Ten Steps to Understanding Your Research Project Dr. Gail P. Taylor Asst. Prog. Dir. MBRS-RISE UTSA 01/28/2009

Introduction Designing experiments <> Performing Difficulties –Foundation –Implications

10 Steps to Understanding Your Research Project Laboratory emphasis Human health issues Context of experiment Foundation of technique Foundations of concepts What is measured? Treatment significance Novel conclusions Impacts on field Future directions

1. Laboratory Emphasis Field = Neurobiology, Immunology, Cell Area of Research = learning and memory Focus = molecular correlates to learning Look at what your laboratory tends to publish about….

2. Human Impact Relate to known “human” issue –Health benefits –Understand disease –Better for environment Possible for even for basic research Helps with future funding Helps others relate to your work May help you to understand lab focus

3. Context of Experiment Where did your experiment come from? Does your experiment… –Follow another student’s? Complete prior work? Extend prior work? –Represent a new area of research for the lab? Follows promising new breakthrough (literature)

4. Foundations of Technique/Model Labs often have favorite techniques –Water maze –Electrophysiology –Frog ganglia –NMR Find out history of use Find out what it shows Obtain “foundation” papers Vital for Methods section

5. Foundations of Concepts All science builds on other studies KNOW YOUR BACKGROUND INFO! Sources –Mentor’s recent paper on subject –Review paper on subject –Pubmed (later) Must read slowly and critically Absolutely required for success

6. What are You Measuring? Know what your numbers demonstrate –Electrophysiology – slope of voltage trace - LTP –Quantitative PCR – Fluorescence intensity - # transcripts –Color change –Precipitate amount, purity, etc Know how it is measured –Generally numerical for significance tests

7. Significance of Treatment Groups Controls Experimentals Literature allows you to choose or understand Make reasoned hypotheses on results of each experiment

8. Novel Conclusions What is new or not known before? What do combined results reveal? Can you make a new model (visible representation of new hypothesis)

9. Impact on Field Why was your work important??? –Small stair-step in understanding Predictable Necessary –Huge changes in direction Surprises Opens new exploration –Impact on Health

10. Future Directions Where do you go with a positive result!? Think of new questions! How do you answer them? –Further clarify results? –Extend results to next logical step –Follow ground-breaking work