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Selection of Research Topic

Selection of Research Topic. Novel Idea?? Mother of All Successful Proposals. There is nothing new under the sun! Stealing from one source is plagiarism, while stealing from many is research: Jacob Kraicer, U Toronto. Where do we get our ideas from? Advisor/ Committee members/ colleagues

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Selection of Research Topic

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  1. Selection of Research Topic Novel Idea?? Mother of All Successful Proposals

  2. There is nothing new under the sun!Stealing from one source is plagiarism, while stealing from many is research: Jacob Kraicer, U Toronto • Where do we get our ideas from? • Advisor/ Committee members/ colleagues • Reading literature/publications • Library/internet • Conferences/seminars • Look what has been funded, who gets funded and by whom? • Draw inspiration from anywhere you can • What is a great idea?

  3. I wish, I would have thought of it, first! • Need based (~50%) • Solving a problem that exists • Something is unknown so fill in the gap • He/she did it and I will repeat in my lab • Less chance of survival • INNOVATIVE IDEA! • Try to think big and out of the box!!!

  4. Write a proposal that will solve a problem! Problem Solutions Problem • Open ended research • Move field forward not sideways: Gerald Greenhouse • Obvious that has been overlooked (old topics, less information) • Look for what was published last week in your area: hottest topic but is one • Year old

  5. Decide the topic! • Read literature and understand central ideas in your field! • Write down your ideas: pros and cons • Talk to people (anyone who would listen) • Get advice from experts • Can you do it? Any technical problem? • Theme will slowly emerge! • Interesting ideas for all stakeholders • Write down a couple of ideas and try to sell them to your friends • Think day and night (if you can dream about it, it will certainly happen one day!) Get haunted by the idea! • Improvise your ideas! • Communicate your excitement in the proposal!

  6. PI: the Principle Investigator Simple very complex Doable Fundable Impossible • Is it worth doing? • Can the PI do it? • Is the timetable realistic? • Is it institutional priority? • Is the money asked for sufficient? • Does the PI work alone or with others in the community? • Cross the borders! Shake hands but keep some reviewers • Make the idea palatable, interesting to strangers • Once in a blue moon, you will get idea that will shake the foundation!

  7. Talk to experts! • Advisor/teacher • Know who you are talking to? • People in your field: talk, email • No one steals your ideas! • Publication fills the gap in our knowledge but proposal solves a practical problem! • Narrow down from broad topic to specific idea and make it spicy hot!

  8. Who will fund this research? • NSF • USDA: agriculture, forestry • USFS: forestry • DOE: energy related sciences • EPA: pollution prevention and remedy • NIH: medical • Private Foundations • Industries

  9. Study the agency • Read what they really fund? Programs! • Study the abstracts that are close to your idea • Understand the culture of funding agency • How much do they fund? • If they never funded what you have in mind, change the agency! • You may reword your idea to fit the buzzwords agency uses! • Talk to program manager

  10. Stealing from one source is plagiarism, while stealing from many is research: Jacob Kraicer, U Toronto Ethics in Research Do not plagiarize!

  11. While you are doing research.. • Read a lot and Plan well! • Do not waste materials so measure twice and cut once! • If you can kill an idea on paper, no experiment is required • Do not fudge the data (including documentation) • What is the final goal? You will need dedication to realize the dreams!

  12. What are the ethical issues in research? • Give proper credit to other people’s ideas • It is difficult to trace the origin of an idea • Be clear about ownership of research materials and contributions of others • Everything belongs to Institution so do not take anything without permission when you leave! • Keep a clear logbook of your ideas

  13. What are ethical issues during publications? • Always thank people and funding agencies • First author must at least write the paper • First author also should have done most of the work • Share first authorship otherwise • Advisor is most of the time a communicating author (but variations in different field possible). Why? • A co-author must have contributed to work • Share materials but do not steal!

  14. When you review.. • Give constructive criticism • Keep it confidential and destroy after use • Do not steal the ideas • Science more important than anything else • Do it fast with top priority • You are the gate keeper so decide how high the bar should be… • Consensus will win at the end!

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