diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 07a5ab57d2..9efeb82e16 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -48,35 +48,112 @@ jobs:
       with:
         extra_args: --all-files --color=always
 
+  build-wheel:
+    name: Build python wheel
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    # update the version
+    - name: Get short commit SHA
+      run: |
+        if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "pull_request" ]; then
+          SHA="${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}"
+        else
+          SHA="${{ github.sha }}"
+        fi
+        echo "SHA=$(git rev-parse --short $SHA)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+    - name: Get current version (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH)
+      id: current-version
+      run: echo "current_version=$(grep -Po '(?<=__version__ = ")[\d\w.]+(?=")' rdmo/__init__.py)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+    - name: Generate new version (current version + SHA)
+      id: new-version
+      run: echo "new_version=${{ steps.current-version.outputs.current_version }}+$SHA" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+    - name: Update version in rdmo/__init__.py
+      run: |
+        sed -i "s/__version__ = .*/__version__ = \"${{ steps.new-version.outputs.new_version }}\"/" rdmo/__init__.py
+    # build the webpack bundle
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+      with:
+        node-version: 18
+        cache: npm
+    - run: npm install && npm run build:prod
+    # build the wheel
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.12'
+        cache: pip
+    - run: |
+        python -m pip install --upgrade pip pipx
+        pip --version
+        pipx --version
+    - name: Build the wheel
+      run: pipx run build
+    - name: Check the metadata
+      run: pipx run twine check --strict dist/*
+    - name: Install package from built wheel
+      run: python -m pip install --no-compile dist/rdmo*.whl # do not create __pycache__/*.pyc files
+    - name: Write info to step summary
+      run: |
+          {
+            echo -e "# ✓ Wheel successfully built (v${{ steps.new-version.outputs.new_version }})\n\n"
+            echo '<details><summary>Information about installed wheel</summary>'
+            echo -e "\n\`\`\`console"
+            echo "$ python -m pip show --files --verbose rdmo"
+            python -m pip show --files --verbose rdmo
+            echo -e "\`\`\`\n</details>"
+          } >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+    - name: Upload wheel as artifact
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: wheel
+        path: dist/rdmo*.whl
+        if-no-files-found: error
+        retention-days: 30
+
   test:
+    name: "Test (Python: ${{ matrix.python-version }}, DB: ${{ matrix.db-backend }})" # TODO: add end-to-end to name
+    needs: build-wheel
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 45
     strategy:
       matrix:
         python-version: ['3.8', '3.12']
         db-backend: [mysql, postgres]
-    name: "Test (Python: ${{ matrix.python-version }}, DB: ${{ matrix.db-backend }})"
-    needs: lint
+        end-to-end: [false]
+        include:
+          - python-version: '3.12'
+            db-backend: postgres
+            end-to-end: true
     steps:
+    - run: echo "true"
+      if: matrix.end-to-end
+    - run: echo "false"
+      if: matrix.end-to-end == false
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         cache: pip
+    - name: Download wheel
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: wheel
+        path: dist
     - name: Install Dependencies
       run: |
-        sudo apt update
-        sudo apt install --yes pandoc texlive-xetex librsvg2-bin
-        python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+        sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --yes pandoc texlive-xetex librsvg2-bin
         pandoc --version
-    - name: Install rdmo[mysql] and start mysql
+        python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+        python -m pip --version
+    - name: Install rdmo[mysql] from wheel and start mysql
       run: |
-        python -m pip install --editable .[ci,mysql]
+        python -m pip install "$(ls dist/*.whl)[ci,mysql]"
         sudo systemctl start mysql.service
       if: matrix.db-backend == 'mysql'
-    - name: Install rdmo[postgres] and start postgresql
+    - name: Install rdmo[postgres] from wheel and start postgresql
       run: |
-        python -m pip install --editable .[ci,postgres]
+        python -m pip install "$(ls dist/*.whl)[ci,postgres]"
         sudo systemctl start postgresql.service
         pg_isready
         sudo -u postgres psql --command="CREATE USER postgres_user PASSWORD 'postgres_password' CREATEDB"
@@ -89,33 +166,28 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         pytest rdmo/core/tests/test_package_status.py::test_package_json_and_pre_commit_versions_match \
         --nomigrations --verbose
-      if: matrix.python-version == '3.12' && matrix.db-backend == 'postgres'
+      if: matrix.end-to-end
     - name: Run Tests
       run: |
         pytest -p randomly -p no:cacheprovider --cov --reuse-db --numprocesses=auto --dist=loadscope
       env:
         GITHUB_DB_BACKEND: ${{ matrix.db-backend }}
+      if: matrix.end-to-end == false
     - name: Upload coverage data to coveralls.io
       uses: coverallsapp/github-action@643bc377ffa44ace6394b2b5d0d3950076de9f63 # v2.3.0
       with:
         flag-name: '${{ matrix.db-backend }}: ${{ matrix.python-version }}'
         parallel: true
+      if: matrix.end-to-end == false
     # end-to-end tests
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-      with:
-        node-version: 18
-        cache: npm
-      if: matrix.python-version == '3.12' && matrix.db-backend == 'postgres'
     - name: Install e2e tests dependencies
-      run: |
-        npm install
-        npm run build:prod
-        playwright install chromium
-      if: matrix.python-version == '3.12' && matrix.db-backend == 'postgres'
-    - run: mkdir screenshots
+      run: python -m playwright install --with-deps chromium
+      if: matrix.end-to-end
     - name: Run end-to-end tests
-      run: pytest -p randomly -p no:cacheprovider --reuse-db --numprocesses=auto --dist=loadscope -m e2e --nomigrations
-      if: matrix.python-version == '3.12' && matrix.db-backend == 'postgres'
+      run: |
+        mkdir screenshots
+        pytest --nomigrations -m e2e
+      if: matrix.end-to-end
       env:
         DJANGO_DEBUG: True
         GITHUB_DB_BACKEND: ${{ matrix.db-backend }}
@@ -123,7 +195,7 @@ jobs:
       with:
         name: screenshots
         path: screenshots/*.png
-      if: matrix.python-version == '3.12' && matrix.db-backend == 'postgres'
+      if: matrix.end-to-end
 
