Applying the Scientific Method

1. Applying the Scientific Method

2. How do you come up with good research ideas? Scientific Method "To develop working ideas efficiently, I try to fail as fast as I can". Richard Feynman Observe Ask Questions Speculate New ideas for research come from experience and imagination Experiment

3. A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication An idea Write proposal new ideas Conduct research Searching the internet is integral part to every part of this process Write papers & speak new ideas Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method

4. A slide digression: the anatomy of a scientific paper. • Introduction with thesis and hypotheses • Precedents (also in introduction) • Experimental details • Results of experiments • Discussion of results relative to thesis and hypotheses • Conclusions • Citations and cited papers

7. Citations impact for authors: Hirsch Index • measures both productivity and impact of publications of an author • List all of an authors papers ranked by the number of citations • Number them from 1 at the top. • The point on the list where the number of the paper exceeds the number of citations is the Hirsch index.

8. The process starts with experience and learning: Observations Conducting research as undergraduate or graduate Making observations & asking questions See if you can answer question or if it has been answered by others No answer to your question. Then propose a study

9. But how to get started having ideas? • Get an idea notebook • Couple Observing & Asking Questions together • Go to the library and look through pictorial tables of contents (with an idea. • Go to seminars • Go to work-shops (on new subjects) • Take classes (ask “obvious” questions or at least write them down) • Identify & define a “problem” • Google • Reviews • Experts Write all ideas down & never censor

10. Next Step? Refine ideas. • Brainstorm • Re-phrase the question, problem or idea • Break it down into components • What do you know about the question, problem or idea? • just the facts • Do they make sense? • Brainstorm solutions • Map approaches to “solving” the question, problem or idea • Down-select to one you can do relatively quickly. • Has it already been done (literature searching)?????

11. A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication An idea Write proposal new ideas Conduct research Write papers & speak new ideas Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method

12. General anatomy of a Proposal Thesis & statement of problem Remember your ideas will change as you write your proposal & as you conduct research Technical approach: project plan Facilities & Investigator Credentials Proposal must be original; not a repeat of another’s work benefits to education & society

13. General anatomy of a Proposal 1) Must be original Thesis & statement of problem 2) Must have a clear thesis Technical approach: project plan Facilities & Investigator Credentials 3) Must have testable hypotheses with predictions benefits to education & society

14. Thesis & statement of problem 1) Must be original, but provide precedents for key steps - search internet exhaustively 2) Must have a clear thesis - Early in proposal. For example, “A new method for creating polymer electrolytes through Friedel Craft Sulfonylation.” 3) Must have testable hypotheses with predictions Sulfonylations will allow addition of sulfonic acid groups without crosslinking into insoluble masses.

15. Example: Ring Opening Polymerization of Disilaoxacyclopentanes Problem: sol-gel materials shrink from solvent evaporation & capillary force stresses collapsing pores Thesis: Eliminate shrinkage by preparing liquid monomers with two strained disilaoxacyclopentane rings for solvent free, non-shrinking sol-gel. • Hypotheses (must be disproven): • Monomers cannot be synthesized • Disilaoxacyclopentane ring is not strained enough to provide driving force for polymerization • The monomer cannot be prepared as a liquid • Polymerizations will be accompanied by significant shrinkage.

16. Example: Ring Opening Polymerization of Disilaoxacyclopentanes Thesis: Eliminate shrinkage by preparing liquid monomers with two strained disilaoxacyclopentane rings for solvent free, non-shrinking sol-gel. Need to assure reviewers of proposal that (based on precedents and logic): 1) Monomers based on one disilaoxacyclopentanes readily polymerize 2) None of the proposed monomers or anything like them have ever been made 3) Reasons for expecting the monomer to melt at low temperatures 4) That Ring Opening polymerizations reduce shrinkage 5) that the resulting resins will be thermosets suitable for encapsulation Precedents are the literature papers that provide foundation for your idea.

17. Who do you cite in your proposal (or paper)? • The original (oldest) paper for eachprecedent ( Not just the most recent!!!!!) • Provide a citation for everything that is not common knowledge. When in doubt provide a citation. • Cite primary literature: peer reviewed papers • Do not the web, not reviews, not encyclopedias nor textbooks. • You may have 20 – 40 citations for a communication and 300-500 in a review or proposal.

18. General anatomy of a Proposal Thesis & statement of problem 1) Details to prove the science behind your idea is good 2) What must be done first, second, third.... etc. Technical approach: project plan Facilities & Investigator Credentials 3) What procedures and instruments must be used and how. benefits to education & society

19. Technical Approach & Project Plan 1) Proof of Good Science -Details of the science involved - coupled with literature precedents 2) Logical approach to thesis and testing hypotheses -Clear, concise plan (include flow diagram or Gant chart) 3) No bottle necks that kill project Do not hinge entire project on one single prediction

20. Ring Opening Polymerization of Disilaoxacyclopentanes Project Plan Thesis: Eliminate shrinkage by preparing liquid monomers with two strained disilaoxacyclopentane rings for solvent free, non-shrinking sol-gel. Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Monomer synthesis: 1) Disilylation of bis-acetylene followed by cyclization 2) alternative: silyl anion from disilaethane Polymerization studies of targeted monomers Characterization of polymers Model Ring opening polymerization studies with tetramethyldisila-cyclopentane Neat polymerization & encapsulations Evaluation of shrinkage

21. General anatomy of a Proposal Thesis & statement of problem 1) Describe what laboratory space you have (hoods, floor space) 2) Describe your access to key instrumentation Technical approach: project plan Facilities & Investigator Credentials benefits to education & society 3) Curriculum vitae for the principle investigators with lists of publications, awards, funding, education, etc.

