Research proposal:

Introduction: set the stage for what you are presenting and will propose. Why is this area interesting? What is significant about this area of research? What is known? What was known prior to genomics and what is needed now that genomics are available?

Background: Present the paper or papers you are using as if you were part of that team. Include figures and tables (make sure you cite the paper - you can put the title, etc. just before Background. The background should present this as a series of questions that leads to your specific aims.

Specific Aims: about 3 aims that you want to do based on the work that has gone on before and your own ideas for the next great work that needs to be done. They usually take the form of a sentence like: The specific aims are:

1) to do xyz. This will be done by constructing....

If you have your paper in a draft form by the week of Nov. 11, I can help you specifically to get it into shape. Here is an example proposal . Although the format isn't exactly like the format above, you should get a sense of how these are written. You need to have a very "can do" attitude and be extremely clear and logical in your presentation.