Major Research Project BTP

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/XM_422613

Course Objective

The aim is to conduct a research project in the field of Biomedical Technology and/or Biomedical Physics, in order to demonstrate the knowledge, the skills and the attitude required to perform research in an interdisciplinary team.

Course Content

The researcher project is based on a scientific question formulated by an hypothesis and aim of the project. Dependent on the project topic you will learn various aspects that are important in a research environment, such as:Communicative skills (presentations and discussions with your peers an supervisor, writing reports);Social and organizational skills (working in a team, planning your own work and time schedule;e).IT-skills (from working with known text editors, spreadsheet and presentation software to using specialized applications within your discipline). Literature research (finding relevant literature, analysing and using it).Peer reviewing and working professionally (reflect on your own knowledge, skills and attitude, self-knowledge, independence and steering your own development).

Teaching Methods

You will be conducting research project in a laboratory environment, which will mean that you will be working independently on e.g. a project or thesis and on your presentation. Most of the work is based on self study under supervision, with feed back meetings, etc. The boundary conditions are set after consultation with the student by the project supervisor.

Method of Assessment

Grading of your research project will be based on the experimental work, the thesis and the colloquium. For further details, please see https://canvas.vu.nl/courses/47771/pages/assessment-and-workflow-at-the-end-of-the-literature-review-or-research-projects.

Literature

needed to perform the research will be discussed with the supervisor of the project.

Target Audience

This research project is meant for students who follow the research variant of the master Biomedical Technology and Physics.

Custom Course Registration

Research projects or internships are not bound by the academic calendar, like courses. It can be undertaken at any time and can end at any time during the course of a year, including summers. Research projects or internships can also span academic years. Credit is granted upon completion of the Research training or internship. Students do not have to register for this course, but the student should fill in the form should get permission from the master coordinator. Please see https://canvas.vu.nl/courses/47771/pages/workflow-before-the-start-of-the-literature
- review-or-research-project for further details.

Entry Requirements

Before starting your Major research project, you must have completed at least half of the courses corresponding to the chosen master program. Some project supervisors demand additional theoretical knowledge. In this case it will be discussed during the exploratory talk with the internship supervisor. In general, these courses must be passed before starting the practical training.

Recommended background knowledge

It is recommended to have finalized all the regular courses in the master program before starting your research project.

Explanation Canvas

The up to date information about the research project can be found on Canvas, see https://canvas.vu.nl/courses/28215/pages/basic-information-on-literature-review-minor-and-major-research-project and https://canvas.vu.nl/courses/47771.