Academic Research Project

Nanobiology MSc students are required to do a broadening research project in addition to their MEP. The Academic Research Project is one of the options available to students to fulfill this requirement.

The research project comprises 15 ECTS, or the equivalent of 10 weeks of full-time work.
The student may do their work in an academic research group at any approved university or research institute.

The student will work as a member of a University research group and collaborate with other students, PhD students, postdocs, technicians and group leaders.

• Work on a specific research topic of the student's choice, doing experiments or simulations and generating new ideas for further research.

• Apply knowledge from the Master phase to the research subject.

• Practical training in the group / lab to obtain new skills necessary for the project.

• Participate in lab activities, group meetings, journal clubs, etc.

If the project is done at an external institute or research group outside the Nanobiology programme, it is supervised by an internal (Nanobiology green list) and an external supervisor. The Nanobiology supervisor must approve the initial project before beginning. The supervisor from the external institution is responsible for day-to-day supervision. During the project the student will report to the Nanobiology supervisor on a regular basis about progress made on the project. If a project is done externally, students must do their MEP in the research group of a Nanobiology GreenList supervisor.

If the project is done in the group of a Nanobiology (green list) supervisor, it is guided by this supervisor, with a second Nanobiology green list member from a different research group for the evaluation.

For Broadening research projects which require a GreenList supervisor, students may not have the same GreenList supervisor for their MEP and their Broadening research project.

During this research project the students will be judged on:

• Performance in regular tasks

• Active participation

• Oral presentation

• Written report

The assessment usually takes the same form as that of a BEP or MEP: the student first hands in their report to both supervisors, then gives a public presentation, followed by a closed defense with the two supervisors, who together decide on the grade. Depending on (local) circumstances and customs (especially for projects done at other research institutes / universities), a different format may be adopted, as long as it allows for a proper assessment of both the work and the communication of the results in written (report) and oral (presentation) form.

The first Greenlist supervisor of is responsible for the final decision on the grade. This means if the primary supervisor is not on the Greenlist then the second reader is responsible for the final decision. If the primary supervisor is on the Greenlist then they are responsible. In either case, both supervisors are expected to work together to come to a final assessment.