You will be required to complete a group project for the course. Ideally, there are 2 or 3 members in the group. If it involves human participants, then you are REQUIRED by MIT to obtain PRIOR approval of COUHES before you do any work with the human participants. Alternatively, you might craft a project that is exempt from COUHES and verify that with them (this still requires going through their process to get an exemption granted.)
*** REMINDER: Attendance on the two final project presentation days is REQUIRED ***
All projects that involve research on human participants must have the prior approval of the MIT Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects (COUHES). If you can piggyback on a current COUHES protocol, that is fastest/easiest. If not, you need to MOVE FAST to submit a COUHES application before the fall COUHES meeting dates.
The last date to get in your COUHES proposals is Oct 3 to the MAS office (to arrive Oct 9 to COUHES).
This process usually requires many iterations: Iterating with our course faculty and/or your PI, then by the department head, and then by COUHES. All of these need to sign off on the documents. Allow each party time to read, ask questions, iterate, and approve.
PLEASE meet with COUHES in advance of submitting your application to get their help answering your questions. Their "live online" meetings can be much faster than emailing them: Mondays (except MIT Holidays) – 1pm - 3pm: https://mit.zoom.us/j/93018246063
Let's work together to help you have a positive experience and a successful project!