Call for Proposals

Interdisciplinary Modeling and Visualization

The Pitt CS3610 Project Funding Agency (3610 PFA) is seeking
proposals for novel interdisciplinary research projects.  Projects must
include 1-2 CS3610 researchers and 1-2 outside consultants.  Outside
consultants should be clearly identified.  Each research team should
include members from at least two different disciplines.

Each proposal should clearly and specifically state the aims of the
project, explain the significance of the work, and compare the work
with related work already done.  A work plan with demonstrable
milestones every 1-2 weeks is required, and each team should plan to
demonstrate that progress while the project is underway.  The schedule
for the project will be 6 weeks, including time for writing a final
abstract and preparing a final presentation/demonstration.  Facilities
to be used should be described (this is standard federal-funding lingo).

The cover page for a proposal should include the title, a 50 word
abstract of the project, and a list of the participants, including any
consultants. The body of the proposal should state the aims of the
project, its significance, and reference appropriate related work. The
recommended length for the body of a proposal is 2 pages; it may be 
no longer than 3 single-spaced pages with 1 inch margins and 11 point 
(or larger) Times-Roman fonts.  Following the body, attach a short 
"c.v." for each participant (you may use the descriptions under the class
photo gallery).  Each "c.v." should list the capabilities and skills 
that each participant brings to the specific project.  Participants 
outside the class should provide short notes (e-mail is fine) of 
collaboration and support.  These notes should be included in the 
proposal (Note: including bios is also a standard federal
funding procedure).

Each member of the class is responsible for being the principal
investigator (PI) and primary author on at least one proposal.  Each
member of the class must be an investigator on at least one additional
proposal. The goal here is to get everyone to try their hand at both being
the leader of a project and being the collaborator on someone else's
project. It's OK to contact each other with requests/offers of
collaboration during the proposal preparation phase. It's OK to use
one or several of the project ideas listed under 'ideas' on the course 
webpage for your PI proposal.


Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will go through a two-pass peer-review process.  Preliminary
proposals are due 02/26/08 by 12pm.  Each proposal will be reviewed by
2-3 readers during class on 02/26/08. The comments will be returned to
each PI. Each PI will review the preliminary proposal according to the
comments and submit a revised version by 12pm on 02/28/08. 

Final proposals will be reviewed by the class on 02/28/08, in
class. The readers will have 5 minutes to ask questions and get 
clarifications before writing their final review and giving a score to 
the proposal. The reviews should be submitted by the end of the class 
on 02/28  to the instructor ("the program director") who will then 
decide which proposals to "fund". The written reviews will be returned 
to the PI by 03/01/08.


The following criteria will be evaluated during review for each proposal:

Is the proposal interdisciplinary?  What disciplines are represented?

Is there a significant modeling/visualization contribution?

What is the scientific contribution of the proposed work?

Is the proposed work novel?

Does the proposal have a realistic 6-week work plan with intermediate
milestones?

Can the work be accomplished by the applicants?


This should be a fun, relaxed experience. The review process is going
to be constructive, and we will learn as we go what makes a strong
interdisciplinary proposal. A few example proposals are provided under
the Assignments page.

Credits: Brown University's CS237.