Problem Formulation and Solution Design Questions

Ability to take an ambiguous or open ended research problem and convert it into a precise, tractable research question or specification. Candidates should demonstrate how they ask clarifying questions, identify scope and constraints, state core assumptions, propose multiple alternative approaches, evaluate trade offs and risks for each approach, select a promising direction with justification, and outline an evaluation plan and expected results. This topic emphasizes creativity in problem formulation, rigor in specification, awareness of limitations, and the ability to design a concrete path from idea to experiment or analysis.