https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/AM_1114The aims of the master’s placement are:The student learns to independently conduct scientific research. The student is able to independently find scientific information and to evaluate this for the benefit of his or her own research question. The student is able to apply scientific methods and knowledge, to answer research questions and to generate evidence‐based knowledge. The student is able to formulate a research question, to choose, to implement and to evaluate the (appropriate) research method, and to phrase the obtained results in a scientific report. The student is able to cooperate with researchers of various disciplines. The student is able to write a scientific report of the research on the level of peer-reviewed academic journals. The student is able to orally present the research results and to discuss the findings. The student obtains a good impression of a potential future field of career.The two research projects in the Ecology and Evolution programme serve to get students acquainted and experienced with the practice of ecological research. Both research projects should thus reside in Ecology. If you have 12 EC in elective courses in your programme both research projects together will have to amount up to 78 EC. If you have 18 ec in elective courses the total study load is 72 EC. The shortest project should be at least 30 EC. The first research project during your MSc Ecology and Evolution must take place at the Department of Ecological Science at the VU, or at the Institute for Bioversity and Ecosystem Dynamics at the UvA. For research projects at the Ecology department of the VU check the website list available via Canvas. Projects at universities or research institutes elsewhere in the Netherlands, or abroad can also be accepted provided they are of sufficient academic quality. In all cases: take care that you will be working on an ecological research question and that you will be able to collect enough reliable data to write a scientific report in the end. Purely monitoring or inventory projects are not of a masters' level and will not be approved. Each project starts with writing a research proposal. Consult the Placement Manual for guidelines.A Placement Manual for Research Projects in the MSc Ecology can be obtained via the Canvas page. This document contains the protocols, guidelines for proposals and reports and application and assessment forms, etc. needed to successfully complete a research project. It is very important to read this document carefully in order to avoid unpleasant experiences during the progress of the placement. Every research project or literature study has to be approved by the master coordinator in advance.At the end of the project a scientific report of the work has to be written in English and an oral presentation has to be given (also in English). The final grade will be determined by the VU supervisor and VU second assessor in consultation with the external supervisor, if applicable. It is based on the following categories: attitude (pass/fail), execution (40%), presentation (10%) and report (50%).Students in MSc Ecology, specialization Ecology and Evolution or specialization International MAster of Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution (IMABEE)The Placement Manual for Research Projects in the MSc Ecology can be obtained on Canvas.You are not allowed to start your second research project before the completion of Research Project I (when applicable).