RESEARCH PROJECT PROTOCOL
Faculty of Science
Graduate School of Life and Earth Sciences
RESEARCH PROJECT PROTOCOL
1. RESEARCH PROJECT
The research project is a compulsory part of the MSc in Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences.
These master programmes have two research projects; the scheduled amount of credits for the
research projects differs per track and per research project. Please check the Education and
Examination Regulations (OER) at http://www.student.uva.nl; <choose your MSc programme,
A-Z list, Rules and Regulations>.
2. OBJECTIVE OF A RESEARCH PROJECT
The objective of a research project is to give individual students the opportunity to acquire
practical experience by empirical scientific research methods and to learn to work independently
in a research laboratory. The research project provides students with a research-based learning
experience through independently carrying out research under supervision of established
scientists during a prolonged period of time. The student further learns about the possibilities on
the job market after graduation, and has the opportunity to discover gaps in his knowledge or
skills and fill these.
Aspects covered during the research project
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formulating a clear scientific question;
developing and validating a hypothesis;
planning of the research;
reading of relevant literature and, in due time, an adequate incorporation thereof in the written report;
accumulating sufficient reliable data;
processing (statistics etc.) of these data and critically judging the obtained results in relation to the
goals and the line of research of which the research is part of;
presentation of findings during informal colloquia and scientific meetings
describing and critically discussing the above activities in a written report (in English), in which the
methodology is accounted for and the original phrasing is substantiated;
an oral final presentation and discussion of the results in English.
3. OUTLINE OF A RESEARCH PROJECT
A research project usually begins with a study of a topic. Studying the relevant literature is
included in the project time. However, practical work such as laboratory experiments, fieldwork
or computer simulations, make up the larger part of a research project. The research project
should be completed with a written report and oral presentation.
Research projects can vary enormously. Most students participate in existing projects but some
write their own research proposal (plan sufficient time for this!). The intensity of supervision can
also vary; it therefore is very important that unambiguous agreements are made between student
and supervisor prior to the start of the research project. This research project protocol can act as
a guideline when making these agreements.
4. FIRST RESEARCH PROJECT
The first research project should preferably take place within one of the research institutes of the
Faculty of Science, or in one of the institutes which contribute to or are affiliated with the MSc
programme. Several tracks have additional requirements for the first (and sometimes second)
research project, these can be found in the UvA Course Catalogue. The subject and topic of the
first research project may not overlap with the literature review.
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5. SECOND RESEARCH PROJECT
All other research projects may be carried out elsewhere (other Dutch universities, institutes,
companies or abroad). The student has to contact the track coordinator to discuss the plans of an
external research project. Several tracks may have guidelines for external research projects. The
subject, topic, supervision and assessor of the second research project may not overlap with the
first research project and subject and topic may not overlap with the literature review.
6. APPROVAL PROCEDURE
All research projects are subject to prior approval of the track coordinator and FNWI-appointed
examiner. Students should submit their online Approval Form at https://datanose.nl/#project The
student should complete this procedure at least 2-4 weeks before the planned starting date. After
the research project has been approved the student, assessor, examiner and track coordinator will
receive a notification that the project has been approved and can be started.
7. SUPERVISION (SUPERVISOR, ASSESSOR AND FNWI-APPOINTED EXAMINER)
In a research project several people are involved, most notably the (daily) supervisor. Other
people that are involved are the assessor and FNWI-appointed examiner.
The supervisor is a PhD student, postdoctoral fellow or permanent staff member at the Faculty,
or a researcher at an institute or company where the research project is performed and has at
least a MSc degree. The supervisor is expected to teach students any techniques needed for the
research project. During the research project the supervisor is duly available to discuss any topics
related to the research; daily discussions, which can be formal or informal, are not unusual. If
temporarily unavailable for supervision, the supervisor should ensure that there is somebody else
available to respond to urgent issues raised by the student. The supervisor further supports the
student by setting out the time plan at the beginning of the project, contributing to the interim
assessment of the project with the student and one of the assessors (defined below), and through
assessing the project and suggesting the grade.
