MRGMaterials Research Group

MRGMaterials Research Group

Arturo Bronson, Professor

Factors Affecting Research An exceptional research idea

– Revolutionary -- change concepts or approach– Hypothesis driven -- creates a significant change– Evolutionary -- data gathering

Student Energy and Involvement Research Infrastructure

– State-of-the-art instrumentation, equipment and computational capability

– Maintenance of foregoing infrastructure– Space for infrastructure and students

University Support– Administrative support (technical and non-technical)– Cost-sharing funds ?

Main Text

ELEMENTS OF AN EXCELLENT PROPOSAL

Clear and Concise Objectives Clear Statement of the Significance of

Proposed Project Delineates Clearly the Experimental

Approach Needed for the Instrument Discusses/Interprets Anticipated Results

Acquired with Proposed Instrumentation

Appendices

ELEMENTS OF AN EXCELLENT PROPOSAL

Has Realistic Budget Which is Completely Justified

Investigator is Competent to Conduct the Proposed Project or Research

POSSIBLE WEAKNESSES OF PROPOSALS

No specific research plan was provided.

Instrumentation does not fit proposed research effort.

Literature search is outdated or PI states, “upon funding, literature search will be done.”

State objective(s) and how instrumentation will enhance hypothesis-driven research.

Discuss alternatives and the reasons your need enhances research.

Use classic and current literature to support your analysis and discussion of research.

Problems Fixes

POSSIBLE WEAKNESSES OF PROPOSALS

Investigator Lacks Background in Proposed Research Area.

Budget is Not Justified.–Equipment is not justified.–Requested cluster of instruments are

unrelated.–Release time is not available for faculty with

high course load. Supporting Infrastructure is Inadequate.–Major Research Equipment–Facilities

Proposal Review Panel

Proposal is well-written.PI knows the problems in

undergraduate education.PI and co-PI are well-connected.

Strengths

Proposal Review Panel

Objectives are not clear. No or little administrative support. Integration of research into educational effort

seems lacking in usage of instrumentation. Proposed activity does not foster the

integration of research and education. Style of proposal seems disjointed and

suggests a lack of coherency among PI and co-PIs.

Weaknesses

Issues Focused by Reviewers

Budget must match the proposed activity.Proposed instrument must have adequate

laboratory space.Proposal summary does not seem to:–Highlight main points or focus on

research/education endeavors.–Describe the intellectual merit and

broader impact of proposed activity.Principal Investigator may seem too young

or inexperienced for “multi-user” instrumentation.

POSSIBLE HEADINGS FOR INSTRUMENT PROPOSAL

BACKGROUND, NEED, RATIONALE AND BROAD APPLICABILITY SPECIFIC RESEARCH/EDUCATIONAL PLANS FOR INSTRUMENT

– Existing Research Activities (Objectives, Significance Driven)– Future Research Activities– Existing and Future Educational Activities (or Courses)

MANAGEMENT PLAN– Who will manage equipment (person, committee, chair)– Who will primarily operate instrument -- technician costs– Where’s the potential location -- square footage/renovation– Who will maintain or upgrade equipment --maintenance costs

BROAD IMPACT OF INSTRUMENTATION– Scientific and/or Engineering Enterprise (Transportation,

Microelectronics, Biomedical)– Educational Aspect of Instrument (Course Description(s))– Impact to Graduate/Undergraduate/ High School Students

REFERENCES

Integration of Education/Research Courses/Short Courses/Tutorials– Types of Material Characterization–Present Fundamental Concepts–Develop Techniques

Discovery Driven Research– Faculty to Student Interaction–Graduate to Undergraduate Student Interaction–Upper-class to Freshman/Sophomore Interaction

Research Group Meetings (Formal and/or Informal Presentations)

Web based Instruction –Describe carefully and add human contact element.–Remote control of instrument may link high school

student and/or teacher with research group.

Research Instrumentation in Educational Laboratories

Undergraduate Physical Measurement Laboratory– Temperature Measurements

(Thermocouples/Pyrometers/Furnaces)–Strain/Stress Measurements (Software/Computer/

Instrumentation) Undergraduate Corrosion Laboratory–Electrochemical Instrumentation

(Software/Computer/Instrumentation & Data Analysis with Reactions and Equivalent Circuits)–Scanning Electron Microscope (Failure Analysis

and Solid State Reactions)–Surface Analytical Techniques (Auger Electron

Spectroscopy and/or X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy with Surface Reaction Analysis)

Student Peers & Instrumentation Apprentice/Specialist - 1st/2nd year students support

junior (or above) student tasks

–Metallographic Preparation - Scanning Electron Microscope (Microstructures)

–Solution Preparation - Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (Interface/Interphase)

–Sample Preparations - Transmission Electron Microscope (Microstructures)

Senior design students aid/teach undergraduate and high school students’ projects

–Electrochemical Techniques (Corrosion)

–High Temperature Laboratory (Temperature Measurement and Reactivity of Materials)

Balances of Instrument/Equipment Needs

Research Endeavor versus Educational Effort Graduate versus Undergraduate Education Single or Double User versus Multi-user

Instrumentation Single Instrument Request versus Need for a

Cluster of Instruments Fundamental Research versus Applied

Research Experienced Researcher versus Learning

Faculty Member Young Researcher versus Mature Researcher

Summary of Eye Catching Problems in Proposals

Summary of proposal does not fill entire page with intellectual merit and broad impact of instrumentation and/or equipment.

Objectives of research are not stated or long list (>3) of objectives are given. (Focus or theme flies better.)

Significance or hypothesis driven research is not presented. (PI/co-PIs should have funded research.)

Proposed effort does not match budget. Proposals have white space on pages. (Use the entire

15 pages allowable for the proposal.) Headings and subheadings do not exist or are not

organized. Figures are not readable or figures highlight one area. Spellings, grammar and style terminate proposal review.