Research projects for MSc students

Ecology & Biodiversity

Join our research community

As an MSc student in the Ecology & Biodiversity group, you become part of an active and internationally connected research community working on some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

Our research projects address questions related to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, global environmental change, ecological scaling, plant–soil interactions, microbial ecology, sustainable land use, and ecosystem resilience. MSc students play an integral role in these research activities and work closely with researchers at all career stages, from PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to senior scientists.

Whether you are interested in field ecology, experiments, data science, modelling, or interdisciplinary sustainability challenges, we offer opportunities to develop your own research interests while contributing to ongoing scientific projects.

Opportunities for MSc students

Students can engage with our group through:

  • MSc thesis projects
  • Research internships
  • General Research Profiles
  • Writing assignments
  • Elective research projects

Projects are embedded within ongoing research programmes, providing direct exposure to contemporary ecological research and the opportunity to contribute to active scientific questions.

Research areas

We offer projects across a broad range of topics, including:

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Functioning

How does biodiversity influence ecosystem productivity, stability, resilience, and ecosystem services?

Global Environmental Change

How do climate change, drought, nutrient enrichment, land-use change, and other environmental drivers affect ecosystems?

Above- & Belowground Interactions

How do interactions among plants, soils, microbes, and consumers regulate ecosystem functioning?

Ecological Scaling

How do ecological processes operating at local scales translate into patterns and processes at landscape, regional, and global scales?

Sustainable Landscapes and Food Systems

How can ecological knowledge contribute to biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental management?

Ways of doing research

Depending on the project, students may engage in:

  • Fieldwork in natural, agricultural, or urban ecosystems
  • Large-scale biodiversity experiments
  • Controlled-environment experiments
  • Soil and microbial analyses
  • Remote sensing and spatial analyses
  • Statistical modelling
  • Meta-analyses and synthesis studies
  • Citizen science and participatory research
  • International collaborative projects

A global research environment

Many MSc projects are connected to our large-scale experimental platforms and international research networks, including:

Experimental Platforms
  • BioCliVE
  • MATREEX
  • NPEC
  • Living Lab Farming Landscape
Global Research Networks
  • NutNet
  • DroughtNet
  • NPKD
  • TreeDivNet
  • EcoFracNet
  • MEB
  • MIREN

These collaborations provide opportunities to work with unique datasets, international partners, and cutting-edge ecological research.

Developing as an independent researcher

MSc projects are designed to help students develop independence, critical thinking, scientific communication skills, and advanced analytical expertise.

Students are encouraged to take ownership of their project, formulate research questions, design analyses, interpret results, and communicate their findings to scientific and broader audiences. Throughout the project, they receive close supervision and become fully integrated into the research group.

External internships and self-developed projects

We welcome students who wish to conduct part of their research externally, for example at:

  • Research institutes
  • Governmental organizations
  • NGOs
  • Environmental consultancies
  • International partner institutions

Students with their own research ideas are also encouraged to contact potential supervisors. We are happy to discuss how these ideas can be developed into a feasible and scientifically rigorous MSc project.

Finding a project

Available MSc projects are updated regularly and can be explored through our MSc project overview.

Students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors directly to discuss opportunities, project ideas, and possible thesis topics.

[Link to MSc project overview]