4.2 RP1

Due: Midnight, Oct 16

Purpose: The goal of this research task is to establish a collaborative team that will carry out the project over the remainder of the course and to write a research proposal.

4.2.1 Partnership

Pick a partner that you will work with to complete the research project component of the course. You should find someone who’s research interests, work habits, and incentives align well with your own. Choose wisely, as you will be spending a significant amount of time working with this person. We will not allow partner changes after this point. If a partnership fails, you will be responsible for producing a research project independently.

Partner choices must be mutual.

4.2.2 Proposal

Choose a topic that you and your partner consider interesting in the context of this course.

You should have a shallow understanding of the topic and a desire to understand certain aspects in more depth. The best way to express this desire is to articulate your understanding and to phrase your remaining questions in this context. These questions tend to tell you which “tools” (mathematical techniques, implementation, measurements, etc) you will need to use to find answers.

Write up a one-page memo in journal-paper style that (0) motivates why the topic is interesting, (1) summarizes your current understanding of the topic, (2) states which aspects of the topic you would like to understand in depth, and (3) explains which tools you wish to use to explore the topic to gain the desired insight. Researchers tend to think of this memo as a proposal.

Submit your proposal as a PDF to your team’s assigned github repository.

(You must email me your selected partnership in order to get a repository.)