SCIENCE IS THE SEARCH FOR IDEAS
     • Ideas represent more than just facts or observations
     • Ideas are mental constructs that connect facts and 
      observations into potential hypotheses or questions: :  “What 
      if…..?”
     • This is the heart of the ultimate scientific challenge
     • Finding answers to scientific questions can be relatively easy; 
      finding the initial question is the hard part. 
     ATTRIBUTES OF GREAT IDEAS
     • New – totally new or more realistically, new in some 
      important aspect.  
     • Testable
     • Results should be useful
     • Results should be amenable to incorporation into; add to our 
      greater body of scientific knowledge  (Don’t just sing in the 
      shower.)
    ATTRIBUTES OF GREAT THINKERS
    • They are often young
    • Risk takers
    • Create new tools, new ways of thinking, find new connections
    • Apply old techniques to new problems
    • Apply new techniques to old problems
     YOUR NEW IDEA(S) WILL DEFINE YOUR 
     SCIENTIFIC CAREER 
     • Testable hypotheses represent the product, the currency of 
      scientific research 
       • Create the hypothesis; experimentally test the hypothesis; interpret 
        the results; apply this new discovery to improve current 
        understanding
       • Your findings are never final; they represent the best possible answer 
        for the moment – to be improved upon in the next round of scientific 
        investigation.
       • Hallmarks of good science:  creative ideas, demanding and thorough 
        experimental testing, thoughtful interpretation, integration of findings 
        into current scientific body of knowledge
      STEP I:  GET A BRILLIANT IDEA
      • It is up to you.
      • Study, listen, ask for advice, read, analyze other brilliant 
       ideas
      • The idea has to be yours, otherwise you will not reach the 
       ultimate goal of being an INDEPENDENT PRINCIPAL 
       INVESTIGATOR.  
      • A PI is responsible for “ the idea”.