Yi-Ying Lin

Work

About

Yi-Ying Lin

Work

About

Yi-Ying Lin

Work

About

Scaling templates from publishing to AI conversion

Scaling templates from publishing to AI conversion

Templates in Benchling help scientists work consistently, keep data traceable, and capture experiments as reusable procedural knowledge. Scientists have created over a million experiment records in Benchling—more than half from templates. Today, 100,000+ templates are active, with 3,000 added each month, showing how essential they are to daily work. At Benchling, I designed multiple projects around templates, from shipped features to early concepts. Here are three mini case studies on how I helped scientists create, manage, and reuse them:

Templates in Benchling help scientists work consistently, keep data traceable, and capture experiments as reusable procedural knowledge. Scientists have created over a million experiment records in Benchling—more than half from templates. Today, 100,000+ templates are active, with 3,000 added each month, showing how essential they are to daily work. At Benchling, I designed multiple projects around templates, from shipped features to early concepts. Here are three mini case studies on how I helped scientists create, manage, and reuse them:

Template feature #1

Converting files into structured templates with AI

In late 2024, I explored how Notebook could better help teams capture and reuse procedural knowledge. Partnering with the Head of Product for Core Applications and the Notebook PM, I asked: what if AI could take a PDF or CSV and instantly generate a structured template, shrinking a process that once took weeks to just hours? I prototyped the concept and shared it with 14 field representatives, including Global Program Managers and Enterprise Solution Architects. The response validated its potential. The vision clicked immediately as a faster, easier way for customers to get started on Benchling. That vision became reality in September 2025, when Benchling launched Compose, the AI agent that transforms customer files into Benchling templates.

In late 2024, I explored how Notebook could better help teams capture and reuse procedural knowledge. Partnering with the Head of Product for Core Applications and the Notebook PM, I asked: what if AI could take a PDF or CSV and instantly generate a structured template, shrinking a process that once took weeks to just hours? I prototyped the concept and shared it with 14 field representatives, including Global Program Managers and Enterprise Solution Architects. The response validated its potential. The vision clicked immediately as a faster, easier way for customers to get started on Benchling. That vision became reality in September 2025, when Benchling launched Compose, the AI agent that transforms customer files into Benchling templates.

Our customers live in spreadsheets. If you give me this AI converter now, I can sell it today. You cannot underestimate how powerful a story this is to sell.

— Benchling Account Executive, after seeing an early iteration

AI file converter

AI file converter

AI file converter

Template feature #2

Modularizing and reusing protocols with sub-templates

Before Sub-templates, template creators had no efficient way to share common procedures. They either built full templates for every scenario, which was rigid and hard to maintain, or left scientists copying and pasting steps. This created extra overhead for admins and left scientists unsure which version to use.

Before Sub-templates, template creators had no efficient way to share common procedures. They either built full templates for every scenario, which was rigid and hard to maintain, or left scientists copying and pasting steps. This created extra overhead for admins and left scientists unsure which version to use.

Launched in 2023, Sub-templates introduced reusable blocks that scientists can insert into entries, worksheets, and templates, such as cell culture prep or QC checks. They make repeated steps consistent across teams while still adaptable to different experiments. I designed how sub-templates are created, managed, and used, and also explored future directions such as selectors and auto-insertion with business rules.

Launched in 2023, Sub-templates introduced reusable blocks that scientists can insert into entries, worksheets, and templates, such as cell culture prep or QC checks. They make repeated steps consistent across teams while still adaptable to different experiments. I designed how sub-templates are created, managed, and used, and also explored future directions such as selectors and auto-insertion with business rules.

We run the same procedures over and over, so sub-templates would help us a lot. Right now, getting them structured with sub-templates is our top priority.

— Enterprise customer, who created 1,000+ sub-templates right after going live

Sub-templates in Notebook entries

Build Notebook entries with sub-templates. We made it easy to insert and find the right sub-templates using the /insert command and a tree-style selector.

Sub-templates in Bioprocess worksheets

Build Worksheet steps with sub-templates. Scientists can create a step library using sub-templates and template collections to standardize their Bioprocess procedures.

Template feature #3

Publishing templates to standardize workflows

Before Template Publishing, drafts and finalized versions looked the same, and scientists could create experiments from any template, even incomplete ones. Versions were only tracked by timestamps, which made it difficult to know which changes mattered or to link experiments back to the right template. This created confusion and compliance risks.

Before Template Publishing, drafts and finalized versions looked the same, and scientists could create experiments from any template, even incomplete ones. Versions were only tracked by timestamps, which made it difficult to know which changes mattered or to link experiments back to the right template. This created confusion and compliance risks.

Launched in 2025, Template Publishing introduced control and clarity. Admins can now finalize and lock templates as official versions, with each version named and traceable. I helped shape requirements and designed the full template lifecycle with the version controls that support it.

Launched in 2025, Template Publishing introduced control and clarity. Admins can now finalize and lock templates as official versions, with each version named and traceable. I helped shape requirements and designed the full template lifecycle with the version controls that support it.

This is finally happening...we’ve wanted template publishing for years. It will make it so much easier to manage and control our work. Also love that the new version history shows how things change and why. This is exactly what we’ve been looking for.

— Enterprise customer

Publishing flow

With publishing, templates have clear states and named versions, making it easy to see changes and identify the official version.

Template listing

The template listing page enables scientists to create, manage, and reuse procedural knowledge.
The template listing page enables scientists to create, manage, and reuse procedural knowledge.

Yi-Ying Lin, 2025

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Yi-Ying Lin, 2025

LINKEDIN

EMAIL

Yi-Ying Lin, 2025

LINKEDIN

EMAIL