   coveralls:
     name: Indicate completion to coveralls
@@ -136,63 +208,6 @@ jobs:
       with:
         parallel-finished: true
 
-  build-wheel:
-    name: Build python wheel
-    needs: test
-    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
-    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    - name: Get short commit SHA
-      run: |
-        if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "pull_request" ]; then
-          SHA="${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}"
-        else
-          SHA="${{ github.sha }}"
-        fi
-        echo "SHA=$(git rev-parse --short $SHA)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-    - name: Get current version (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH)
-      id: current-version
-      run: echo "current_version=$(grep -Po '(?<=__version__ = ")[\d\w.]+(?=")' rdmo/__init__.py)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-    - name: Generate new version (current version + SHA)
-      id: new-version
-      run: echo "new_version=${{ steps.current-version.outputs.current_version }}+$SHA" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-    - name: Update version in rdmo/__init__.py
-      run: |
-        sed -i "s/__version__ = .*/__version__ = \"${{ steps.new-version.outputs.new_version }}\"/" rdmo/__init__.py
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-      with:
-        node-version: 18
-        cache: npm
-    - run: npm install
-    - run: npm run build:prod
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-      with:
-        python-version: '3.12'
-        cache: pip
-    - run: |
-        python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-        python -m pip install .[dev]
-    - name: Build the wheel
-      run: python -m build --wheel
-    - name: Check metadata
-      run: python -m twine check --strict dist/*
-    - name: Install package from built wheel
-      run: python -m pip install --force-reinstall dist/rdmo*.whl
-    - name: Write info to step summary
-      run: |
-        echo -e "# ✓ Wheel successfully built (v${{ steps.new-version.outputs.new_version }})\n\n" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-        echo "\`\`\`console" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-        echo "$ python -m pip show rdmo" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-        python -m pip show rdmo >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-        echo "\`\`\`" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-    - name: Upload wheel as artifact
-      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-      with:
-        name: wheel
-        path: dist/rdmo*.whl
-        if-no-files-found: error
-        retention-days: 30
-
   dev-setup:
     # Ref: structlog (MIT licensed) <https://github.com/hynek/structlog/blob/main/.github/workflows/ci.yml>
     name: "Test dev setup on ${{ matrix.os }}"
@@ -211,6 +226,7 @@ jobs:
 
