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:
How to find and interact with a mentor for the proposal
There are effective ways and some common but very ineffective ways.
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 find 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
1 Sep: Submit name of a candidate mentor plus a pertinent research article
4 Sep: Thoughts on efforts to find a mentor and topic
11 Sep: Progress report on efforts to find a mentor and topic (PDF) (DOCX)
18 Sep: Obtain agreement from VCU faculty member to serve as mentor
25 Sep: Bibliography of focused topic (1st draft)
12 Oct: Proposed reference and experiment for
summary of an experiment from a research article
12 Oct: Bibliography of focused topic
23 Oct:
Description of proposal
30 Oct:
Summary of experiment from a research article
relating to research proposal
6 Nov: Critiques of
other's summaries of experiments
13 Nov: Outline of proposal
26 Nov (9am): Submission of draft of research proposal (Inflexible deadline!)
28 Nov: Mock panel: 7 min presentations and discussions of research proposals
(schedule)
30 Nov: Mock panel: 7 min presentations and discussions of research proposals
(schedule)
  7 Dec: Final version of
Summary of experiment from a research article
10 Dec (9am): Submission of final research proposal (Inflexible deadline!)
TBA: Panel consideration of research proposals
(schedule)
17 Dec: Optional revisions of final version of research proposals due.
Presentations
List of presentations (provisional)
Schedule of mock presentations
Schedule of presentations