Barcode Long Island proposals will be reviewed for scientific merit and originality. The proposal is your time to show skillful planning of an interesting project. Projects must study Long Island biodiversity using DNA barcoding as an essential part of the research. Projects where DNA barcoding is used to answer questions that could not be answered in other ways will be given preference. Reagents, materials, and sequencing for a maximum of twenty samples sequenced in both directions will be provided to each team.

Proposal Format

1. The proposal should be a maximum of five pages (excluding references) that incorporate the following components:
   • Introduction, surveying current literature, background and purpose of the project (maximum one page).
   • Specific Aims, providing the goals and approach of the experiment (maximum one page).
   • Methods, detailing how samples will be collected, archived, and processed to produce barcodes. If the project requires taxonomic identification independent of DNA Barcoding, a clear plan must be included. Contact us if you need help finding a taxonomist. Any anticipated permission needed to collect samples must also be documented (maximum two pages).
   • Data Interpretation Plan,detailing methods for data analysis, including any planned graphical or statistical approaches (maximum one page).
   • References, outlines all sources used with internal citations.  The reference section is not included in the five pages.  Participants are encouraged to seek all forms of resources, journals, text books, and mentors in the field (no page limit set).
2. Proposal margin and spacing requirements:
   • Use Arial or Times New Roman, 11 point
   • Margins, in all edges, must be 1 inch
   • Single line spacing
3. Work submitted by student teams is expected to be of their own original design and execution, and presented in their own words. Full disclosure of any other person or resource that may have influenced the applicants' proposal is required. The research project should reflect the work of the students. Students may receive review of their work and writing, but all alterations are to be that of the students.

Team Information

The name, address, present grade (9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade), school/institution, state/ZIP, demographics and brief biography of each student and their sponsoring teacher must be submitted with each proposal.