoosh
- u/orchid_breeder
- u/Anon_Bon
- u/The-Gr8-K8
- u/cdabd21
- u/uhhhhhhhhh_okay
- u/shinyshinyshiny07
- u/JCKennys
- u/iLabrador
- u/Chaochic
- u/jjeenniiffeerr
- u/stickyricedragon
- u/sjmaeff
- u/smallsciencepunk
- u/Redqueenhypo
- u/scilish
- u/Goleveel
- u/schimshon
- u/centrifuge_destroyer
- u/ish0uldn0tbehere
- u/Khelgar123
- u/putativeskills
- u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog
- u/grannyshuman
- u/Handsoff_1
- u/shorthomology
- u/Smucker5
- u/Jahastie55
- u/i_give_mice_cancer
- u/ineedawinpls
- u/NeeBob
- u/Then_Celery_7684
- u/CRISPRcassie9
- u/OneAcanthaceae2598
- u/britainpls
- u/BioRam
- u/qasqaldag
- u/rusty_dilz
- u/ssaassy
- u/climbsrox
- u/barcode_mustache
- u/The_Steampunk
- u/deepsea_muffdiver
- u/drawbiomed
- u/FarConflict6
- u/Tritagator
- u/NimaKairus
- u/Interesting-Form-508
- u/Ishan_N
- u/futuredoctor131
- u/IRetainKarma
- u/International_Cash51
- u/spesaeterna
- u/McBilboSwagginz
- u/ManyCryptographer341
- u/whereswilkie
- u/magnus_max
- u/EmmanuelGlinkedin
- u/mr_shai_hulud
- u/PizzaInteraction
- u/RayseOdium
- u/AFoleyEby
- u/Busy-Sandwich5855
- u/Declwn
- u/-sugma-
- u/Glassfern
- u/saymellon
- u/JacksonSxcc
- u/Unlikely-Bumblebee22
- u/Starboy1996
- u/SecretAgentIceBat
- u/CarlosthePalmTree
- u/talks-a-lot
- u/themittenkitten1
- u/Euphoriand
- u/netwizzz
- u/Nerd-Werker
- u/EmanRapp
- u/readyforhoenn
- u/Dizzy-Stock1078
- u/CharmingAlpaca
- u/lazinase
- u/JImmatSci
- u/twiteeyapa
- u/_kashmiri_
- u/doublehelixfelix133
- u/cascade-blues
- u/Neurula94
By votes
- u/sciencecatincognito
- u/AinslieLab
- u/orchid_breeder
- u/pahakuru
- u/anirudhsky
- u/iLabrador
- u/ThroawayAccount9785
- u/NotAPreppie
- u/[deleted]
- u/Anon_Bon
- u/Derpazor1
- u/Chaochic
- u/TheGenuineVictorian
- u/qasqaldag
- u/sjmaeff
- u/ssaassy
- u/barcode_mustache
- u/The-Gr8-K8
- u/stickyricedragon
- u/jjeenniiffeerr
- u/scilish
- u/Goleveel
- u/cdabd21
- u/SecretAgentIceBat
- u/rusty_dilz
- u/JCKennys
- u/schimshon
- u/britainpls
- u/uhhhhhhhhh_okay
- u/tuatara_teeth
- u/ukTwoSeas
- u/haunted_waffles
- u/centrifuge_destroyer
- u/scooterwolf
- u/shorthomology
- u/smallsciencepunk
- u/thedocter22
- u/talks-a-lot
- u/The_Steampunk
- u/drawbiomed
- u/BioRam
- u/JImmatSci
- u/climbsrox
- u/TOEMEIST
- u/themittenkitten1
- u/lazinase
- u/CarlosthePalmTree
- u/netwizzz
- u/Khelgar123
- u/grannyshuman
- u/Nagnoosh
- u/Tritagator
- u/Neurula94
- u/Treeapear
- u/Nerd-Werker
- u/Redqueenhypo
- u/EmanRapp
- u/cascade-blues
- u/Massive_Presence1966
- u/szablaman
- u/readyforhoenn
- u/Jahastie55
- u/Handsoff_1
- u/no_safetynet
- u/Dizzy-Stock1078
- u/NimaKairus
- u/putativeskills
- u/FreakenJagguwin
- u/ish0uldn0tbehere
