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Project Proposal Guidelines

Undergraduate teams are charged with proposing an idea that promotes the development of novel biotechnology (you will work with other undergraduates for ideas and experimental design; graduate students enrolled in BIOE/BIOS 578 will serve as advisors/mentors, but they do NOT help write or proof/critique the actual paper). These projects should use standardized biological parts (i.e., BioBricks; see Registry of Standard Biological Parts) and simple mathematical models to design and optimize novel genetic circuits. They should be structured similar to those from the “Int’l Genetically Engineered Machine Competition” that are listed on the iGEM 2008 team wiki pages. A particularly simple and clear example is the 2006 Edinburgh project. Additional biological parts besides those found in the iGem registry (i.e., novel Biobricks) can be used in these projects; however, the core idea of these projects cannot depend solely on the function of these non-standardized parts. Approximately two weeks after the last day of lab, each student will individually submit a document (10 pages maximum, including summary page, introduction and proposed experiment sections with figures, references, and brainstorming list) on the idea. These proposals should contain the following sections:

• Cover page with title and names of author, team members, and advisor(s)
• Summary page with an abstract (< 200 words) = 5 points
• Introduction that describes why this circuit is being proposed (e.g., the problem that your circuit will help solve) = 10 points
• Experimental Design (with figures) = 25 points
  • BioBricks
    • a description of existing BioBricks that will be required for the project and how they will be assembled
    • a description of any novel BioBricks that need to be created and how their function will be verified
  • proposed circuit diagram/model
  • the methods that you will use to test the function of your circuit (e.g., how you will benchmark its function)
  • how you will optimize your circuit after your first measurements
  • a description of the mathematical models that will be required for your project
  • a conclusion describing a critical evaluation of your proposed circuit
• References (include access details for URL's)
• Brainstorming list of the ideas that came out of your original meeting with your graduate advisor(s) and team members = 5 points
  
  NOTE: overall organization/presentation = 5 points
  
  Formatting Instructions:
  • Text must be typed in a font size of 12 points; use either Times or Times New Roman.
  • Print on 8.5 x 11 paper; do NOT submit electronically in PDF format or e-mail.
  • Use DOUBLE SPACING throughout; do NOT use a two column layout.
  • Use one-inch margins.
  • Start each section on a NEW page
  • Number ALL pages consecutively; the title page is page 1 (this page is NOT numbered) and the summary is page 2, and so on...
  • Put your complete LAST name and FIRST initial (e.g., Beason, B.) at the TOP LEFT of EACH page (except for the Title Page)
  • Abbreviations must be given in ( ) immediately AFTER the complete citation of the term within the text [e.g., adenosine deaminase (ADA)] . The abbreviations of some important biochemical compounds, e.g., ATP, NADH, DNA, and amino acids in proteins, need not be defined.

The graduate student(s) on each team are responsible for organizing meetings with the undergraduate student; graduate students do not help write or proof/critique the proposal.

Copyright, Acknowledgements, and Intended Use
Created by B. Beason (bbeason@rice.edu), Rice University, 10 January 2008
Updated 22 April 2009