BSc and MSc Thesis at the Bioprocess Engineering Group

If you would like to do your BSc or MSc thesis project in our group, you can choose for one of the available research projects or research themes (see links at the right side of the page). Here you can find useful information for a BSc or MSc thesis in our group. You can always contact one of us to help you with more information or to see if your interests can be matched with one of our studies.

Prerequisite courses

You must have sufficient background to start a thesis project.

Prerequisite courses BSc thesis: 6 credits among the following BPE courses

  • BPE22306 Basic Cell Factory Design
  • BPE21806 Bioreactor Design
  • BPE20806 Separation Process Design

Prerequisite courses MSc thesis: 6 credits among the following BPE courses

  • FPE31306 Transfer Processes
  • BPE34306 Metabolic Engineering of Industrial Microorganisms
  • BPE34806 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
  • BPE35306 Microalgae Biotechnology
  • BPE36306 Advanced Bioreactor Design
  • BPE36806 Advanced Separation Process Design
  • BPE33803 Animal Cell Biotechnology combined with BPE35803 Marine Biotechnology
  • BCT32306 – Advanced Biorefinery

Some of the MSc thesis projects are also available for students who combined BPE20806 Separation Process Design (or any equivalent course) with: BPE35306, BPE33803, AFI31806, BPE33803, BPE35803 or BCT32306.

Guidelines BSc and MSc theses

1. Orientation

As preparation, obtain a preliminary impression on the general research themes and research projects at the Bioprocess Engineering department. Do this at least 4 months in advance.

2. Subject choice, planning, and contract

Contact the contact person of the research theme or research project(s) that interest you. Once you have made your choice and agreed with your supervisor(s) on duration (i.e. credit points), scope of the thesis and the starting date, then hand in the filled-out thesis entry form and submit it here, together with a digital photo to be placed on the picture board.

Upload entry form

3. Thesis agreements

Fill out the appropriate BSc or MSc learning agreement and secrecy agreement (together with your supervisor(s)). Send a copy of the signed agreements to your study advisor for approval and then to miranda.berger@wur.nl (with giuseppe.olivieri@wur.nl and your supervisors in cc).

Ask to be registered to the brightspace page of Thesis. Get a copy of the BSc or MSc thesis evaluation form (see download menu on the right).

4. Dates, key, etcetera

On one of the first days of your thesis project, visit the BPE secretary to:

  • be added in the mailinglist
  • pick dates for research presentations talk (see item 5 below)
  • arrange access to the building
  • request a network working space
  • get a locker key

5. Safety & environment

Before you may enter the laboratory you need to receive instructions with respect to safety and environment.

Lecture

Attending the departmental Safety lecture at its first occurrence is compulsory (dates will be posted).

6. Thesis ring (obligatory)

We are working with thesis rings for our BSc and MSc students. A thesis ring is a method of intervision in a group of 8-10 students. The students coach each other in writing of the work assignment and the thesis report under supervision of a tutor.

7. Work assignment

Set up a written outline of your research plan and discuss it in the thesis ring. After it has been discussed in the thesis ring you discuss it with your supervisor. See download menu on the right for a Format of the Work Assignment.

8. Evaluation talk

Approximately half-way the project, the progress is evaluated by you and the supervisor(s). All aspects of the thesis project (project plan, supervision, performance) are considered. The progress evaluation is also a good moment to provide feedback to your supervisors, for example to discuss any shortcomings in your supervision and agree on improvement. In case of a “fail”, you will have to look for another project and start again.

9. Introductory presentation and colloquium

Theses starts with a 10-min Introductory presentation (after 3 weeks max) and ends with a 20-min Colloquium. The 10 and 20-min time spans exclude discussion time. All BPE students are obliged to attend these presentations.

Scheduling of these presentations can be done online using a number of simple instructions.

Presentations above are not open to the general public; attendance is by invitation only and according to the confidentiality rules of Wageningen University.

10. Termination of thesis work

When you finish your practical thesis work:

  • put equipment and chemicals back in place or discard as prescribed
  • notify lab head of your departure
  • clear working area and clean-up for next user
  • delete your user files on network drives
  • hand in locker key at secretariat

11. Thesis report

Writing the thesis is part of the research project: you should reserve enough time for this activity. Three weeks before the final date, at least the outline and contents should be ready. A draft version (digital word version) should be handed in to the supervisor, who will make suggestions/comments for the final version. The final report pdf file should be handed in at least one week prior to the examination of the report.

12. Grade

Once you have handed in the final version of the thesis as pdf file to the secretary and completed all the required activities, a grade will be assigned during your final examination. The grade is then reported to the student administration by the secretary of BPE.