Master Thesis

F2025

Mathematical Bioscience

Master Thesis

English

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

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

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.

30

Jesper Schmidt Hansen (jschmidt@ruc.dk)

Jesper Schmidt Hansen (jschmidt@ruc.dk)

INM Registration & Exams (inm-exams@ruc.dk)

U60743

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.

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.

Students themselves select relevant literature for their project work.

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

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.

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

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

Master's thesis exam based on the written product and the oral exam

The master's thesis can be written individually or in a group. Permitted group size: 2-3 students.

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's thesis exams are conducted as group exams.

The assessment is individual and based on the student's individual performance.
The assessment is an assessment of the master's thesis and the oral performance.

The character limits of the master's 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.

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

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

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

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

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

Master thesis written individually or in a group. Permitted group size: 2-3 students.

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.