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Master Thesis

Title
Master Thesis
Semester
E2023
Master programme in
Mathematical Bioscience
Type of activity

Master Thesis

Teaching language
English
Study regulation

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

Læs mere om uddannelsen og find din studieordning på ruc.dk

REGISTRATION AND STUDY ADMINISTRATIVE
Registration

Tilmelding sker via STADS-Selvbetjening indenfor annonceret tilmeldingsperiode, som du kan se på Studieadministrationens hjemmeside

Registration through STADS-Selvbetjeningwithin the announced registration period, as you can see on the Studyadministration homepage.

Number of participants
ECTS
30
Responsible for the activity
Jesper Schmidt Hansen (jschmidt@ruc.dk)
Head of study
Jesper Schmidt Hansen (jschmidt@ruc.dk)
Teachers
Study administration
INM Registration & Exams (inm-exams@ruc.dk)
Exam code(s)
U60172
ACADEMIC CONTENT
Overall objective

The overall purpose of the master thesis is that the student explores a current/exemplary and concrete research challenge that originates from biology. The exploration must include mathematical formalism and reasoning, for example, through development of a model.

Detailed description of content

In dialogue with supervisor the student must choose a scientific problem and through problem-oriented project learning and interdisciplinary independently work with the problem. This includes apply the necessary biological and mathematical competencies and skills needed to critically analyse, understand, and present complex biological data as well as to develop and implement mathematical models of biological systems.

Course material and Reading list

Students themselves select relevant literature for their project work.

Overall plan and expected work effort

Master Thesis 30 ECTS / 810 hours

  • Master Thesis Seminar: 4 hours

  • Exam and assessment: 1 hour

  • Supervision: 7 / 15 hours (theoretical / experimental)

  • Report writing: 200 hours

  • Literature search: 150 hours

  • Practical project work (laboratory, model design, analysis, field work): 400 hours

  • Exam preparation: 40 hours

Format
Evaluation and feedback

All master thesis’ processes will include ongoing dialogue-based (oral) evaluation between the students and the supervisor. Both students and supervisors are expected to provide constructive feedback and viewpoints during the process. Feedback concerning the academic content and progression, process and collaboration. When the master thesis is handed in, there will also be an evaluation through a questionnaire in SurveyXact concerning the master thesis process and the master program in general. The Study Board will handle all evaluations. Furthermore, students can, in accordance with RUCs ‘feel free to state your views’ strategy through their representatives at the study board, send evaluations, comments or insights form their project process to the study board during or after the master thesis process.

Programme

The student must attend the preparatory thesis seminar. Information available on study and moodle.

ASSESSMENT
Overall learning outcomes

After the master thesis the student will be able to

  • independently analyse, categorise, discuss, argue, reflect and solve biological research challenges based mathematical formalism and reasoning

  • independently and critically select mathematical and biological and general natural science sources, including literature, theory, models, and methods in order to solve biological research challenges

  • communicate research questions, formulate biological hypotheses, results, and conclusions to both biologists and mathematicians in a multi-disciplinary and critically reflected manner

  • independently organise workflow, plan, test, and conclude on a problem-oriented research question

Form of examination
Master thesis written individually or in a group. Permitted group size: 2-4 students.

The student(s) can choose whether the assessment should be based on solely the written product or on both the written product and the oral exam.

The character limits of the master thesis are:
for 1 student: 24,000-367,200 characters, including spaces.
For 2 students: 24,000-367,200 characters, including spaces.
For 3 students: 24,000-367,200 characters, including spaces.
For 4 students: 24,000-367,200 characters, including spaces.

The character limits include the cover, table of contents, summary, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

The master thesis must include a summary. The summary can either be written in English or Danish.
The summary is included in the overall assessment.

Before submitting a master thesis written by a group, that have chosen an assessment solely based on the written product, each member of the group must clearly indicate which part(s) of the thesis they are responsible for.
All group members are responsible for the introduction, conclusion and summary.

The oral exam is individual for students that have written the thesis alone, or students that have requested an individual exam. All other oral master thesis exams are conducted as group exams.

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment for:
1 student: 30 minutes.
2 students: 60 minutes.
3 students: 75 minutes.
4 students: 90 minutes.

There will be an individual assessment of each student’s performance.
The assessment is an overall assessment of the master thesis and, where relevant, the oral performance.

Writing and spelling skills in the thesis are part of the assessment.

Permitted support and preparation materials at the oral exam: All.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: External examiner.
Form of Re-examination
Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam
Type of examination in special cases
Examination and assessment criteria

Master thesis written individually or in a group. Permitted group size: 2-4 students.

The student(s) can choose whether the assessment should be based on solely the written product or on both the written product and the oral exam.

The assessment criteria of the written part

  • independently analyse, categorise, discuss, argue, reflect and solve biological research challenges based mathematical formalism and reasoning

  • independently and critically select mathematical and biological and general natural science sources, including literature, theory, models, and methods in order to solve biological research challenges

  • communicate research questions, formulate biological hypotheses, results, and conclusions to both biologists and mathematicians in a multi-disciplinary and critically reflected manner

  • independently organise workflow, plan, test, and conclude on a problem-oriented research question

The assessment of the oral exam is based on the student’s ability to meet the criteria mentioned above and their ability to

  • clearly present and communicate the scientific content of the project

  • engage in a scientific dialogue and discussion with the supervisor and assessor

Furthermore, whether the performance meets all formal requirements in regard to both for the written og oral exam.

Exam code(s)
Exam code(s) : U60172
Last changed 14/06/2023

lecture list:

Show lessons for Subclass: 1 Find calendar (1) PDF for print (1)

Tuesday 02-01-2024 10:00 - 02-01-2024 10:00 in week 01
Hand-in of Thesis (starting August 2023)