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Course module: UCSCIRES32
UCSCIRES32
Science Research Thesis - 15 ECTS
Course info
Course codeUCSCIRES32
EC15
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to: 
  • write a coherent literature review
  • formulate a research question, which is embedded in the literature
  • apply suitable methods to collect data
  • analyze the results
  • draw conclusions
  • write a coherent report containing all of these elements
Content
This advanced course offers (the equivalent of) fulltime ten weeks research training to students in their particular field of interest within any of the academic fields that are officially defined at UCU in the science major. Students carry out an individual research project within a research group at Utrecht University or one of the affiliated research institutes in Utrecht or a research institute elsewhere. Such a research project will include designing a research plan based on literature study of the theoretical background of both the subject and the research methods, conducting the proposed research involved, evaluating the results obtained and reporting on them according to the standard scientific practice in the field involved in a presentation and in writing.


 
Format 1
Usually the thesis will be performed during spring/summer period. The students should take 3 regular courses in the spring semester in addition to UCSCIRES32.
Phase 1: week 1 to 7 of spring semester. Students choose field of research and inform the fellow of this field. Furthermore the students find a local supervisor and determine the topic of their research. Information can be obtained from fellows, teachers or tutors if necessary. The research thesis can be performed at the laboratories of UU or of other universities, hospitals or companies. The fellow approves the choice.
During the second half of the spring semester the student prepares for the thesis by reading primary papers (at least 15) that constitute the basis of their research.  The research questions will be formulated and the required methodology will be prepared.  In addition a short refreshment of the knowledge of statistics will be provided as well as any other specific knowledge required for research in a specific field. Class sessions may be used to obtain such knowledge as well as general information on how to proceed with scientific research. At the end of this period, the students write a solid literature review that forms the basis of their research, formulate the research questions and the experimental approach. The length of this paper is 2000 words maximally and will be graded by the fellow. Deadline is one week after the last day of the semester. The students should spend 120 hours on phase 1.
Phase 2: Summer period:  240 hours (6 weeks) for lab work. The quality of the lab work will be graded by the local supervisor and approved by the fellow and constitutes 50% of the final grade.
After 6 weeks of laboratory work the students prepare their final report (paper format) within 40 hours. The paper prepared during phase 1 can be used for the Introduction and Materials and Methods section. This final paper will be graded by the local supervisor and approved by the fellow.
Format 2 - LABORATORY SPACE INDEPENDENT THESIS
Alternatively, if the student is not dependent full time on laboratory space students are allowed to perform UCSCIRES32 during the semester, either fall or spring, in that case only 2 other courses should be followed in that same semester. Or alternatively only a part is performed during winter or summer periods. In all cases the fellow should approve the alternatives. The set-up of such an alternative is as described above.
Download the required forms from UCU's intranet: http://intranet.ucu.uu.nl/index.php?page=research-thesis

Prerequisites
  • General prerequisites, see below.
  • UCACCSTA21 Biostatistics is required for a thesis in COG and MED
  • For a thesis in BIO and EAR, discuss the UCACCSTA21 relevance to your specfic topic with the thesis coordinator.
  • If a student has already taken the SSC methodology course UCACCMET22 or UCACCMET23, the Biostatistics requirement can be waived by the thesis coordinator.
 
 
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