Difference between revisions of "20.109(F22):M3D3"

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(Created page with "<div style="padding: 10px; width: 820px; border: 5px solid #434a43;"> {{Template:20.109(F22)}} ==Exercises== ===Part 1: Discuss Research proposal with peers=== To help y...")
 
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==Exercises==
 
==Exercises==
  
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===Part 1: Discuss Research proposal with peers===
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===Part 1: Draft aims for Research proposal presentation===
  
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To help you focus your ideas and develop the details of your project, you will discuss the project description you submitted today with a classmate from another group. As you listen to your classmate's idea, consider the following criteria proposed for small research project grants by the NIH:
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Now that you have a research question / goal, what experimental steps will you use to get your answer?  The approaches that you include in your Research proposal presentation should be divided into aims and objectives.
  
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''Small Research Grant Program: ...small grant supports discrete, well-defined projects that realistically can be completed in two years and that require limited levels of funding.  Because the research project usually is limited, the grant application may not contain extensive detail or discussion.  Accordingly, reviewers should evaluate the conceptual framework and general approach to the problem. Appropriate justification for the proposed work can be provided through literature citations, data from other sources, or from investigator-generated data.  Preliminary data are not required, particularly in application proposing pilot or feasibility studies.''
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'''Aims:''' are broad statements that provide the intended outcome for each major step in your proposal.  The purpose is to tell the audience what you will accomplish without the details of how.  For each aim, there should be a list of specific objectives that detail how you will achieve the aim.
  
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Use the following exercise to guide your discussion as you consider both your and your classmate's project.  Because you are still in the early stages of developing your research topic, it is okay if you do not have all of the answers to the following questions.  This is meant to help you critically think about your proposal...not to point out the additional research you need to complete! Furthermore, this is an informal conversation and you should feel free to look up information during this exercise or just make notes so you know what to research later with your co-investigator.
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'''Objectives:''' are the steps that you will use to accomplish your aim.  The purpose is to tell the audience the details regarding how you will accomplish the aim.  For each objective, there should be a specific method that achieves the objective.
  
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'''Outline of the peer review exercise:'''
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For your Research proposal presentation, you will present 2-3 aims that address your research question / goal.  To get you started on this task you will work with your co-investigator to draft the aims and objectives for your project in class.
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*Find the partner you were assigned by the teaching faculty and begin by deciding which partner will present first. 
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**As the presenter, focus on why you believe your topic is important and provide the context needed to convince your listener that it is indeed worth pursuing.
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**As the listener, verbally summarize the topic back to the presenter to ensure you understood the proposal.  Are you convinced that the topic is important?  Why or why not?  Discuss this with the presenter.
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*Now that you have the needed background information discuss the 'Hows' of the project.
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**As the presenter, consider the questions below as you give some details about your proposal.
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**As the listener, feel free to ask questions and maybe provide some helpful feedback as the presenter discusses the details of their project.
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'''Questions to guide your discussion:'''
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Hint: you can find the information provided during the Comm Lab workshop on the[[20.109(F21):Communication | Communication]] page for help!
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#What is your research question?
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#What is the novel aspect of your proposal?
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#Why do you believe your project is feasible?
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#Is there evidence that supports your proposal?
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#How will your research advance the field?
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#How will you complete your research (what methods / techniques / technologies will you use)?
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#What are the expected results?
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Once you have completed discussing the presenter's project, switch roles and complete this exercise with the listener's project.
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<font color =  #4a9152 >'''In your laboratory notebook,'''</font color> complete the following:
 
<font color =  #4a9152 >'''In your laboratory notebook,'''</font color> complete the following:
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*Record the notes from your discussions with your peers.
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*Write 2-3 aims for your research project.
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**What insights regarding your own project were provided by your peers?
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*Draft the objectives that will be used to accomplish each aim.
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**What did you find interesting about your peers projects?
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===Part 2: Consider the societal implications of Research proposal===
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Thus far we have focused on the problem that you are addressing as part of the Research proposal presentation; however, another important aspect of this assignment is defining the societal impacts of your proposed work.  In recent years, funding agencies have placed increased emphasis on societal impact when reviewing grant applications and the public has been more critical of the use of government funds toward research that does not benefit the population.  This sentiment is expressed in a recently published editorial:
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''"...research funding agencies will no longer be satisfied with claims that our research has impact merely because we use it in training of our students, because it is well-cited by other academics, or because it is published in reputable journals...it seems reasonable that at least some discernible societal value should emerge from research."'' (Davison and Bjorn-Anderson. ''Info Systems J.'' 2019;29:989-993)
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Read and discuss the following perspective with your co-investigator:
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===Part 2: Brainstorm alternative approaches for Research proposal experiments===
  
