Items required for acceptable project completion and transfer of information

This checklist of items has been designed to ensure proper documentation of your work and sufficient transfer of information to those who continue your project. This is critical for maintaining an accurate history of projects within the laboratory as well as for ensuring that your work is seen through to publication. All items will be discussed and checked off under the supervision of the head of the lab or project.

• Write a technical report summarizing your project. The report should include the following sections:

  • Abstract

  • Introduction

  • Methods

  • Results

  • Discussion/Conclusions

  • Give one copy of the report to the head of the lab / project and leave one copy in the lab for other students to reference.

• Create at least two CD copies of all of your work related to the project. Give one set to the head of the lab / project and leave one set in the lab for other students to reference. Include a README.txt file describing the contents of the CDs.

• Leave your project notebooks in the lab for other students to reference.

• What still needs to be done prior to publication?

  • Where did you leave off and what should your successors pursue next?

  • Are you interested in seeing the project through to publication?

• If you designed/machined/figured out a piece of equipment for the lab,

  • Write a protocol for using the equipment for data collection. Include digital photos, if appropriate.

  • Include part drawings which will be helpful for producing replacement parts.

  • Train the lab manager and/or your successor on how to use the equipment.

  • Organize extra parts, screws, etc. and put in a labeled box in the lab.

  • What could be improved?

• If you wrote programs (e.g., MATLAB, LabVIEW, C, Python),

  • Write a protocol for using your code. For example, what steps are required to use your GUI properly? How should input files be formatted for correct use of your code?

  • Go back to your code and make sure it is sufficiently commented.

• Briefly summarize your experiences with the project.

  • Describe three things that you learned (e.g., skill, something about the field).

  • Describe one aspect of the project that could have been improved.

• Leave your contact information.