Scientific Problem Selector
Systematic framework for choosing research problems based on Fischbach and Walsh criteria
Choosing the wrong research problem costs years of effort on work that doesn't advance your career or field. The Fischbach and Walsh framework provides systematic criteria for evaluating research problems — helping you invest your limited time on questions that are tractable, important, and appropriately scoped.
Who it's for: graduate students selecting dissertation research problems with their advisors, early-career faculty choosing research directions for tenure-track positions, principal investigators evaluating new project directions for their labs, research program managers prioritizing funding across competing proposals, interdisciplinary scientists assessing problems at the intersection of multiple fields
Example
"Evaluate three potential research directions for my lab using systematic criteria" → Problem selection framework: Fischbach and Walsh criteria evaluation for each candidate problem, tractability assessment based on available methods and resources, impact analysis for the field and potential applications, competitive landscape review, and a ranked recommendation with scoring rationale for each criterion
CLAUDE.md Template
New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.
npx ccplaybooks add scientific-problem-selector# Scientific Problem Selection
A conversational framework for systematic scientific problem selection based on Fischbach & Walsh's "Problem choice and decision trees in science and engineering" (Cell, 2024).
## Getting Started
Present users with three entry points:
**1) Pitch an idea for a new project** -- to work it up together
**2) Share a problem in a current project** -- to troubleshoot together
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What This Does
This playbook provides a structured, conversational framework for choosing scientific research problems. Based on Fischbach and Walsh's "Problem choice and decision trees in science and engineering" (Cell, 2024), it guides researchers through idea generation, risk assessment, optimization, and decision-tree navigation -- helping you invest more time choosing the right problem before spending years solving it.
Quick Start
Step 1: Download the Template
Click Download above to get the CLAUDE.md file.
Step 2: Set Up Your Project
Create a project folder and place the template inside:
my-research-planning/
CLAUDE.md
Step 3: Start Working
claude
Say: "I have an idea for a new research project. I want to pitch it and get feedback."
Three Entry Points
The playbook meets scientists where they are with three starting modes:
- Pitch an Idea -- Work up a new project idea together through ideation, risk assessment, and impact evaluation
- Troubleshoot a Problem -- Navigate obstacles in a current project using decision trees, adversity response, and problem inversion
- Ask a Strategic Question -- Get structured guidance on research direction using the full framework
Core Framework Concepts
Problem Choice >> Execution Quality -- Even brilliant execution of a mediocre problem yields incremental impact. Good execution of an important problem yields substantial impact.
The Risk Paradox -- Don't avoid risk; befriend it. No risk means incremental work. Multiple miracles means you need to refine. The sweet spot is understood, quantified, manageable risk.
The Parameter Paradox -- Too many fixed constraints creates brittleness. Too few creates paralysis. Fix ONE meaningful constraint and let others float.
The 9 Modules
| Module | Purpose | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Intuition Pumps | Generate high-quality research ideas | ~1 week |
| 2. Risk Assessment | Identify and manage project risks | 3-5 days |
| 3. Optimization Function | Define success metrics | 2-3 days |
| 4. Parameter Strategy | Decide what to fix vs. keep flexible | 2-3 days |
| 5. Decision Tree Navigation | Plan decision points | 2 days |
| 6. Adversity Response | Prepare for crises as opportunities | 2 days |
| 7. Problem Inversion | Navigate around obstacles | 1 day |
| 8. Integration & Synthesis | Synthesize into coherent plan | 3-5 days |
| 9. Meta-Framework | Orchestrate complete workflow | 1-6 weeks |
Who Should Use This
- Graduate Students -- Choosing thesis projects, qualifying exams, committee meetings
- Postdocs -- Starting new positions, planning independent projects, fellowship applications
- Principal Investigators -- New lab directions, mentoring trainees, grant cycles
- Startup Founders -- Company inception, pivot decisions, investor pitches
Example Prompts
"I have an idea for a new research project on CRISPR-based gene therapy. Help me evaluate it."
"I'm stuck on my thesis project -- my main experimental approach isn't working."
"Should I pivot my postdoc project or double down on the current direction?"
"Help me assess the risks of my proposed grant project."
"Walk me through the decision tree for choosing between two research directions."