Find a research project!
The SBM-programme starts with a 39 weeks (major) research project that follows-up on your Bachelor degree education. So the topic of this research needs to be in the field of science research: in the field of Beta-science, Biomedical science, Biology or Pharmacy.
Since July and August are the months for staff members to take a holiday, please start looking for a research project as soon as possible!
The research project may have a more fundamental or a more applied signature. Preferably you choose a project which generates knowledge that in the (near) future may be used by third parties (companies, governmental organisations, patients, customers, etc.).
The project includes translating a Life Sciences problem into a relevant research question and designing a suitable research plan to test the formulated research questions, according to methodological and scientific standards.
Tips for searching and obtaining a research project
Please find some research project experiences: short interviews with SBM-students about their experience with finding and doing the research project, including some advice.
At the bottom of this page, you can find links to the research institutes of the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Veterinary Science, the University Medical Centre Utrecht as well as the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology & Stem Cell Research.
You are expected to conduct your major research research project at Utrecht University (UU) or UMC Utrecht (UMCU) (including the Hubrecht Institute and the Princess Máxima Center). Contact your programme coordinator if you encounter difficulties in establishing an appropriate supervisor (as projects can be conducted outside of the UU/UMCU in exceptional cases).
Select groups that do research you are (really!) interested in and that relate to subjects you have also worked on during your bachelor's degree.
You can contact research groups by email (same style as job application, also include CV). Here you can find a general format for your letter. If you haven’t heard anything in two weeks’ time, send a friendly reminder including your letter and CV again.
Start preparing your letter by looking for more information about the research of the person you want to contact, like news items.
Clearly relate in your letter to your previous experience, your interest in the field and the research of the group/person that you contact.
Make sure that in an interview you get a good idea of what is expected of you and how you will be supported by your supervisor and examiner.
If you have doubts about accepting an offer for a research project, contact programme coordinator Anje de Graaf to discuss them.
Looking for a position also involves finding an examiner for your project. Usually, the examiner is asked in consultation with the person offering the project.
Please note that it may take a while to find a suitable project, but note that most students do find a 9 month internship of their choice and interest!
Once you have found your research project, you officially have to apply for approval through Osiris Zaak. See the GSLS Students' Site for more information.
After a few months of work in your research project, you and your supervisor will take the time for an intermediate assessment of your work. This assessment gives you tops and tips for further growth during this project. You can use the rubrics for a research project as a set point.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact programme coordinator Anje de Graaf, at coordinator.sbm@uu.nl.
Links
Links to Research Institutes: