Skip to main content

Project Proposal Guide

The proposal is your first formal step in the CACoM project. It defines what your team plans to do, why it matters, and how you intend to achieve it. A clear, well-structured proposal not only helps you get early feedback but also sets the stage for a feasible, high-impact project.

Team Composition​

  • Projects are done in teams of 1–7 students.
  • Each team should combine technical and domain strengths whenever possible.
  • Teams are expected to manage their own timeline and communication while maintaining regular contact with instructors.
tip

If you don't yet have a full team, discuss your topic ideas early — instructors can help match complementary skills.

What Makes a Good Proposal​

Your project should:

  • Address a clinically or physiologically relevant question.
  • Involve a computational, statistical, or data-driven method.
  • Be feasible within one semester.
  • Include quantifiable evaluation criteria (metrics, validation approach).

The Role of the Proposal​

Your proposal is not a contract — it's a starting point. Its purpose is to show that you've thought carefully about what you want to explore, how you might approach it, and why it matters.

As your understanding deepens, methods, data, or even evaluation criteria may evolve — that's a normal and valuable part of the research process. The key is to communicate these changes transparently and keep your instructors informed.

Flexible, Not Fixed

A strong proposal gives you structure without limiting creativity. If your idea grows, your methods shift, or your “success” definition becomes more precise — that's progress, not a mistake. The goal is to document your reasoning, not to lock you into an early guess.

In-Class Pitches & Iterative Drafting​

The proposal process starts well before the formal submission.
Students are expected to develop and refine their ideas through short in-class presentations and discussions.

  1. Initial brainstorming:
    Begin exploring topics individually or in small groups. Consult the Areas of Interest for inspiration and examples of relevant domains.

  2. Mini-pitch sessions:
    Each team presents early drafts of their idea in short 3-minute talks followed by feedback.
    These sessions may occur multiple times as ideas evolve.

    tip

    Each mini-pitch should briefly cover:

    • The clinical question and its motivation
    • The computational or analytical approach you intend to try
    • Data availability and main feasibility concerns

  3. Refinement phase:
    Incorporate feedback from instructors and peers to sharpen your research question, clarify datasets and methods, and ensure feasibility within one semester.

Submission & Approval Process​

After at least one successful in-class presentation and feedback cycle, you will proceed to the formal proposal submission and approval phase.

  1. Submission:
    Send the finalized proposal (PDF or Markdown using the template) by email to Prof. Martin Daumer, with Pooja N. Annaiah in CC, by the specified topic approval date. See the Schedule for deadlines.

  2. Review & feedback:
    Instructors review submissions and may request revisions before approval.

  3. Approval:
    Once approved, your proposal confirms the core topic and general direction of your work. You are still expected to refine your methods, metrics, and analysis as your understanding deepens — but any major change of scope or objectives should be discussed with the instructors to ensure continued feasibility and alignment with course goals.

Late Approval

Proposals submitted during the late approval window are subject to a grade penalty (see Grading).

No Double Grading

Each CACoM project must represent original work completed for this course. You may build upon a larger research project (e.g., a Master's thesis or work from another module), but only the part developed specifically during CACoM will be evaluated and graded.

If your project is part of a broader effort, clearly specify in your proposal which tasks, analyses, or results were done within CACoM. Failing to make this distinction transparent may lead to disqualification or a significant grade penalty.

What to Include in the Proposal​

Each proposal should provide a clear, concise overview of your planned project — enough for instructors to understand your motivation, data, and intended approach, while leaving room for refinement as your work evolves.

SectionDescription
TitleConcise and informative — reflects your project's main idea.
Team MembersNames and email addresses of all members (and optional roles if already decided).
Background & MotivationWhy this problem matters — explain its clinical or computational relevance in plain terms.
Research Question / HypothesisThe central question or hypothesis you aim to address. Keep it specific but adaptable.
Data DescriptionDescribe the source, accessibility, and ethical aspects of your data (or simulated data).
Methods (Planned Approach)Outline your intended computational or analytical methods — this may evolve during the course.
Evaluation & Success CriteriaHow you will assess results (e.g., metrics, baselines, or validation logic). These can change as insights grow.
Expected DeliverablesWhat you expect to produce: e.g., poster, report, code, dataset, visualization, or tool.
Feasibility & RisksAnticipated challenges, fallback strategies, and dependencies (e.g., data access, hardware).
tip

You are not committing to every detail at this stage. The proposal defines your project's starting point and rationale, not its final form. Refining methods, metrics, and even hypotheses later is normal and encouraged.

Template

A Project Proposal Template is available — follow its structure and submit as PDF or Markdown.

Next Steps​

Once your proposal is approved:

Summary​

Goal: Define a feasible, impactful project.
Team size: 1–7 students.
Deliverable: PDF/Markdown proposal using the official template.
Deadline: See Schedule.
Feedback: Provided before approval.