- u/deepsea_muffdiver
- u/Euphoriand
- u/justmustard1
- u/CharmingAlpaca
- u/loser7Neptuneorlando
- u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog
- u/Czarben
- u/bitchywhitegirl66
- u/qwertyf1sh
- u/Jetgirl_Viper
- u/Smucker5
- u/doublehelixfelix133
- u/argentgrove
- u/pjokinen
- u/twiteeyapa
- u/Monmize
- u/ouchcast
- u/leftypipettey
- u/ParsimoniousPelican
- u/Tomeneter
- u/SupamarioCDN
- u/i_give_mice_cancer
- u/Mavyperry
- u/aliyoh
- u/AllyRad6
- u/pharmsert
- u/missprincesscarolyn
- u/I-Ask-questions-u
- u/WebsterPack
- u/FearTeX
- u/Ludra64
Top commenters
By comment count
- u/[deleted]
- u/Bruggok
- u/Shiroi_Kage
- u/Cybroxis
- u/chickenstalker
- u/NotAPreppie
- u/Beginning_Anything30
- u/DangerousBill
- u/EvenAH27
- u/marihikari
- u/EL1543
- u/EveryVehicle1325
- u/WhiskyIsMyYoga
- u/malepitt
- u/PhDPool
- u/AAAAdragon
- u/notveryAI
- u/Royallightfj
- u/DikkDowg
- u/BrandynBlaze
- u/luxmorphine
- u/No-Pressure6042
- u/Rebatu
- u/FoxMatty
- u/Diseased-Prion
- u/hoangtudude
- u/mamaBiskothu
- u/ChadMcRad
- u/buythedipster
- u/Naytosan
- u/ShortBusRide
- u/NimbaNineNine
- u/Dendroapsis
- u/jkflip_flop
- u/Verologist
- u/bassgirl_07
- u/ImAprincess_YesIam
- u/f1ve-Star
- u/sciencecatincognito
- u/huh_phd
- u/stackered
- u/ArnieAndTheWaves
- u/CharmedWoo
- u/Plasmidmaven
- u/PilzGalaxie
- u/whorgans
- u/Hobbobob122
- u/another_bug
- u/inkhunter13
- u/spingus
- u/darkhorse_defender
- u/Tetrazene
- u/qwertyconsciousness
- u/Wild-Mushroom2404
- u/Thoreau80
- u/RudiF14
- u/ladymacbethofmtensk
- u/diskdiffusion
- u/Rawkynn
- u/LtHughMann
- u/kpx_
- u/ProudRetardA
- u/Missmacrophages
- u/darkshape
- u/BinarySculpture
- u/dimitrieze
- u/coneofpine2
- u/KashmirChameleon
- u/A-Wiley
- u/TheImpalerKing
- u/Jugg3rn6ut
- u/YamanakaFactor
- u/BeautifulDirection20
- u/tyingnoose
- u/RainMH11
- u/earthsea_wizard
- u/SlapHappyDude
- u/matt2ec93
- u/Doktor_Dysphoria
- u/NerdWithoutACause
- u/I_AM_THE_REAL_GOD
- u/CarlosthePalmTree
- u/Darwins_Dog
- u/KamikazeButterflies
- u/Vexcenot
- u/wheredowehidethebody
- u/futuredoctor131
- u/OvershootDieOff
- u/BronzeSpoon89
- u/Funkybeatzzz
- u/phraps
- u/Bloated_Hamster
- u/niil4
- u/No_Leopard_3860
- u/Xman1c
- u/FelkinMak
- u/stage_directions
- u/Sankta
- u/fourthtuna
- u/WhiteWingedDove-
By votes
- u/they-live-we-sleep
- u/rewp234
- u/[deleted]
- u/Give-Me-Plants
- u/Quorinn
- u/Low_Pickle_112
- u/remeruscomunus
- u/Czarben
- u/Lost-Heisenberg
- u/BioJake
- u/imosh818
- u/EvenAH27
- u/Swagmonger
- u/sadphdbro
- u/Funkybeatzzz
- u/ShadowsSheddingSkin
- u/whinyscientist
- u/No-Pressure6042
- u/MarlenMari
- u/AinsiSera
- u/Beginning_Anything30
- u/indigoiconoclast
- u/NiteNiteSpiderBite
