20.109(F22):M3D3

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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.

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