Localized reading guide
scientific-problem-selectionPurpose, usage and source
This skill should be used when scientists need help with research problem selection, project ideation, troubleshooting stuck projects, or strategic scientific decisions. Use this skill when users ask to pitch a new research idea, work through a project problem, evaluate project risks, plan research strategy, navigate decision trees, or get help choosing what scientific problem to work on. Typical requests include "I have an idea for a project", "I'm stuck on my research", "help me evaluate this project", "what should I work on", or "I need strategic advice about my research".
Source retrieved:
- Source repository
- anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins
- SKILL.md
bio-research/skills/scientific-problem-selection/SKILL.md- Repository stars
- 34,049
- Repository updated
- 2026-10-30
- Categories
- research
- Last collected
License: License file needs review
Workflow excerpts are reading aids, not executable instructions from Codez. No third-party Skill was run to produce this page.
The purpose and workflow passages below are upstream material, organized and translated for reading. They are distinct from the separately labeled Codez editorial analysis.
What this Skill does
This skill should be used when scientists need help with research problem selection, project ideation, troubleshooting stuck projects, or strategic scientific decisions. Use this skill when users ask to pitch a new research idea, work through a project problem, evaluate project risks, plan research strategy, navigate decision trees, or get help choosing what scientific problem to work on. Typical requests include "I have an idea for a project", "I'm stuck on my research", "help me evaluate this project", "what should I work on", or "I need strategic advice about my research".
How the upstream workflow works
Workflow
From there, guide the user through the early stages of problem selection and evaluation: Skill 1: Intuition Pumps - Refine and strengthen the idea Skill 2: Risk Assessment - Identify and manage project risks Skill 3: Optimization Function - Define success metrics
Upstream passage · L39 ↗Workflow
From there, guide the user through troubleshooting and decision tree navigation: Skill 5: Decision Tree Navigation - Plan decision points and navigate between execution and strategic thinking Skill 4: Parameter Strategy - Fix one parameter at a time, let others float Skill 6: Adversity Response - Frame problems as opportunities for growth
Upstream passage · L64 ↗Workflow
From there, draw on the specific modules from the problem choice framework most appropriate to the question: Skills 1-4 for future project planning (ideation, risk, optimization, parameters) Skills 5-7 for current project navigation (decision trees, adversity, inversion) Skill 8 for communication and synthesis
Upstream passage · L90 ↗Requirements and setup
No short requirements passage was selected from this file. This does not mean the Skill has no dependencies. Check the repository setup instructions and referenced files.
Limits and quality checks
No separate limits passage was selected from this file. This does not mean the Skill is safe for every input or environment. Review the complete source and validate your own result.
Start with a safe trial
- Check the supported host and the repository installation instructions. Keep the Skill directory and its referenced scripts, assets and documentation together; SKILL.md alone may omit dependencies.
- Give the agent your real input, desired output and acceptance criteria. Invocation syntax and available tools depend on the host; this site does not assume a universal install command.
- Try the source workflow in a disposable project or on a copy. Review operations that change files, remote services or billable resources before allowing them.
- Validate the output against the source quality checks and your own requirements. A successful trigger or a high repository Star count does not establish a correct result.
Read further in the source
- Scientific Problem Selection Skills
- Getting Started
- Initial Prompt
- Response Approach
- Follow-up Prompt
- Workflow
- Initial Prompt
- Response Approach
- Follow-up Prompt
- Workflow
- Initial Prompt
- Response Approach
- Follow-up Prompt
- Workflow
- The Central Insight
- The Time Paradox
- Evaluation Axes
- The Risk Paradox
- The Parameter Paradox
- The Adversity Principle
- Key Design Principles
- Graduate Students (Primary Audience)
- Postdocs
- Principal Investigators
- Startup Founders
- Reference Materials
- Immediate (After Completing Workflow)
- 6-Month
- 2-Year
- Foundational Reference
Related Skills
Translation and scope
This reading guide selects passages from the pinned upstream SKILL.md. Translation is assisted. It is not a complete manual or a claim of tested compatibility. Read the original and its referenced files before use.
This introduction refers to the pinned version below; current repository activity and collection time are shown separately.
- Pinned source
- Read the original ↗
- Source retrieved
- Source commit
2574e29377c7173d0cecffef29a6ecbd7f8ccb5d- Source SHA-256
9ec99e3e5b2f4cd7474ef2bb8a1b10ee1f97dbe688c7723c7ec0b18deb8ff0f4