22. General anatomy of a Proposal 1) Benefits from new science or technology- reduce greenhouse gases, cure cancer, reduce costs by 25%. The more quantitative the better Thesis & statement of problem Technical approach: project plan Facilities & Investigator Credentials 2) How the project will be benefiting education of undergraduates (particularly underrepresented groups), training of graduates and postdocs. benefits to education & society

23. A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication An idea Write proposal new ideas Conduct research Write papers & speak new ideas Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method

24. Most important characteristics of good research • Original – with careful, multiple surveys of literature • There is a thesis – question(s) to be answered by research • Work can be broken down into hypotheses that can be tested. Do not become emotionally invested in experimental outcomes. • Experiments are carefully designed and characterizations are complete. • Complete experimentals with observations are recorded. • Finally, the results are communicated (preferably through a peer reviewed publication & presentations)

25. Traditional approach to conducting research Advisor Instructions Results Graduate student Graduate student: 1) learns techniques 2) assimilates fundamental principles 3) is not trained in scientific method.

26. Research project should train graduate in scientific method Advisor/Guide • Creative Process • Identification of new ideas • Development of ideas Fundamental data and relationships • Experimentation by scientific method • Thesis • testable hypotheses Problem solving skills • Communication skills • Helps to: • refine and • test ideas

27. A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication An idea Write proposal new ideas Conduct research Write papers & speak new ideas Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method

28. Papers and presentations • Key step in scientific method • communication of results to peers • peer review to correct errors and teach • citation of papers measures true impact of research • invited lectures & seminars measure of impact • Establishes credibility in scientific fields (improves chances for future funding) • Develops career with editor positions, awards & recognition

29. Writing papers • Start early – use to help drive and correct your research, identify missing pieces. • Identify appropriate journals for your research • Find citation impact of journals on web of science • Read instructions to authors and read papers in targeted journal to see what experimental proofs are required • Obtain template or copy format from recent paper.

30. Writing papers • Start early – use to help drive and correct your research, identify missing pieces. • Identify appropriate journals for your research • Find citation impact of journals on web of science • Read instructions to authors and read papers in targeted journal to see what experimental proofs are required • Obtain template or copy format from recent paper.

31. Citation Impact Matters Chem Rev. 41 Chem Soc Rev 26 Accounts Chemical research CI: 22 Nature Chem 25 Adv. Mater 13.9 Nano Lett 13.8 Angew. Chem Int. Ed. 13.5 ACS Nano CI: 11 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 9.9 Small 8.4 Nanoscale 6 Chem Comm. 6 Chem Asian J. 6 New J. Chem 2.6

32. Writing the paper • Get experimentals done early-easy to follow experimentals can be very good for your citation impact. • Clear thesis and predictions or hypotheses in intro. • Be sure to cite first and most important precendents- they will often be included in your reviewers. • Title must be very descriptive • Always have someone else proof your paper • Use grammarly.com for english editing.

33. Submitting the paper • Always online • No errors – they can get your paper rejected • Consistent graphics • Carefully write the letter to the editor explaining why this paper is worthy of his or her journal • If you are rejected write the editor back and diplomatically argue the point.

34. Reviews & Rejections • You will have manuscripts rejected, don’t let it bother you • You will get nasty reviews, don’t let it bother you • Do not be afraid to argue about rejection • If accepted with revisions, carefully make corrections and list them in a letter to editor indicating how you met the reviewers required changes. • If you disagree with a reviewer, explain to the editor why you think a change is not needed. • If the editor still will not accept the paper, then submit to another journal on your list. Rewrite your letter to the editor.

35. A recent review of one of my papers • Reviewer(s)' Comments to Author: • Recommendation: Do not publish. • Comments: The authors report the syntheses of OBP and fluorescent OBP particles and use them to create non-porous coatings on ceramic filters. The fluorescent particles were used to image the coatings to confirm that, with supports having small pores, well-defined coatings were obtained.  • Formation of spherical polysilsesquioxane nanoparticles, even under various conditions, does not carry novelty since the literature dealing with such processes is already abundant. Also, thin films formed from polysilsesquioxanes with various organic bridging units have been intensively studied and applied, particularly for low dielectric applications, over the past decade. It seems that significant investigation into possible applications for the coatings mentioned in this manuscript is imperative before the manuscript can be considered for publication in any scientific journal.   • Questions and Comments: • 1. The introduction mentions low-temperature sintering as one of the motivations for this study, and, later in the manuscript, it is mentioned that no sintering was required for the coatings formed. Further elaboration regarding the sintering process and advantages/disadvantages of the membranes formed via sintering process is desired. • 2. Please provide actual NMR spectra for the synthesized compounds. • 3. Page 4, line 25 to page 5, line 8: The synthetic methodology and NMR solvent are different from that found in citation #31 and, therefore, the statement “spectroscopically the same as that reported in literature” should be omitted. • 3. Page 8, line 20: The yield for the particle synthesis is given as 168% with no explanation given in this or later sections. Please provide a reason for this outcome. • 4. Page 8: Please provide the correlation curve for the DLS measurements.

36. The scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication An idea Write proposal new ideas Conduct research Write papers & speak new ideas Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method