Research Proposal CYA

[SaltySqueegee]

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Okay, so I'm about 5 weeks into my first lab rotation the Summer prior to my first year in medical school, and things are going pretty well (or so it seems).

My PI has me researching in the library 24/7 for new experiments for the lab to perform, and I think I've come across a dissertation quality project. He would like for me to throw a proposal together with a budget sheet (not a problem; I've done that before). However, what is the level that I should protect my ideas?

Should I have some witnesses sign a back page on the research proposal to recognize that these are my original thoughts for the project? What level of CYA do I need when working on and designing research projects as a budding MD/PhD student?

The experience of my SDN MD/PhD peers is needed. Thanks in advance for the perspective/advice/POV. 👍 😎 😀 (Damn I 😍 the little emoticons!) 😀 👍

 

[tofurious]

He would like for me to throw a proposal together with a budget sheet (not a problem; I've done that before). However, what is the level that I should protect my ideas?

If your PI is not trustworthy enough to protect your idea with or without the fancy paperwork protection for your originality, this is not a lab to work in because he/she will abandon you one way or the other. If he/she can respect you for your original ideas, you won't need any said witnesses or whatever else to make these ideas yours.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

If your PI is not trustworthy enough to protect your idea with or without the fancy paperwork protection for your originality, this is not a lab to work in because he/she will abandon you one way or the other. If he/she can respect you for your original ideas, you won't need any said witnesses or whatever else to make these ideas yours.

That's the thing. He is pretty trustworthy, and has actually placed a lot of trust in me. However, **** can happen sometimes and I don't necessarily like spending the next couple of months dreaming up another project.

Am I being a little too paranoid? Or are their appropriate steps to increase 'assurence' [sp?] and protection of my project?

Thank you for the reply. 👍

 

[the citizen]

You are being too paranoid.

Graduate school is all about learning to dream up good projects and then telling people about those ideas. You should do a strong job on your proposal, so then you can get useful feedback. Impress the guy. Besides, in two years when you are ready to go into the lab, likely your field will have progressed past your experiments.

Keep in mind that all your graduate school exams will be solely "design an experiment to..."-type questions, so get used to sharing your brilliance.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

You are being too paranoid.

Graduate school is all about learning to dream up good projects and then telling people about those ideas. You should do a strong job on your proposal, so then you can get useful feedback. Impress the guy. Besides, in two years when you are ready to go into the lab, likely your field will have progressed past your experiments.

Keep in mind that all your graduate school exams will be solely "design an experiment to..."-type questions, so get used to sharing your brilliance.

Thank you all for the input.