Player-initiated research has been suspended for some time now. The lack of structure has made it difficult, if not impossible, for players and creators to come to agreement on the end results of player research.
Player research is somewhere between posting your ideas on an idea board or using the "idea" command, and constructing peronal items as well as rooms in castles and cities. Since we allow the two ends of the spectrum, I, Fangorn, see no reason why research can't be included as well. Before developing the topic any further, let me make it clear that currently I'm the only creator who has come forward to work on player research. Asking creators who have not made known their willingness to work on player research will most likely cause this privilege to be suspended again.
Having said that, players can propose research on any topic. The creators who work with you on this research have final say in all matters, but they help you develop your ideas so that they are balanced and fit the theme of this mud. If the player(s) and creator(s) come to agreement on the pending research, the initial costs/requirements of the research will be made known to the players. The success of the research will be based on the players' ability to meet those requirements. One of the requirements will most likely be some time interval between inception of the ideas and fruition of those ideas into a workable product. Also, additional costs may develop as your research continues, or somewhere along the line you wish to change some of your ideas before completion of the research. As always, the creators have final say in this process.