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Frodeman and Holbrook. "[http://issues.org/p_frodeman-3/#.Xxyp0cFzn3A.link Science's social effects.]" ''Issues in Science and Technology''. Vol. XXIII, No. 3, Spring 2007.
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Another important part of the Research proposal presentation is the inclusion of alternative approaches. Because experiments do not always produce the expected results, or even interpretable results, researchers often need to develop new plans to accomplish a scientific goal. In this exercise you will work with your co-investigator to consider alternative approaches for your Research proposal.
  
 
'''Questions to guide your discussion:'''
 
'''Questions to guide your discussion:'''
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#What are the societal implications of your proposed research?
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#How might you 'double-check' or confirm an expected result?
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#*Which populations benefit from your research?  Is it possible any populations will be negatively impacted by your research?
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#What if you do not get the expected result?
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#*Will cost limitations impede / bias which populations are benefited?
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#What can be learned if you get the expected result?  If you get an unexpected result?
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#*Is your research applicable to all populations?
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#What are some alternative approaches (methods) for your proposed research?
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#What are the ethical implications of your proposed research?
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<font color =  #4a9152 >'''In your laboratory notebook,'''</font color> complete the following:
 
<font color =  #4a9152 >'''In your laboratory notebook,'''</font color> complete the following:
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==Navigation links==
 
==Navigation links==
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Previous day: [[20.109(F22):M3D2 |Develop ideas for Research proposal presentation ]] <br>
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Next day: [[20.109(F22):M3D4 |Participate in Research proposal peer reviews]] <br>
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Previous day: [[20.109(F22):M3D2 |Pitch Research proposal ideas]] <br>

Revision as of 19:23, 21 November 2022

20.109(F22): Laboratory Fundamentals of Biological Engineering

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Fall 2022 schedule        FYI        Assignments        Homework        Class data        Communication        Accessibility

       M1: Genomic instability        M2: Drug discovery        M3: Project design       


Exercises

Part 1: Draft aims for Research proposal presentation

Now that you have a research question / goal, what experimental steps will you use to get your answer? The approaches that you include in your Research proposal presentation should be divided into aims and objectives.

Aims: are broad statements that provide the intended outcome for each major step in your proposal. The purpose is to tell the audience what you will accomplish without the details of how. For each aim, there should be a list of specific objectives that detail how you will achieve the aim.

Objectives: are the steps that you will use to accomplish your aim. The purpose is to tell the audience the details regarding how you will accomplish the aim. For each objective, there should be a specific method that achieves the objective.

For your Research proposal presentation, you will present 2-3 aims that address your research question / goal. To get you started on this task you will work with your co-investigator to draft the aims and objectives for your project in class.

Hint: you can find the information provided during the Comm Lab workshop on the Communication page for help!

In your laboratory notebook, complete the following:

  • Write 2-3 aims for your research project.
  • Draft the objectives that will be used to accomplish each aim.

Part 2: Brainstorm alternative approaches for Research proposal experiments

Another important part of the Research proposal presentation is the inclusion of alternative approaches. Because experiments do not always produce the expected results, or even interpretable results, researchers often need to develop new plans to accomplish a scientific goal. In this exercise you will work with your co-investigator to consider alternative approaches for your Research proposal.

Questions to guide your discussion:

  1. How might you 'double-check' or confirm an expected result?
  2. What if you do not get the expected result?
  3. What can be learned if you get the expected result? If you get an unexpected result?
  4. What are some alternative approaches (methods) for your proposed research?

In your laboratory notebook, complete the following:

  • Based on your discussion with your co-investigator, answer the questions above.

Navigation links

Next day: Participate in Research proposal peer reviews

Previous day: Pitch Research proposal ideas
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