MEEG642

Research Proposal

MEEG642 students will write a full-fledged research grant proposal in lieu of a term paper. Imagine that you are applying to a funding agency to research a novel and promising idea on some aspect of fuel cells, and you want them to fund it. For this you have to present a convincing write-up including the following elements (Adapted from http://www.nsf.gov/funding/preparing/):

1. Cover page: Title of proposal, your name and affiliation, funding agency, date.
2. Executive Summary: a self-contained description of the activity that would result if the proposal were funded. The summary should include a statement of objectives and methods to be employed. It must clearly address the intellectual merit and the broader impact of the proposed activity.
3. Description of the idea: a clear statement of the work to be undertaken and the expected significance.
4. Previous work in the proposed area including detailed literature review: How does the proposed work relate to, and extend beyond, the present state of knowledge in the field? Include figures, tables as needed. References must be clearly and accurately cited.
5. Your specific objectives: outline the general plan of work, including the broad design of activities to be undertaken, and a clear description of methods and procedures. Include figures, tables and any other relevant data.
6. Equipment and supplies: Describe the equipment you will need to accomplish the proposed tasks and associated supply materials.
7. Proposed deliverables and timeline: As a result of your proposed activity, what specific deliverables will result? Also provide a timeline for your proposed tasks. For example, if this is a 3-year proposal, describe what exactly will be accomplished in each year.
8. Broader impact of proposed research: How will the work you propose to do contribute to the field of fuel cells in particular, and mankind in general?
9. References cited: List in alphabetical order all the references cited in your proposal. Each reference must include the names of all authors, the article and journal title, book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication.
10. Budget: The budget should include personnel costs, and cost of equipment and supplies, travel and publication costs, etc.

Length: The length of the proposal (sections 3 through 8) should not exceed 15 pages.

Important: Clearly cite your references (books/journals/magazines/www). You may consult any source you choose, but the final writing must be your own. If you use words directly from a source, place it in quotes and cite the source. Figures and tables may be included within the body of the proposal, but clearly cite the source for each figure or table within the caption.