Writing a research proposal

What is a research proposal for?

Research proposals make you:• THINK through your experiments• OUTLINE steps in your proposed

research• JUSTIFY your research• Anticipate a realistic TIMETABLE• Anticipate potential PROBLEMS

The essential ingredients

The issueWhat problem does

the research address?

Benefit What will the research contribute to existing

knowledge?

Research designHow will the research

achieve its stated objectives?

Title

• Your title is a mini-ABSTRACT: paint a quick picture of the key ideas

• Your title should be: – Clear– Unambiguous– Not cute

Title • How to write good title?– Put the most important words first

• Example : – Electromagnet and Its Application in a

Miniature of House– Powering a Miniature of House Using

Concepts of Electromagnet

Specific aims

• The statements of what you hope to accomplish

• Each specific aim will probably require more than one experiment

Research design and methods

• RD and M explain your step-by-step procedures to achieve your specific aim

• Plan your RD and M along with the timeline