Bdtyktl

While attending a graduate course on an engineering subject (reliability of complex systems) I had an idea about a different approach to a known problem. The application of this different method to a known topic would simply require to build a model of the physical system under study and to do a few simulations. I have already done a test to see if this approach makes sense at all on basic problems (the one you would see in an introductory course on subject). After a quick search, I found that there is no literature that covers this aspect in our field of application (electrical engineering).

I told my idea to a colleague student that has "real world experience" on the subject and he was very enthusiast. Our cooperation would involve him bringing his experience (to evaluate the process and the quality of the results) and I would bring the computational skills (set up the simulation etc...). The paper would be about 5-6 pages plus results (and scripts if they can be attached).

Now I'm asking you: what is the correct iter we could follow to see if this paper is worth publishing? And then, assuming it is, where do we submit the paper for publishing? I'd be happy to publish it on my blog anyway but I think there is some potential for "more than a blog work" (if you can allow me the use of this bad description) and would like to know what are the options.

Also, I would like to add that I came up with the idea of a publication of this work because I came across a lot of short papers in this format (new solution/method to old problem). While I think our idea is not revolutionary, it might add some useful perspective.

TLDR:

1. We are 2 graduate students that have an idea for a new approach to a relatively old problem.


2. We already did some tests and the idea seems sound.


3. The paper would be approx 5-6 pages plus results.


4. The subject is related to realiability calculation in electrical engineering applications.

Where do we go after having written the paper for "proper" validation and publishing request?

Your situation is just like that of any other researcher. Work out your ideas. Write them up with proper citations of past and related work and submit to a journal that might be interested. The journal may be one of those you have found in your work and have cited.

Your advisor will give you initial feedback on your idea I hope and the editor and referees of the journal will also provide some validation. Your advisors likely have more experience and perspective than either of you, so take their advice about originality and possible importance. But, basically, in order to publish, you just do it and wait for feedback from the journal. Expect, as a minimum to have to rewrite based on reviewer comments.

While attending a graduate course

Does this mean that you are not a full time student? Normally, when I hear people talk about graduate courses, I assume they are a full time student with an advisor.

This is exactly why you should have an advisor at grad school. Hopefully an advisor can help you pick an appropriate publication.

Another thing to mention is costs. Some publications require a fee. Some publications require that at least one of the authors present at a conference. Between publication fees, conference fees, and travel expenses, these costs can be thousands of dollars. This is often paid by grants. (It is possible that your school has put aside some funds to help grad students deal with these costs.)

If you don't have an advisor, I would suggest you look for a professor in your school who works in this field and contact them. It may require you to put a third author on the paper, but that may not be a bad thing. Who knows, a third author my have insights that can improve your paper.