The assessor is a permanent staff member at the faculty, research institute or company where
the research project is performed. The assessor mediates between student and supervisor if
necessary. The assessor reads, assesses and grades the report in consultation with the supervisor
and in cooperation with the FNWI-appointed examiner of the project.
The FNWI-appointed examiner is a permanent staff member of the faculty of Science
(FNWI) of the University of Amsterdam and appointed as examiner by the Examinations Board.
The FNWI-appointed examiner reads, assesses and grades the report in cooperation with the
assessor of the project and submits the grade to the Service desk ESC of the FNWI.
N.B. Assessor and supervisor can be one and the same person. FNWI-appointed examiner and supervisor can be
one and the same person. Assessor and FNWI-appointed examiner must be two different persons. In case the
supervisor and assessor are one and the same person, the FNWI-appointed examiner mediates between the student
and supervisor if necessary.
8. DESCRIPTION AND PLANNING OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT
Together with the Approval Form the student should submit a description of the proposed
research project that has been made in consultation with the supervisor and assessor. This
description should contain the following items:
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Research phrasing (title, hypothesis, (sub)questions);
Methods and materials (specification of the research project, which techniques are used, which new
techniques the student will learn);
Initial literature
Planning of the research
9. PLANNING OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT FROM START TO END
After the project proposal has been approved the student starts with the research at the starting
date. After 6-8 weeks the student and/or supervisor initiate an interim assessment (see chapter
11). Four weeks before the final date of the project the student has to submit a draft version of
the report to the supervisor and assessor for a single round of feedback. Not later than one week
before the final date, the student has to submit the final copy of the report for assessment by the
supervisor, assessor and examiner. The final version of the report has to be uploaded to the
FNWI thesis database https://esc.fnwi.uva.nl/thesis/submit.php. The examiner will check the
report for plagiarism by using Ephorus (more informations at Docentensite ESC in Datanose)
The research project is concluded with an oral presentation in English. It is the responsibility of
the student to set a time and day for this presentation.
*MSc Biological Sciences and Biomedical Sciences: all reports and final presentations of projects
started after sept 1st, 2015 (Biological Sciences) or Sept 1st, 2016 (Biomedical Sciences) have to be
uploaded in Datanose.
Time schedule
Interim assessment
Draft version report to supervisor and assessor
Feedback draft version report
Processing feedback, writing final version report
Final version report to assessor and FNWI-appointed examiner
Final version report in FNWI thesis database and Ephorus
Oral scientific presentation of the project
Grading
4-8 weeks after starting research project
4 weeks before final date
4-2 weeks before final date
2-1 weeks before final date
1 week before final date
1 week before final date
Before final date
Max. 20 working days after final date
IMPORTANT
On the Research Project Approval Form the student and supervisor are requested to fill in a time
schedule for the research project. It is strongly recommended that sufficient time is planned for
report writing. If due to unforeseen and unexpected circumstances experimental or fieldwork
activities cannot be finished in time, a student should signal this to the supervisor, assessor and
track coordinator. Extension of research projects and shifts of ending dates are only allowed if
approved by the Examinations Board, on the basis of a written request by student, assessor and
FNWI appointed examiner.
10. REPORT WRITING
The format in which the research project is written, depends highly on the project itself and is a
priori agreed upon between student and supervisor.
General Guidelines:
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The report should be an account of:
- all research (sub)questions and hypothesis addressed in the context of relevant theory;
- all methods and techniques used;
- discussion of all results.
Outline of chapter division
- Abstract
- Materials and Methods
- Discussion
- Introduction
- Results
- References
The report is approximately 20-30 pages excluding the literature list. The report is written in English.
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The lay-out of the title page (page 3 of the report) is according to appendix A.
11. ASSESSMENT
The research project will be assessed by means of a formative, interim assessment and a final
assessment.
Interim Assessment
An interim assessment of the research project takes place around 4-8 weeks after starting date of
the project. For this, the student, supervisor and assessor meet to evaluate the student’s research
project, amongst others in the basis of criteria listed on the Interim Assessment Form. The
meeting is initiated by the student and/or supervisor. This interim assessment should help the
student to evaluate his/her learning progress and improve the quality of the research project. The
FNWI-appointed examiner will be asked to sign the report of the interim assessment.
