Top Lab Tests for Academic Institutions

Universities and research institutions are central hubs for advancing environmental testing knowledge and insight. SimpleLab supports academic research teams through one digital platform that streamlines testing logistics, delivers accredited lab results, and centralizes data in a single, secure workspace.

Below, we explore how SimpleLab supports academic research programs and the most commonly used test kits for grant-funded studies.

Table of Contents

1. Supporting Research, Grants & Academic Studies
2. Popular Test Kits for Research & Grant Programs
3. What Researchers Say
4. The Bottom Line: One Platform for Academic Research

Supporting Research, Grants & Academic Studies

From grant-funded research and community studies to large, multi-site data collection efforts, researchers leverage environmental data to answer some of the biggest questions in engineering, public health, and environmental policy. Whether you’re launching a new study or managing a high volume of samples, SimpleLab has the infrastructure to help you move faster and work smarter.

Your Digital Research Lab

SimpleLab handles the operational complexity of environmental testing behind the scenes. From kit selection and bulk shipping to sample tracking, lab analysis, and participant report-back, everything lives in one secure dashboard.

Key features SimpleLab offers research teams include: 

• Manage hundreds of samples without spreadsheets on one platform
• Drop ship samples to study participants or send kits to research team for field work
• Host a free website for study participants to “claim” kits from your study
• Collect digital consent for IRB approval
• Collect/manage and store digital sample information 
• Track kit shipments to and from team and/or study participants and lab
• Easily access results for analysis, reporting, and publication
• Maintain consistent methodologies across cohorts or study sites
• Scale studies without increasing administrative burden
  

Whether you’re piloting a small study or executing a multi-year grant, SimpleLab helps maximize impact while minimizing logistical overhead.

Built for Academia: SimpleLab offers special volume pricing and dedicated support for universities and research institutions. Our team works directly with researchers, grant administrators, and facilities leaders to align testing programs with budgets, timelines, and compliance needs.

Popular Test Kits for Research & Grant Programs

These test kits are commonly used in academic research, public health studies, and environmental monitoring programs.

Drinking Water Test – Level 2

What is it?

Baseline drinking water quality testing for one sample collected from a home, building, or facility served by a municipal water supply.

Why this kit?

Frequently used in community health studies, campus infrastructure assessments, and comparative research projects, this test evaluates common water quality indicators related to plumbing materials and disinfection processes, helping academic teams generate consistent, defensible data.

PFAS Water Test

What is it?

Specialized testing for 14 PFAS compounds in one drinking water sample using EPA Method 537.1.

Why this kit?

Ideal for environmental health, exposure, and regulatory research, this test supports high-quality data collection for grant-funded studies focused on emerging contaminants.

Lead Dust Surface Wipe Test

What is it?

Precision testing for toxic lead dust on indoor surfaces using one wipe sample. 

Why this kit?

Ideal for housing and environmental justice research, this test helps academic teams quantify lead exposure risks in classrooms, residence halls, and residential buildings, supporting evidence-based interventions and reporting.

Microplastics Surface Water Test

What is it?

Specialized screening for microplastic particles in one surface water sample, such as lake, pond, or river water. 

Why this test?

Designed for ecology, hydrology, and pollution research, this test reports microplastics across multiple size ranges while acknowledging evolving analytical methods and current detection limitations.

What Researchers Say 

Researchers rely on SimpleLab to support large-scale studies, community programs, and grant-funded research with consistent data and manageable workflows.

“SimpleLab transformed how we managed large-scale tap water testing in our Tap Trust study. Their streamlined system made it effortless to coordinate sampling, track results, and deliver data back to participants—saving us significant time and resources.” —Khalid Osman, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Center Fellow, Stanford University

“SimpleLab remains easily the best and most accurate source for everyday people to test and get understandable results back on their drinking water quality at the tap in the United States. For researchers, SimpleLab works with you to customize approaches, budgets, and how results are communicated back to the communities you serve.” —Gregory Pierce, Associate Professor and Senior Director, Human Right to Water Solutions Lab, UCLA

“Simplelab allowed my lab to collect critical water quality data in the aftermath of the 2025 Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles, providing our study participants with direct access to their home water quality data. As a researcher, Simplelab allowed a short-turn around time for sample analysis, which was critical, and beyond the capabilities of my lab. The Simplelab team met with us to select the most appropriate test based on the type of sample and analytes of interest. Their network of certified commercial labs gave me the confidence of data quality and integrity." —Christopher Olivares, Assistant Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine

The Bottom Line: One Platform for Academic Research

Academic research demands rigor, transparency, and scalability. SimpleLab brings these together with a single digital platform designed to support grant-funded studies from planning through publication.

Through simplified logistics, centralized data, and accredited results, research teams spend less time managing operations, and more time generating insight and impact. With special volume pricing, dedicated academic support, and a digital-first workflow, SimpleLab helps universities do more with their data, and less with paperwork.

Smarter research. Simplified testing. That’s SimpleLab.