Proposals Charles A. DiMarzio GEU110 Northeastern University Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-1 Sources of Funding • Government • Other Companies – Types • Grants – University – SBIR/STTR • Contracts – Sources • Military • Other Agencies – NIH, NSF, DOE, EPA, NOAA, NIST • Local Government Oct 2003 – Users – Manufacturers – Venture Capital CompaniesInternal Funds – Company IR&D – University Programs • Private Foundations • Rich Relatives Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-2 Proposal Format • Technical Proposal (NIH Format) – – – – 1. SPECIFIC AIMS 2. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE 3. PRELIMINARY RESULTS 4. APPROACH • Management (For this course) – 5. SCHEDULE – 6. COST Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-3 Technical Proposal • 1. Describe the SPECIFIC AIMS of your project. You should be able to reduce these to perhaps three or four very concise statements, with a short paragraph elaborating on each. • 2. Include a section on BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE. What is the situation prior to your proposed work? Cite the literature or patents as appropriate. How would your proposal change this situation? • 3. Discuss any PRELIMINARY RESULTS, which may be the result of experience you had before you started working on this proposal, or from research you did to pick the topic. • 4. Describe the APPROACH you will use for design and development of whatever you propose. This should connect closely to the specific aims above. Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-4 Management Proposal • 5. Provide a schedule of tasks and the assigned responsibilities. • 6. Provide a rough cost analysis of the design and of the resulting product. • Other Parts (Not Required Here) – Personnel – Facilities – Safety, Animal, Human Subjects, Employment, etc. Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-5 A Word About Reports Again • I give points for – – – – – – – Oct 2003 Cover Letter (If appropriate) Abstract Table of Contents and Figures Technical Content (Most heavily) References (If appropriate) Grammar and Spelling General Appearance Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-6 Some Grammar Issues • A preposition is a terrible part of speech to end a sentence with. • And starting with a conjunction isn’t much better. • Another thing. Little short phrases. Not quite sentences. Not good. Unless you are Jonathan Franzen. Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-7 Some Style Issues • Use section headings. • Informal expressions in technical writing are usually uncool. • Use parallel constructions in lists. – Never have one item in a sublist • Active voice and first person are acceptable to me, but not to everyone in engineering. – “Mistakes were made.” – You shouldn’t use the second person. • Give figures and tables numbers, and refer to them in the text. Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-8 Websites as Sources • Use the web to... – Learn about a new field – Find out who is working in the field – Get pointers to the archival literature • Do not use web pages as citations – They are transient – They are not refereed – Catalog information for pricing, etc. is an exception if you include date information, etc. Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-9 Some Ethical Issues • If you borrow a figure, cite the source. • Reference anyone who contributes to your idea. • Paraphrasing is not the same thing as expressing your own thoughts. Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-10 Review Charles A. DiMarzio GEU110 Northeastern University Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-11 The Circle Diagram • What goes on at each stage? • Think about your minor project (pingpong launcher) Oct 2003 Needs Assessment Implementation 11 Analysis 8,9,10 Abstraction and Synthesis 6,7 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University Ch. 2 Problem Formulation 3, 4, 5 10379-6a-12 Needs Assessment • Different Types of Needs – Revolutionary vs. Evolutionary, Best vs. Good Enough, Best vs. Best We Can Afford – Examples: Phone Numbers, FM Stereo, IVHS, Mohs Surgery, etc. • Market Pull vs. Technology Push • Political Issues Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-13 Problem Formulation • Constraints and Boundaries • Qualitative Goals (faster, better, cheaper) • Advantages/Disadvantages of Revision Method • Dunker Diagrams • Kepner Tregoe Analysis Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-14 Other Topics • • • • Wright Brothers Movie Microscope Design Example Cost Proposals Design in Industry vs. University – Barcode Scanners, Colortron, Microscope – COGS – Profit Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-15 A Thought for Next Week • In preparation for a class exercise, see what you can learn about helicopters. Oct 2003 Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University 10379-6a-16