Research Proposal advice
In this video our CDT team members Meriem El Karoui and Ava Khamseh provide some useful tips on writing your research proposal for the CDT application.
Content summary:
Q&As for Biomedical AI CDT Research Proposal
In this short video we will give you some tips on how to write a good research proposal.
- Making the biomedical question of interest concrete
Q: What is the biomedical question(s) you are trying to address?
A: Start with the big picture (remember not everyone is familiar with the specialised jargon) but soon try to talk about the specific biology or disease you are hoping to address. Explain why it is important and what the challenges have been in the area (again without being specific about the methodology at this point)
- Data type
Q: What kind of data does the project require?
A: Explain whether your project requires image data, genomic data, clinical data, etc. Explain if individual-level data is required.
- Data availability
Q: Is the data you need already generated and/or available?
A: Explain if you would be generating data as part of the proposed project or if it already exists. If it already exists, explain if it is publicly available. If so, how would you request access and what are the typical time-scales. Explain your mitigation strategy if the data does not become available in time.
- Methodology
Q: What kind of methodology are you planning to use and/or develop in the proposed project?
A: Explain what methodologies have been used previously in the literature. If you are proposing to develop a new method, explain how the proposed method will be an improvement on those that already exist. If you are not proposing to develop a new method, explain what is novel about the proposed methodology.
For example, state if you are combing various existing methods in a novel way, or if you are importing the method from another field where it has been successful.
In all cases, don’t forget to talk about both challenges and opportunities of the proposed methodologies! Write about the risk factors and how you plan to mitigate against them. We would like to see evidence of critical thinking, and not just about the literature but also about your own work!
- Assessment
Q: How do you assess whether the proposed method addressed the biomedical aims of the project?
A: Explain what success looks like. When will you have adequately addressed the biomedical aims of the project, how will you determine if this is case, and how will you compare performance against other methods?
- Ethical considerations
Q: Have you thought about ethical implications of the proposed work?
A: Here we would like to see evidence that you have carefully thought about the ethical aspects of the proposed work.
- Outcomes
Q: What are the potential outcomes of the proposed research?
A: Combine the previous sections in a concise manner, stating both the Biomedical and AI development outcomes of the proposed project. State how the proposed research pushes the boundaries of Biomedical AI. What next if successful?