How to formulate a research project

1. General

If you want to pursue your Ph.D. or to be a well-independent research scientist, one of the essential and required skills is to formulate a decent research project/proposal.  In my opinion, this skill primarily determines the capabilities as a research scientist as this requires many pieces of essential skills such as 1) defining relevant problems or hypotheses, 2) defining the goals of a project, 3) proposing methods to tackle the problems, 4) evaluating the feasibility of technical developments and analyses, and 5) constructing a feasible time schedule.  In other words, as long as a research project is formulated in very details with a high-quality, then the project is most likely to end up with success.   We cannot built a solid science without a solid foundation.   As an Early-career scientist (as of October 2021), I was fortunate that I have had several opportunities to learn and experience these processes.   Therefore, I would like to share a piece of my knowledge and experiences on how to formulate a decent research project.   

When it comes to a research project, I look that there are two major ways: a "top-down" approach and a "bottom-up" approach.   On the one hand, a "top-down" approach begins with a definition of problems.  You may first recognize what the science community thinks as outstanding problems, and then think how to tackle these problems.  On the other hand, a "bottom-up" approach begins with methodology and feasibility.  You may first check what data, technical tools, available time, and resources are in hands, and then think what you can do with them.  If you pursue some breakthrough researches, a reseach plan must be formulated based on a "top-down" approach.  While, if you would like to get achievements, then a "bottom-up" approach may give you a solution.   These two approaches have pros and cons, and –I think– it would be better to run these two projects in parallel.   

2. "Top-down" approach

Read papers, explore conference presentations, and read papers

narrow down the target, select several problems to be addressed

consider what resources, technical tools, data are needed, if some of them are missing, can we develop/obtain them?

evaluate the feasibilities of each goal. 

construct a reaseach schedule with a buffer period. 

3. "Bottom-up" approach

Check what resources are available (at this point, you have rough idea on what topic you can do with these resources)

define a goal and a problem (that can be addressed with current resources).

construct a research schedule with a buffer period.