Final Assessment
The final assessment will be done by at least two permanent staff members of the research
institutes involved in the research project, of which at least one is a FNWI-appointed examiner.
This assessment will be done in consultation with the supervisor, amongst others on the basis of
criteria listed on the Final Assessment Form. The results of the assessment and the grade will be
explained to the student. The final grade will be submitted within 20 working days after the final
date of the project. If the assessor and FNWI examiner disagree for more than 1 point in grade, a
third assessor, to be assigned by the Examinations Board, will determine the grade based on the
final report.
The assessment involves skills that will be evaluated using the criteria listed on the Interim and
Final Assessment Forms, regarding three parts:
Experimental work:
This component of the research project allows the student to develop skills in:
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theoretical knowledge
technical skills
independence/initiative
○ original contribution
○ working attitude
○ accuracy
○ cooperation
○ self-reflection
○ quality
Research report:
This component of the research project allows the student to develop skills in:
○ context
○ scientific quality
○ use of literature
○ structure and language
○ timing
The assessment of the research report is based on the draft and final version of the report. A check for
plagiarism in the final report using Ephorus is part of the assessment procedure.
Oral presentation:
The research project is concluded with an oral presentation in English, during which the scientific results
of the project are publically presented, defended and discussed in front of students and staff of the
institute(s) involved. The supervisor and assessor are present at this final presentation. This component of
the research project allows the student to develop skills in:
o content
○ clarity of presentation
○ discussion
The relative weight of the various parts of the project will be determined by the assessor and
FNWI appointed examiner along with the approval of the research project (most frequently used
ratios are experimental work 60%, report 30%, and oral presentation 10% or experimental work
50%, report 40%, and oral presentation 10%). The final assessment takes place after the report
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has been submitted and the project has been orally presented.
Grading
Marks are given in a scale 1 to 10 up to one decimal place. On the final list of components and
grades, marks are rounded to the nearest 0.5.
 According to the Education and Examination Regulations, marks higher than 5.50 are
satisfactory; each part of the project has to be graded 5.0 or higher.
 Marks higher than 8.0 indicate good to excellent performance. Rationally, this is reached by
the upper 10% of the students.
 In principle, if the report is not submitted in time then the final mark for the research project
cannot be graded >7.5.
Assessment – unsatisfactory or fail (grade 5 or below)
In case the final assessment yields a grade of 5 or lower (unsatisfactory or fail)and/or any of the
subgrades for experimental work, report or oral presentation are marked below 5.0, the assessor
and examiner collectively decide whether the student may be allowed a chance to improve the
report or the oral presentation. If this decision is negative, the assessor and examiner must
inform the Examination Board in writing about the arguments for the denial and this must be
accompanied by written documentation such as the interim assessment form, correspondence
between assessor, examiner, track coordinator and/or study adviser.
If the decision is positive, the assessor informs the student and supervisor about the
improvements needed, and defines a period of time, not exceeding one month, in which the
student should have submitted the improved results. In case the improvement is satisfactory, the
maximum grade for the research project is a 6.
IMPORTANT
As of Sept 1st, 2016 all reports of projects started after this date should be uploaded in Datanose
for their final assessment! If not uploaded within 3 months after the final date, the project will
automatically be assessed as a fail (or NAV) and registered as such in the Student Information
System (SIS). After being notified of this NAV you have one month to upload the report in
Datanose for assessment (taking into account the delay). Failure to timely upload the report this
time will result in a definitive fail (or NAV) for the project.
12. QUESTIONS, REMARKS, PROBLEMS OR INFORMATION
If the student has any problems or conflicts with the project or supervision, he/she has to try to
solve the complaint or conflict with the person in question, if necessary with the track
coordinator or student adviser present as an independent third party. Problems that cannot be
solved in this manner may be submitted to the Examinations Board.
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APPENDIX A. TITLE PAGE (PAGE 3)
MSc Programme
Track
Research Project
Title of the Research Project
Ad lib .: Subtitle of the Research Project
by
Name Student
ID Student
Month, Year
Number of ECTS Credits
Period in which the research was carried out
Assessor:
name + title
Examiner:
name + title
ad lib.
logo
Department Research Institute / Company
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