B.A./M.S. Research Proposal

To be considered for admission to the B.A./M.S. program, students, in cooperation with their research mentor, must prepare a proposal detailing the rationale, methods, and timetable for a project to be completed during the research year. The proposal will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee with respect to the quality and feasibility of the proposed research. The format of the proposal should be as follows (pages are to be double-spaced, unbound and unstapled):

  • Title page (1 page) Title of research proposal, applicant's name and contact information (address, phone, email), and, mentor's name anc contact information (address, phone, email), date of application.
  • Abstract (<200 words) summarizing the proposal
  • Scientific Aims (1 page) specifying the aims of the research project. Exactly what is the scientific aim? What does the applicant propose to discover or elucidate?
  • Background and Significance (~3 pages) laying out (1) the scientific background and (2) the significance. The scientific background explains the current state of knowledge. The significance section specifies how our knowledge will be advanced if the project is successful.
  • Preliminary Data (2-3 pages) If the applicant has already done research relating to the proposed project, what has been accomplished? How does it set the stage for the work to be done? If this is a new project, present background data from the sponsor's laboratory that demonstrates the feasibility of the project.
  • Experimental Design and Methods (~3 pages) Exactly which experiments will be done? What are the critical methods? Is everything in place to carry out the proposed research? If not, what are the steps required to get to that stage? What difficulties might arise? How will they be dealt with? What is the proposed timetable?
  • Expected Outcome (~1/2 page) What does the applicant propose to discover or elucidate?
  • References (APA style).