Western blot data is under increasing scrutiny from journals, reviewers, and watchdog groups. Are your results ready to stand up to today’s higher standards?

In this course you will learn how to protect your publications and your reputation — and how to make your western blots more accurate, reliable, and reproducible.

What you will learn

  • Data Integrity & Journal Requirements

    Discover why western blot data integrity is under scrutiny, see retracted paper examples, learn what journals expect, and understand what’s at stake for your reputation and publications if your blots don’t meet today’s standards.

  • Normalization & Method Comparison

    Learn why normalization is essential for accurate western blotting, compare common methods such as housekeeping proteins and loading controls to total protein normalization, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.

  • Stain-Free Total Protein Normalization

    See how Bio-Rad’s Stain-Free technology simplifies total protein normalization, delivering faster, more accurate results without the extra steps and variability of traditional methods.

  • The Total Protein Normalization Process

    Learn how to apply total protein normalization in your lab with protocols, best practices and troubleshooting tips to confidently use stain-free technology in your western blots.

Find Out if Your Blots are Publication Ready by Today's Standards.

Enroll in Mastery of Western Blotting Course 1: Data Integrity & Normalization​

Enroll for free

Course Overview

This is a preview, please enroll to access these lessons

    1. Welcome to the course

    2. How to use this course

    3. Meet the instructors

    1. Data Integrity and More Stringent Requirements for Journal Submissions

    2. Quiz #1

    3. Additional Reading

    1. The Normalization Concept and a Comparison of Primary Methods

    2. Quiz #2

    3. Additional Reading

    1. The Bio-Rad Stain-Free Total Protein Normalization Workflow

    2. Quiz #3

    3. Additional Reading

    1. The Total Protein Normalization Process

    2. Quiz #4

    3. Stain-Free Western Blotting & Total Protein Normalization Resources

    1. Additional Resources

    2. Get Your Free Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Layout Post-it Pad

About this course

  • Free
  • 17 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content

Meet your instructor

Global Marketing Manager Kenneth Oh

Kenneth Oh earned his PhD in bioorganic chemistry at UC Santa Barbara, where he synthesized fluorescence‑based peptide beacons that measured nucleic acid and protein binding events. Upon graduation, he co‑founded a biotech company that re‑engineered virus capsids that served as a drug delivery platform. At Bio‑Rad, he manages the electrophoresis and western blotting product portfolio.

Field Application Specialist Sahel Mohebbi

Sahel Mohebbi earned her Ph.D. in Bioinorganic chemistry from the University of Georgia, where she focused on the spectroscopic characterization of metalloenzymes and biological iron-sulfur centers. She unraveled a unique function for a novel [Fe-S] cluster storage protein and developed a new pathway for [Fe-S] cluster assembly on recipient proteins. Upon graduation, she joined an immunology and cancer biology research group at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, focusing on the effect of diet and micro-nutrition on immune response, gut microbiota, and liver cancer development. She represents Bio-Rad as the Proteomics Field Application Scientist specializing in Western Blotting, Bio-Plex Immunoassays, and Chromatography.

FAQ

  • Who should take this course?

    This course is designed for researchers, lab technicians, and students who perform Western blotting and want to improve data reliability, meet journal standards, and gain confidence in their results.

  • How long will this course take?

    The course includes four chapters that can be completed at your own pace, typically in under 2 hours.

  • Can I get a certificate for this course?

    Yes, you’ll receive a Bio-Rad Academy certificate when you complete the course, which you can add to your CV, LinkedIn, or lab training records.

  • Will I be able to ask questions and get answers?

    By enrolling in this class you will be automatically added to Bio-Rad's Western Blotting Community. This is a highly collaborative place to ask questions and share western blotting ideas with the instructors and your peers. You can post pictures, comments and reply to others.

  • Do I need prior experience with Western blotting?

    Yes, a basic understanding of Western blotting is recommended. If you’re new, we suggest starting with the Bio-Rad Academy Western Blot Fundamentals courses listed below first.

  • How is this course different from the Fundamentals and Advanced courses?

    While Fundamentals covers the basics and Advanced explores optimization, this course focuses on data integrity, reproducibility, and publication standards—skills critical for publishing credible research.

  • Is there a cost to take this course?

    No, Bio-Rad Academy courses are free to access once you create an account.

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