   dependencies:
     name: Test installation of all dependencies
+    needs: build-wheel
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -218,12 +234,18 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: "3.12"
           cache: pip
+      - name: Download wheel
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: wheel
+          path: dist
       - name: Install os requirements for python-ldap
-        run: |
-          sudo apt update
-          sudo apt install --yes libldap2-dev libsasl2-dev
+        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --yes libldap2-dev libsasl2-dev
       - run: python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-      - run: python -m pip install .[allauth,ci,dev,gunicorn,ldap,mysql,postgres,pytest]
+      - name: Install rdmo wheel with all optional dependency groups
+        run: python -m pip install --no-compile "$(ls dist/*.whl)[allauth,ci,dev,gunicorn,ldap,mysql,postgres,pytest]"
+      - name: Verify installed packages have compatible dependencies
+        run: python -m pip check
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: 18
@@ -259,9 +281,9 @@ jobs:
     if: always()
     needs:
       - lint
+      - build-wheel
       - test
       - coveralls
-      - build-wheel
       - dev-setup
       - dependencies
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 44cae49a16..1f39b76036 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -207,6 +207,8 @@ filterwarnings = [
   "ignore:'cgi' is deprecated and slated for removal in Python 3.13:DeprecationWarning",
   "ignore:pkg_resources is deprecated as an API:DeprecationWarning",
 
+  "ignore:CoreAPI compatibility is deprecated and will be removed in DRF 3.17:rest_framework.RemovedInDRF317Warning",
+
   # ignore warnings raised from within django itself
   # django/core/files/storage/__init__.py
   "ignore:django.core.files.storage.get_storage_class is deprecated:django.utils.deprecation.RemovedInDjango51Warning",
diff --git a/rdmo/management/tests/conftest.py b/rdmo/management/tests/conftest.py
index 79cbc2d4aa..ef25f965ab 100644
--- a/rdmo/management/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/rdmo/management/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from django.core.management import call_command
-
+from django.conf import settings
 from playwright.sync_api import BrowserType, Page, expect
 from pytest_django.live_server_helper import LiveServer
 
@@ -18,32 +18,60 @@ def _e2e_tests_django_db_setup(django_db_setup, django_db_blocker, fixtures):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def base_url_page(live_server: LiveServer, browser: BrowserType) -> Page:
+def base_url_page(
+        django_user_model,
+        username,
+        live_server: LiveServer, 
+        browser: BrowserType) -> Page:
     """Enable playwright to address URLs with base URL automatically prefixed."""
-    context = browser.new_context(base_url=live_server.url)
-    page = context.new_page()
+    # context = browser.new_context(base_url=live_server.url)
+    user = django_user_model.objects.get(username=username)
+    print(user)
+    page = browser.new_page()
     yield page
-    context.close()
+    # context.close()
 
 
-# helper function for logging in the user
-def login_user(page: Page, username: str, password: str) -> Page:
-    page.goto("/account/login")
-    page.get_by_label("Username").fill(username, timeout=5000)
-    page.get_by_label("Password").fill(password)
-    page.get_by_role("button", name="Login").click()
-    page.goto("/management")
-    return page
+# # helper function for logging in the user
+# def login_user(page: Page, username: str, password: str) -> Page:
+#     page.goto("/account/login")
+#     page.get_by_label("Username").fill(username, timeout=5000)
+#     page.get_by_label("Password").fill(password)
+#     page.get_by_role("button", name="Login").click()
+#     page.goto("/management")
+#     return page
 
-def logout_user(page: Page):
-    page.goto("/account/logout")
-    page.get_by_role("button", name="Logout").click()
-    expect(page).to_have_url('/')
-    return page
+# def logout_user(page: Page):
+#     page.goto("/account/logout")
+#     page.get_by_role("button", name="Logout").click()
+#     expect(page).to_have_url('/')
+#     return page
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def logged_in_user(_e2e_tests_django_db_setup, base_url_page, username:str, password: str) -> Page:
+def logged_in_user(_e2e_tests_django_db_setup, django_user_model, base_url_page, client, username:str, password: str) -> Page:
     """Log in as admin user through Django login UI, returns logged in page for e2e tests."""
+
+    print()
+    user = django_user_model.objects.get(username=username)
+    print(user)
+    print(client)
+    client.force_login(user)
+    print(client.cookies)
+    session_cookie = client.cookies[settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME]
+    assert session_cookie
+    print(session_cookie)
+
+    # Inject the session Cookie to playwright browser:
+    cookie = {
+        'name': session_cookie.key,
+        'value': session_cookie.value,
+        # 'url': live_server_url,
+    }
+    print(cookie)
+    
+    # page.context.add_cookies([cookie])
+
+
     page = login_user(base_url_page, username, password)
     yield page
     logout_user(page)