# Institutions and conference deadlines

Find research institutions and plan a submission around the dates that matter.

Open **Oleafly Tools** from the library. If the tools are hidden, enable **LaTeX tools** in **Settings → Experimentation**.

## Find a research institution

**Lab Search** searches institution records in the OpenAlex directory. It is useful for finding an institution's official site, location, and research profile.

1. Open **Lab Search**, or enter `/lab-search` in the library search.
2. Search by institution name, acronym, or location. Try **University of Edinburgh**.
3. Use **Country filter** to narrow results when a name is shared by several institutions.
4. Open a result and follow its official website, OpenAlex profile, or ROR record when available.

Treat the result as a starting point for finding the right department or group. The directory describes institutions; the institution's site provides current lab members, openings, and contact details.

## Find a conference deadline

1. Open **Conference Deadlines**, or enter `/conference-deadlines` in the library search.
2. Search by conference name or acronym, or filter by research area.
3. Choose a sort order. **Next 7 days**, **Next 30 days**, and **Estimated** help you scan the schedule.
4. Turn on **Include passed deadlines** when you want to inspect an earlier date.
5. Open the venue's website to read the call for papers and submission instructions.

Cards show venue details and a live countdown. The listed submission time uses the venue's timezone. An **Estimated** badge identifies a projected date from an earlier schedule; confirm the current call before planning around it.

Use **Refresh deadlines** to fetch the current dataset and **About deadline data** to inspect how dates, timezones, and sources are handled.

## Turn the deadline into a writing plan

Create a [research project](/docs/research-workspace/) and put the submission requirements in its notes: paper length, template, anonymity rules, supporting material, and the confirmed deadline. Ask the assistant for a plan with separate drafting, review, and packaging steps.

> Read the submission requirements in this project. Draft a checklist for the manuscript, figures, references, and final source archive. Separate tasks I can do now from tasks that need the finished PDF.

Use [Preflight](/docs/preflight/) and the [review and submission workflow](/docs/workflows/review-and-submit/) when the draft is ready.