Frequently Asked Questions

1. Some members of our team do not meet the eligibility criteria, but most do. Can we enter a submission?

   The challenge rules require every member of a team to meet all of the eligibility criteria. Hence teams with ineligible members would not be qualified to submit an entry.

2. I have a very good idea for a project, but I do not want to work in a team. Can I compete on my own?

   DEBUT is open to teams of undergraduate students, with each team consisting of at least 3 undergraduate students. Hence, individuals are not allowed to submit entries by themselves.

3. A member of my team was a full-time student but only for the fall semester of the academic year. Does he qualify?

   Each member of the team must be a full-time student for the whole academic year. Hence part-time students or those that were part-time during a portion of the academic year do not qualify.

4. Does the 6-page limit include the cover letter? How about references?

   The 6-page limit for entries includes the description of the project including the following components:

   • Project Title
   • Team members and affiliations
   • Challenge category
   • Abstract
   • Description of clinical need or problem, including background and current methods available
   • Design, including a discussion of the innovative aspects
   • Evidence of a working prototype (results/graphics obtained with the designed solution)
   • and references, if you wish to include them.

   The cover letter from faculty, the NIBIB DEBUT Challenge Certification Form, and the Parental Consent Form, if necessary, are outside of the 6 page limit.

5. My team may want to apply for a patent application. How much of the information in our entry will be disclosed to the public?

   If your team is one of the winners, all of the information in your entry may be shared publicly. However, how much information or detail you include in your entry is up to you.