20.109(F12): test pages 3
Contents of research proposal
from NSF DEB page [1]
Preliminary proposals should contain an overview of the proposed research with sufficient detail to allow assessment of the major ideas and approaches to be used. Preliminary proposals must include the following components.
Cover Sheet: Select the program solicitation number from the pull-down list. The DEB Programs will automatically appear. Check the box indicated for the preliminary proposal. Entries on the Cover Sheet are limited to the Principal Investigator and a maximum of four co-Principal Investigators. Beginning Investigators (individuals who have not been a Principal Investigator [PI] or co-Principal Investigator [co-PI] on a Federally-funded award with the exception of doctoral dissertation, postdoctoral fellowship or research planning grants) must check the box for "Beginning Investigator" on the proposal Cover Sheet. For more FastLane instructions, see section V.D. below.
Title of Proposed Project: Title should begin with the prefix:"Preliminary Proposal:..." and additional acronyms for Accomplishments Based Renewal "ABR:", or Research in Undergraduate Institutions "RUI:" if applicable.
Project Summary (1 page): Provide an overview of the proposed research, addressing separately the intellectual merit and broader impacts. The summary should be written in the third person, informative to those working in the same or related field(s), and understandable to a scientifically or technically literate reader. Preliminary proposals that do not separately address both intellectual merit and broader impacts in the Project Summary will be returned without review.
Project Description. Maximum 5 pages total, containing the two following sections:
from NSF page [2]
What makes a good proposal?
"A good proposal stems from a good concept. The best proposals are those to which the reviewers respond, "Of course, I wish I had thought of that!""
"A good proposal begins with a clear idea of the goals and objectives of the project, for example, creating a course or curriculum, improving a laboratory by teaching new concepts directly, teaching new material to undergraduate faculty, or preparing future technicians or K-12 teachers in a more effective way."
"In addition, a good project begins with a sense of why it will be a significant improvement over current practice."
"Envision what improvements your project will make, and then ask yourself what activities and course(s) must be developed, what instruments will be needed, or what coalitions must be formed to make the desired improvements. Focusing first on the goals and objectives helps ensure that the activities are designed to reach those goals."
"After the goals and associated activities are well defined, consider what resources (e.g., people, time, equipment, technical support) will be necessary as part of the request to NSF. A better proposal is likely to result if the goals and activities are clear before resources are considered."
"Your project should be innovative within its context" and includes:
- what the project hopes to accomplish;
- if the project personnel have the necessary expertise to accomplish the goals and objectives;
- the potential of the project to improve undergraduate education;
- the national impact and cost effectiveness of the project; and
- evaluation and dissemination plans.
from UGA page here
- A Summary - best written after the following is written.
- An Introduction giving a brief statement of why the area of study is important.
- A brief explanation of the work previously done, emphasizing why it is inadequate.
- An explanation of how the research you propose would advance knowledge beyond the condition in the previous item.
- An explanation of the research you plan to do.
- A statement of the specific hypothesis or hypotheses you will test.
- An explanation of how your research will specifically disprove, or fail to disprove, the hypothesis or hypotheses.
- A budget itemized to explain the need for the funding that you are requesting.
- A justification of the budget to show that all the requests are reasonable.
- A timetable to show how you plan to accomplish the work.
- A bibliography of the references cited in the proposal.
Module | Assignment | Concentration | Timing | Indiv/Partner | Evaluated by | Re-submission as... |
1 | Lab certifications | both | in lab | individual | NK/AG | not resubmitted |
1 | Online cloning lab and defense | oral | Stellar and in lab | partners | (NK/AG)/TA | not resubmitted, but oral defense skills re-evaluated later |
1 | FACS data analysis and defense | oral | Stellar and in lab | partners | BE | not resubmitted, but oral defense skills re-evaluated later |
1 | M1 ppt summary and notes | written | Stellar | partners | BE | not resubmitted, but data presentation skills re-evaluated later |
2 | Slides for Oral Presentation | both | Stellar and outside of class meetings | individually | WAC | submitted if oral presentation track |
2 | Oral Presentation | oral | lab hours | individually | NK/AG/WAC | not resubmitted |
2 | Results and Discussion | oral | Stellar | partners | NK/AG | some voluntary preview opportunities |
2 | Online b-gal and protein analysis labs | oral | Stellar and in lab | partners | TA | not resubmitted |
2 | Full Research Article | written | Stellar | individually | NK | not resubmitted |
3 | Written Research pre-proposal | both | in lecture | partners | AB | resubmitted if oral communication track |
3 | Oral presentation of research proposal | oral | lab hours | partners | NK/AG/WAC | not resubmitted |
3 | Written Research Proposal | written | Stellar | partners | NK/AG/WAC | not resubmitted |
all | Pre-lab questions, student written | N/A | in lab | individually | TA | re-submitted |
all | Lab notebooks | N/A | in lab | individually | TA | re-submitted 2x |
all | reflections | N/A | online | individually | NK/AG | could request comments from students to students |
Module 1 Celebrations of Learning
Lab certifications
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner | |
Part 1 | both | in lab | M1D1: 9.11.12 or 9.12.12, open notes | individual | |
Part 2 | both | in lab | M1D6: 10.2.12 or 10.3.12, open notes | individual |
Online cloning lab and defense
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
oral communication | Stellar homework drop box | slides due M1D6: 10.2.12, 11AM defense for NK/AG in lab 10.2.12 or 10.3.12 |
individual |
M1 ppt summary and notes
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
written communication | Stellar homework drop box | slides due M2D1: 10.11.12, 11AM | partner |
FACS data analysis and defense
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
oral communication | Stellar homework drop box | M2D1: 10.11.12, 11AM defense during lab for BE 10.11.12 or 10.12.12 |
partner |
Module 2 Celebrations of Learning
Slides for Oral Presentation
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
both | Stellar homework drop box | M2D3: 10.18.12 or 10.19.12, 1PM | individual |
Oral Presentation
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
oral communication | Stellar homework drop box | M2D5: 10.23.12 or 10.24.12, 1PM or M2D8: 11.6.12 or 11.7.12, 1PM |
individual |
Full Research Article
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
written communication | Stellar homework drop box | 11.12.12, 11:12AM | individual |
Results and Discussion sections
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
oral communication | Stellar homework drop box | 11.12.12, 11:12AM | individual |
Module 3 Celebrations of Learning
Written Research Pre-Proposal
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
both | OWW page, printed and brought to class | M3D4: 11.29.12, 11AM | partner |
Oral Presentation
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
oral communication concentration | Stellar homework drop box | M3D6: 12.06.12 or 12.07.12, 1PM | partner |
Written Research Proposal
concentration | % of final grade | submit | due | individual/partner |
written communication concentration | Stellar homework drop box | M3D6: 12.06.12 or 12.07.12, 1PM | partner |
All term, independent of concentration
5% Pre-lab Questions
You will be assigned a day to write three questions in advance of lab, submit these to the TA 24 hours in advance
10% Lab Notebooks
These will be reviewed by the TA once each module. You will be graded on a check minus (=75%), check (=85%), check plus (=95%) scale. The requirements for your notebooks are described here. The yellow sheets of your lab notebooks must be turned in to the TA by noon on 9.21.12 (module 1), 10.19.12 (module 2), 11.30.12 (module 3). They will be returned at the start of your next lab period.