Rationale

Readings and Investigations
    Article: Schwartz MA (2008). The importance of stupidity in science. J Cell Sci 121:1771
    Rationale: Why a research proposal?
    Description: Summary of an experiment from a research article (including examples)
            The summary is like a mini research proposal. The goals and format are the same.
    Description: How to critique the work of others
            You'll be critiquing the summaries of your colleagues.
    Description: Research proposal outline (how to do it)
            Here's an example
    Description: Research proposal (how to do it)
            Here's an example
    Description: How to give a presentation (7 minutes max)
            Similar message as a presentation (courtesy of Kristen Wade)
            Here's an example and here's another (I didn't say good example)
            (neither one fits the description of what's needed for the panel, but perhaps you might some use in them)
    Description: How to prepare for a panel.
            You'll be presenting your work to a panel and serving on a panel to assess the work of others.

Things to do and hand in
    12 Sep: Progress report on efforts to find a mentor and topic
    19 Sep: Obtain agreement from VCU faculty member to serve as mentor
    26 Sep: Bibliography of focused topic
    10 Oct: Proposed reference for summary of an experiment from a research article (link + full citation to article relating to research proposal)
    17 Oct: Description of proposal
    24 Oct: Summary of experiment from a research article relating to research proposal
    31 Oct: Critiques of other's summaries of experiments
    7 Nov: Resubmission of Summary of experiment from a research article
    14 Nov: Outline of proposal
    30 Nov, 9 AM: Submission of draft of research proposal (Inflexible deadline!)
    2 Dec: Mock panel: 7 min presentations and discussions of research proposals (schedule)
    4 Dec: Mock panel: 7 min presentations and discussions of research proposals (schedule)
    7 Dec, 9 AM: Submission of final research proposal (Inflexible deadline!)
    9 Dec : Panel consideration of research proposals (schedule)
    13 Dec: Optional revisions of final version of research proposals due.