Difference between revisions of "20.109(S17):Homework"

Module 1:

Due M1D1

1. Review the Laboratory Orientation exercises to prepare for the Orientation quiz that you and your partner will complete together during your laboratory section.
2. Complete the required EHS training on-line.
   • There are two web-based training modules required for 20.109: Chemical Hygiene Training includes 7 sections and 6 quizzes with an estimated completion time of 1 hour and Managing Hazardous Waste has one quiz and should take less time to complete. Both courses can be accessed through MIT's Environmental Health and Safety page, from any computer that has your MIT certificate on it.
   • From the EHS training page select the second button labeled "I have EHS training requirements for an academic subject."
   • Your summary page ("My EHS Training") should show Chemical Hygiene and Managing Hazardous Waste as requirements. Click the purple button "Go to Web Classes" above the training requirements section. You may stop and start the web-based courses as many times as you need; the software keeps track of your progress in the course.
   • If you have completed EHS training in a UROP or in another lab class, you do not need to repeat the training but you do need to print out your training record to submit.
   • You must print the certificates of completion (or your training record) to turn in at the start of your laboratory section.
3. Download Benchling onto your computer. This program will serve as your laboratory notebook for the semester.
4. Prepare for the first day of Module 1 by reading the module overview and the M1D1 introduction.

Due M1D2

1. To prepare for your laboratory session, complete a template for your notebook entry according to the Laboratory notebook guidelines provided on the Communication page. You will use these guidelines for every notebook entry you complete in 20.109.
   • For additional help, see the template for your M1D2 notebook entry below.

Due M1D3

1. Often illustrations are useful when discussing experimental approaches in written communication outlets. Prepare a schematic diagram that depicts the protein purification portion of your experimental approach for Module 1. See the Module 1 overview page for an example, but do not simply copy this image!
   • Think about which steps are important to the overall goal of your approach and which are minor methods details that can be omitted.
   • Schematics are figures and should have both a title and a caption.
2. The BE Communication Lab is a great resource to keep in mind as you complete your assignments for 20.109. To familiarize you with this resource, you will receive homework points for meeting with a Fellow to discuss an assignment by M1D4.
   • You must schedule your appointment online at the BE Communication Lab homepage. Click "Make an appointment" at the top right corner of the screen.

Due M1D4

1. Use the data collected from the polyacrylamide gel and MicroBCA assay to generate a figure for your Data Summary.
   • Review the information provided by the BE Communication Lab workshop on M1D3.
   • Carefully consider how to best present the data before you start. You can use any graphs or tables you generate from the data; however, it is best not to show the same data set in numerous forms unless you are highlighting specific aspects of each representation.
   • All figures must include a title and a caption.
2. As a reminder, you should meet with a Fellow in the BE Communication Lab by M1D4 to discuss an assignment.
   • You must schedule your appointment online at the BE Communication Lab homepage. Click "Make an appointment" at the top right corner of the screen.
3. In Module 2, you will document the details of your experiments in a written methods section as part of the Research Article. To help you prepare for this task, and to give you feedback early on, you will draft portions of the Module 1 methods. For this assignment, write the methods that you used the protocols you completed on M1D2 and M1D3.
   • Be sure to read the Materials and Methods information within the Written communication guidelines section of the Communication page before you begin; doing so will save you some time and effort.
   • To assist you with this assignment, the teaching faculty will host open office hours during the normally scheduled laboratory class times on Tuesday and Wednesday in 56-302).

Due D5 background / motivation results section for acrylamide figure / BCA -- which information can you get from each

Due D6 mini presentation outline

Due D7 outline future work / implications -- bullet points with ideas and any questions (bring 2 copies) final methods write up

Wrapping up M1

1. The Data Summary draft is due by 5 pm on for both sections.
2. The Mini-presentation is due by 10 pm for both sections.
3. The Data Summary revision is due by 5 pm for both sections.
4. Please remember to contribute your reflections, comments, and ideas to the 20.109 class blog within 24 h of submitting the Data Summary revision.

Module 2:

Due M2D1

read stuff

Due D2 sign up for JC -- no changes after this day!

