This document outlines the requirements and guidelines for a final group project proposal for an ocean and mechanical engineering class. It discusses that students will be randomly assigned to groups of 5-6 members, including at least one graduate student. The proposal must include a research description, team organization, timeline, and budget. The research description section should provide background on the topic, a clear hypothesis, detailed research plan with aims and methodology, anticipated results, and potential challenges. Strong proposals will have a clear research focus, background theory, sound methodology, and discussion of the project's potential impact. The team organization section requires details on members' relevant experience. The timeline should outline the plan of work. The budget must justify any requested funds. References and examples

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Dr. E(Sarah) Du
Associate Professor
Department of Ocean & Mechanical Engineering
Florida Atlantic University
Final Group Project, Spring 2020
Group/Tasks
-6 students, randomly selected
individuals with significant contribution
1. Select one topic from the provided list
2. Perform a literature search
3. Develop a research idea, agreed by all team members
bles
1. A written research proposal
2. Presentation of your proposal as a team
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Groups
-6 members, including at least 1 graduate student
eam communication
Proposal format
zation of references and citations, EndNote Web for

3. organizing references (FAU library)
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Groups 1 – 3
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Groups 4 - 6
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Groups 7-9

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Proposal components*
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1. Research description
2. Team organization
3. Timeline/plan of Work
4. Budget and justification
*https://www.fau.edu/ouri/undergraduate_grants.php
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Research description (3 – 4 pages)
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1. Background and significance
2. Hypothesis: specify your main hypothesis
3. Detailed research plan
a) Aims: 1 to 3 aims

5. b) Methodology
c) Anticipated results
d) Potential pitfalls and alternative methods
4. Intellectual merit and broader impacts
Good research description
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o Proposals must be clear, concise, and understandable for
reviewers from
varying disciplines (broad backgrounds).
o Strong proposals should also meet the following criteria:
o Clear focus on research question or scholarly problem
addressed in this
study: The grant explicitly states what the project will
accomplish. There is
a clear central idea, hypothesis, objective/purpose.
o Background theory: provides an evaluation of previous work
conducted in
the area related to the question or the problem
o Sound methodology: Methodology clearly conveys the steps
that will
achieve the purpose of this project and how data/information
will be
obtained.
o Contribution to the field or discussion of potential impact:
There is an
explanation of the importance of the proposed project, “in the
big scheme

6. of things” the value of the project’ impact. State innovative
parts of your
proposed work.
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Team organization/preparedness ( 0.5 - 1 page)
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1. Previous experience
background, course work and research experience that
have prepared you to successfully implement the proposed
work
2. Team organization
the overall research question(s)
Timeline/Plan of Work (0.5 page)
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the project successfully, usually during 1 to 2 years.

7. completed in that time, and that the team will present
at an FAU Undergraduate/Graduate Research
Symposium.
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Budget (0.5 – 1 page)
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purchased (item and quantity) and an explanation of
the needs evidenced by the methodology section, as
well as detail on where and how the funds will be spent.
completion of the project.
Before you start: search and Re-search the
literature
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fore
finalizing your research topic, checking the literature
and downloading relevant papers

8. certain work
and conclusions of publications
explored and can improve the performance or bring new
capability
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Define the topic
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address
nteresting to you (ideally, you should have come across a
series of recent papers related to your line of work that call
for a critical summary)
funding agency will be interested in your proposal and
provide you fund)

9. -defined problem (otherwise you could potentially
include random effort leading to nowhere)
References/Examples
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duate research projects; please be
noted that my
expectations would be higher as you are working as a team with
5-6 members,
including at least one graduate student who may already have
prior experience in
writing proposals
-style proposals posted on Canvas
subscriptions etc.
lonza.com/lonza_bs/US/en/

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