- u/speedyerica
- u/therealmarcosftw
- u/Justhandguns
- u/haveallthefaith
- u/NerdWithoutACause
- u/InfinityCent
- u/SecretAgentIceBat
- u/sciencecatincognito
- u/spingus
- u/teenypanini
- u/orbita2d
- u/zincinzincout
- u/igetmywaterfrombeer
- u/CarlosthePalmTree
- u/TracingFireflies
- u/Tritagator
- u/green_tea_wasabi
- u/Azurity
- u/pahakuru
- u/Gedunk
- u/MarthaStewart__
- u/Jon__Snuh
- u/iheartlungs
- u/Bruggok
- u/another_bug
- u/okydokyartichokie
- u/EveryVehicle1325
- u/jaseface05
- u/Pythagorantheta
- u/ArnieAndTheWaves
- u/PeterParkour4
- u/buythedipster
- u/Pslun
- u/llllxeallll
- u/xxandra33
- u/Diseased-Prion
- u/arizado
- u/S_A_N_D_
- u/wizardgradstudent
- u/FiascoBarbie
- u/huh_phd
- u/koniboni
- u/Anonymous_Otters
- u/alwayslost999
- u/LtHughMann
- u/Punkedorange19
- u/Fall_of_R0me
- u/gourdistheword
- u/-xXpurplypunkXx-
- u/DikkDowg
- u/Between3and20again
- u/TJsgingersnap
- u/Dr_Sus_PhD
- u/Thirdyoungestfossil
- u/bnh1978
- u/JROXZ
- u/javiertrina
- u/xaranetic
- u/NapTake
- u/IamNotIncluded
- u/TheSeaOfTime
- u/WhiskyIsMyYoga
- u/A_Owl_Doe
- u/LSandTbone
- u/NotAPreppie
- u/DangerousBill
- u/tootnine
- u/TK-741
- u/too_much_2na
- u/diskdiffusion
- u/PairOfMonocles2
- u/Intrepid_Sale_6312
- u/rediculousradishes
- u/whorgans
- u/shortblondwithsoy3
- u/Ok-Mixture-8636
- u/Chemesthesis
Similar communities
Where this audience also spends time
Topic-adjacent communities surfaced from Reddit's own related subreddit signal.
FAQ
r/labrats — frequently asked questions
Quick facts about this subreddit's size, history, focus, and related communities.
How many subscribers does r/labrats have?
r/labrats has approximately 703,032 subscribers as of May 27, 2026.
When was r/labrats created?
r/labrats was created on August 22, 2011 (15 years ago).
What is r/labrats about?
The community serves as a hub for scientists, researchers, and lab workers to share their experiences, including both successes and failures in laboratory settings. Members often discuss topics related to various scientific fields such as biochemistry, microbiology, and bioinformatics. The distinct focus on real-life lab experiences fosters a supportive environment where ind…
What subreddits are similar to r/labrats?
Communities similar to r/labrats include r/biotech, r/chemistry, r/microbiology, r/biology, r/biochemistry.
Who are the most active posters on r/labrats?
The most frequent posters on r/labrats include u/sciencecatincognito, u/AinslieLab, u/[deleted].
Ready to engage on r/labrats?
Authentic engagement, not spam.
RedPulse runs Reddit campaigns the way the platform actually rewards — high-karma accounts, native conversations, and content moderators welcome.
