Education of Experimental Zoology

Really understanding how animals work takes accurate measurements and quantitative skills. Together, these help us cut through the complexity of real life and pick out the aspects of animal behaviour and body function that matter most for survival.
In our MSc courses, we train you to carry out in-depth analyses and prepare you for your MSc thesis project.

We offer a broad range of thesis topics, and you are welcome to discuss your own ideas and interests with us.

Maybe you’ve already taken an EZO course and found a topic you can’t stop thinking about. Or maybe you’re curious about one of our four main research lines:

• Biomechanics
• Bio-inspired design
• Evolution
• Animal development

Not sure whether your interests fit our research? Have a look at our research page or at our current student research topics [here]. Each research line may offer other topics too, so if none of the listed ones appeal to you, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Interested? Email us at EZO.Thesis@WUR.NL and tell us which research lines appeal to you, whether you’re looking for a BSc or MSc thesis, and when you’d like to start. We’re confident we can find a topic that suits you.

Please note that for an MSc thesis, you need to have successfully completed the course Functional Zoology.

An internship is a research project you carry out outside Wageningen University. It introduces you to your future work field, and in practice it means you gain hands-on experience at a university, research institute, or company. At EZO, we focus on science-driven research internships, built on our collaborations with universities and research institutes around the world. Not sure whether EZO is the right supervising group for you? Just ask. In most cases, we can help.

There are two ways to start your internship at EZO:

You already have a destination in mind within EZO’s broader research field. We’ll help you turn that plan into reality. If you haven’t had a response from your preferred host, we can reach out and get the conversation going.

You know which topics interest you, but not yet where to go. Don’t worry, we have contacts worldwide and can help you find the right place.

In both cases, we support you before, during, and after your internship to prepare you for the working world. Interested in doing an internship with EZO? Email EZO.Thesis@WUR.NL and we’ll get back to you.

At EZO it is possible to do a Capita Selecta, which is a tailor-made project of relatively short duration (3 or 6 ECTS). What it looks like depends on your interests and goals. It could be a small research project, an in-depth literature study, the development of educational materials, and more.

Whatever you choose, one thing stays the same: the project must result in a clear end product that can be assessed. This could be a scientific report, a section of an educational manual, or a description of an improved experimental setup.

Do you have an idea for a Capita Selecta, or do you need another 3 or 6 ECTS and want to earn them in an academic setting? Send us a message at EZO.Thesis@WUR.NL and we’ll work out together what’s possible.

Honours Cards are part of the BSc Honours Program. They let you go beyond your regular curriculum and learn more through additional assignments that fit your interests. At EZO, we’re happy to welcome you if you want to use your Honours Card here.

Thinking about using one of your Honours Cards at EZO? Tell us what you’re interested in by email at EZO.Thesis@WUR.NL, or contact one of the lecturers directly.