“Afstudeerproject” course at the Ecology and Biodiversity Group

Practical information

  • Before starting your Bachelor project, please consult the official course information and regulations. 
  • If you have any questions regarding the course rules, regulations, forms and documents, you need to contact the course coordinators (scriptie.bio@uu.nl). 
  • Note that group coordinators are not the course coordinators. They can only help you to find projects within their group.
  • Students are encouraged to arrange both their internship and research project within the same period. Projects can be conducted within the Ecology & Biodiversity group or externally, provided that academic supervision and examination requirements are met.
  • Students with their own project ideas are welcome to contact potential supervisors. We are always interested in discussing new ideas that fit within the research themes of the group.
  • If you cannot find answers to your questions on the “Afstudeerproject” course webpage or on the webpage of Ecology and Biodiversity Group, you can send an email to the E&B Group Coordinator, Yannick Wiegers (EB.afstudeerproject@uu.nl).
  • If you would like to join our group for the “Afstudeerproject” course, please fill out this form.
  • If you are only looking for an examiner, please fill out this form.

Discover what it means to do ecological research

The Bachelor research project (Afstudeerproject) is your first opportunity to experience ecological research firsthand. Through a combination of an internship and independent research project, you will develop practical skills in scientific thinking, data collection, analysis, and communication while addressing real ecological questions.

Whether your interests lie in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem functioning, climate change, soil ecology, species interactions, or sustainability, the Bachelor project allows you to explore a topic that genuinely excites you.

You will work closely with researchers, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and fellow students, becoming part of an active research environment while taking your first steps as an independent researcher.

What can you work on?

Our projects span a wide range of ecological topics and approaches, including:

  • Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
  • Global environmental change
  • Climate change ecology
  • Plant–soil interactions
  • Microbial ecology
  • Conservation biology
  • Landscape ecology
  • Citizen science
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Ecological restoration

Projects may involve:

  • Fieldwork in natural or managed ecosystems
  • Participation in large-scale ecological experiments
  • Biodiversity monitoring
  • Data analysis and modelling
  • Laboratory work
  • Literature-based research

Examples of recent project topics

  • Does biodiversity increase ecosystem resilience to drought?
  • How does urbanization affect biodiversity in green spaces?
  • How do soil microbes influence plant performance?
  • Can citizen science improve biodiversity monitoring?
  • How do landscape characteristics shape ecological communities?
  • What determines ecosystem functioning under environmental stress?

Available topics vary from year to year and are linked to ongoing research projects within the group.

Why choose an E&B project?

As a Bachelor student in the Ecology & Biodiversity group, you gain access to:

  • Active research projects
  • Large-scale experimental platforms
  • International research networks
  • Field and laboratory facilities
  • Close supervision by experienced researchers

Our goal is to provide a challenging, supportive, and enjoyable first research experience that helps you discover where your interests and talents lie.

Important points

  • Arrange your internship (stage) and thesis (scriptie) components of the “afstudeerproject” in the same period. This structure is preferred by the E&B Group and is compulsory for the course (with motivated exceptions sometimes allowed).
  • We don’t offer the PLONS course unless the supervisor and the student agree.
  • If you do your internship (stage) and thesis (scriptie) parts outside the UU, you must arrange for an examiner. If you need an examiner from the E&B Group, you must arrange this before starting your internship. Otherwise, we will not respond to last-minute requests.
  • If you do your internship (stage) part outside the UU, also arrange the thesis (scriptie) part with the same institution. This is a course requirement, and then you only need to arrange for an examiner from the UU, which the E&B Group can provide.
  • If you do your internship (stage) or/and thesis (scriptie) part outside the UU, first check the list of examiners on the course webpage and try to find a best fit for your topic. Then, write to the relevant group coordinator about your request. For E&B Group, you need to fill out a form.