Standard Training: Research¶

Elements of Research

A Significant Problem

an open question relevant to our objectives

A Solution

a proposed (ideally simple and general) solution to the problem

Evidences

supportive case studies and physical/chemical intuitions to showcase the effectiveness of the solution

Evidences include:

proof-of-principle case: a simple (ideally simplest possible) and representative case study that shows the solution solves the problem (keeping everything else fixed)
facts: a limiting condition with an analytical solution or an experimental observable sensitive to the introduction of the solution
scope: a variety of systems to show wide applicability

How to approach a scientific question/problem?

develop a hypothesis (anticipatory answer/solution to the question/problem)
design (computational) experiments to test/prove the hypothesis
repeat previous steps until hypothesis passes several (say ~3) independent tests
develop a story from the hypothesis to make it a theory (as well as a manuscript that delivers (ideally) a single and coherent message)

Topics¶

Keep it simple