Bachelor Thesis Project

Course goals

The aim of the Bachelor Thesis Project is the completion of your academic training at the bachelor’s level in the field of the Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences.  

After completing the Bachelor Thesis Project students:

Knowledge and understanding

• • Have knowledge and understanding of basic concepts and research methods in molecular cell biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biophysics, and biopharmaceutical sciences;
  • Are able to, semi-independently, address complex problems by collecting and integrating knowledge and data from a cell biological, biochemical, bioinformatics, biophysical, or biopharmaceutical perspective;
  • Are able to, semi-independently, interpret and critically analyse selected scientific articles and other data sources;
  • Are able to, semi-independently, translate a scientific problem into an experimental or theoretical research plan;
  • Are able to effectively collaborate in international teams and are aware of cultural and disciplinary differences;

Applying knowledge and understanding

• • Have the skills to apply basic research techniques;
  • Can safely and professionally handle equipment and chemical or biological materials in a laboratory setting;

Making judgments

• • Adhere to ethical and academic standards;
  • Are able to, semi-independently, analyse and interpret research results in relationship to relevant scientific literature;
  • Are able to reflect on societal and ethical consequences of research outcomes and to support their opinion with arguments;

Communication

• • Are able to clearly communicate research results in English, in writing as well as orally, to an audience of specialists and laymen;

Learning skills

• • Are able to reflect on their own conduct, and are open to giving, receiving, and processing feedback;
  • Are able to make an informed choice when applying for a master's degree or considering their options for a future career.

Content

Course content:
The Bachelor Thesis Project is the capstone of your bachelor’s education and your opportunity to apply and further develop your academic skills in research. During your thesis project you are embedded in a research group and execute the research cycle: you collect and critically read scientific literature on a specific research topic, do experiments to answer a research question, interpret experimental data, draw conclusions, propose new experiments, and communicate your findings to others. You will experience how it is to do research and to be part of a research group.  

Teaching methods & concepts:
Arranging a thesis project is your own responsibility and you should begin searching for a topic in a research group well ahead of your intended start date.  

The MBLS students website provides all the information about the Bachelor Thesis Project and links to research institutes in the departments of Biology, Chemistry, and the Pharmaceutical Sciences to search for a thesis project (https://students.uu.nl/en/science/molecular-biophysical-life-sciences/my-study/study-programme/bachelor-thesis). You can also do your thesis project at the department of Physics and Astronomy or another department, faculty, institute, or company, in the Netherlands or abroad as long as the topic lies within the scope of the Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences. 

Before starting your thesis project the application form should be approved by the thesis coordinator. Without approval you are not authorized to start the project. The second examiner for your thesis project will be appointed by the thesis coordinator. The application form, and all other documents you can find on the MBLS students website (https://students.uu.nl/en/science/molecular-biophysical-life-sciences/my-study/study-programme/bachelor-thesis)

The deadline for sending the application form to the thesis coordinator (thesiscoordinator.mbls@uu.nl) is each year on June 15 for period 1, October 15 for period 2, December 15 for period 3, and March 15 for period 4. 

Final grade:

Research work (50%)
Report (40%)
Presentation (10%)

Each partial grade should be above 5.5 to pass the course

The grade for each component is determined with the help of rubrics and should be ≥5.5
The first examiners grades the research work, report*, and the presentation (together with the daily supervisor when applicable)
The second examiner (appointed by the MBLS thesis coordinator) grades the report*.

*Note that by default the final report grade is the average of the assessments by the first and second examiner, unless the MBLS thesis coordinator reports inconsistencies between the two assessments. In this case both the first and second examiner will be consulted by the MBLS thesis coordinator

The rubrics and the assessment form can be downloaded from the MBLS students website https://students.uu.nl/en/science/molecular-biophysical-life-sciences/my-studies/bachelor-thesis).