Due D3 pretend slide from paper reviewed in class on D2

Due D4 figure caption for crystal violet experiment from pooled class data

Due D5 jc

Due D6 M2 methods

Due D7 Comm lab manuscript architecture workshop peer review of methods

Due D8 jc

Due D9 introduction / discussion draft

Wrapping up M2

1. The Research article is due by 5 pm for both sections.
2. Please remember to contribute your reflections, comments, and ideas to the 20.109 class blog within 24 h of submitting the Research article.

Module 3: Biomaterials engineering

Due M3D1

1. Prepare for the first day of Module 3 by reading the module overview and day one introduction.

Due M3D2

1. The primary assignment for this experimental module will be for you to develop a Research proposal and present your idea to the class. Please describe five recent findings that could potentially define an interesting research question. You should hand in a 3-5 sentence description of each topic, in your own words, and also formally cite an associated reference from the scientific literature. The topics you pick can be related to any aspect of the class, i.e. DNA, protein, or biomaterials engineering. During lab next time, you and your partner will review the topics and narrow your choices, identifying one or perhaps two topics for further research.
   • Please note: for this assignment, you do not need to have a novel research idea completely sketched out; you simply have to describe five recent examples of existing work that you find interesting. However, you can start to brainstorm how to expand those topics into something new if you want to get ahead of the game.

Due M3D3

1. Discuss the potential research topics you prepared for the previous assignment with your co-investigator (your lab partner) and write a paragraph concerning the research question you would like to pursue for your research proposal. Please include 2-3 sentences that introduce your topic and a brief discussion of your potential plan. Consider the following as you discuss your potential research topics:
   • Your interest in the topic.
   • The availability of good background information.
   • Your likelihood of successfully advancing current understanding.
   • The possibility of advancing foundational technologies or finding practical applications.
   • Can your proposal be carried out in a reasonable amount of time and with non-infinite resources?
   • Take advantage of downtime in lecture and lab to discuss your research ideas with Prof. Belcher and the teaching faculty.
   • Please note: The idea you submit for this assignment does not have to be the idea you present at the end of Module 3. It is okay if you change directions and decide to pursue other research questions during the process of developing your proposal but please finalize your idea soon.

Due M3D4

1. Consider the feedback you and your co-investigator received in the peer review exercise and begin to refine your research proposal by sharing a page (i.e. wiki, Googledoc, Benchling) to collect your ideas and resources (you can do this on one page with your partner or split the effort and each turn in an individual page).
   • Keep in mind that your presentation to the class will ultimately need:
     • a brief project overview
     • sufficient background information for everyone to understand your proposal
     • a statement of the research problem and goals
     • project details and methods
     • predicted outcomes if everything goes according to plan and if nothing does
     • needed resources to complete the work
   • For this assignment, please submit a printed copy of your research page, making sure it defines your general topic (background and significance), your specific idea (research gap and general approach), and two or more references you've collected and summarized.

1. For this module, you will also prepare a short Mini-report with your partner. To get you started, work with your laboratory mate to prepare an outline of the Background and Approach section for this assignment. Keep in mind your background should reference previous scientific work so there should also be a works cited or references section to this outline.
   • Review the assignment details and carefully consider the questions specified within the evaluation criteria as you craft the Background and Approach section.

Due M3D5

1. Read the introductory material for M3D5, and then, based on the mass of the cathode you constructed, determine the number of mA to apply in order to fully discharge the battery in 10 hours. Use the loading factor of 17.8 mA/g, a value that is in accordance with cathodes tested during the pilot experiments for this module, and assume 63% of the mass you measured for the nanowires is active material in the cathode.
   • Remember, when you generated your cathode material your composition was 70% active material (nanowires), 25% Super P, and 5% PTFE. You also need to account for the proportion of phage in your active material, which we will assume is 10%. With these values taken into account, your cathode is composed of 63% active material.

Due (after) M3D5

1. The Mini-report is due by 10 pm .

Wrapping up M3

1. The Research proposal presentation slides are due on Stellar by 1 pm on according to your laboratory section.
2. Please remember to contribute your reflections, comments, and ideas to the 20.109 class blog before 11am on .