Generally, students inform themselves about possible Master's theses at the institutes of biology. Information on how to apply to the institutes can also be found on the websites of the individual institutes or in the LSF course catalogue.
M. Sc. Position available at the Institute of Synthetic Microbiology
Experimental master’s thesis:
Elucidating the mechanisms that control the composition of minimal interand intraspecies synthetic bacterial communities (PDF)
Project leader: St. Elmo Wilken ()
Institute: Synthetic Microbiology (Axmann Lab), Düsseldorf
Experimental Vascular Medicine (UKD) offers a Master´s Thesis
The role of the IL-6 signaling pathway on platelet turnover and platelet activation upon acute inflammation (thrombo-inflammation)
We are looking for a highly motivated master´s thesis student, which has a strong interest in the areas of platelet biology, thrombo-inflammation and/or IL-6 signaling for a master´s thesis project. This project will be available starting in March or April 2024 at the working group of Experimental Vascular Medicine, directed by Prof. Dr. Margitta Elvers in the Institute of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf. The master thesis will be in the context of a Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Project (Project number 500397648).
If you are interested, send your application (including a short CV and your bachelor’s certificates) to and
Die Laufzeit der Angebote für Masterarbeiten beträgt 8 Wochen, eine Verlängerung ist auf Wusnch möglich ().
Master thesis
In order to register a Master's thesis, the three Master's modules, the 3-month project work and the 2-month module pilot work & project outline must be completed in the two-year Master's programme in Biology (MBIO2). In the one-year Master's programme in Biology (MBIO1), you must have completed the 6-week project internship (with graded examination), as well as the module pilot work & project outline in order to register your thesis in the student portal. The module additional qualifications can be completed in both degree programmes as a follow-up or during the Master's thesis.
The Master's thesis is registered in the student portal under examination registration. Upon registration, the system automatically checks the formal requirements and provides feedback if registration is not possible. If the prerequisite check is successful, the registration is displayed to the first examiner in the system and he or she adds the second examiner. The examination board approves the registration and you will receive an email with the time period of the work and the topic of the thesis.
Students often find a matching institute for their Master's thesis within the Master's modules. If you are interested, it is best to contact the lecturers directly after completing the module. In the case that you have not found a suitable institute during the Master's modules, you would have to initatively apply to institutes for a place for the Master's thesis. Since the institutes are limited in terms of admission capacity, you should start your search early. We have listed helpful tips and avoidable mistakes below under the item: How do I successfully apply for a Master's thesis? There is also the possibility of an external Master's thesis.
After registration of the master's thesis in the student portal (i.e. after official assignment), the student has six months to submit the thesis. Master's theses are always experimental in nature and cannot be replaced by a theoretical master's thesis.
Master's theses are always assigned in consultation with a professor/institute of biology. Therefore, always write to the corresponding professors/institute directors by e-mail.
Requirements for a Master's thesis at a specific institute are:
- Letter of motivation (Why am I interested in working specifically at your institute?) including the time period you plan to work on your thesis.
- Sending of a current academic record, as well as a list of Master's modules that have already been accepted in the future.
Exceptions to these requirements are of course always possible in consultation with the professor/institute director.
The thesis topic and supervision is carried out by a professor (Prof.) or by a habilitated research assistant (PD) who works full-time in biology at the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Exceptions can be approved by the examination board. The examination board also appoints the supervisor.
The Master's thesis is to be assessed by two examiners who are qualified to assign thesis topics (Prof. or PD). At least one of these persons must work full-time at the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.
It is possible to complete an experimental thesis outside the HHU Biology Department. However, the first examiner must be authorised to conduct examinations (PD or Prof.) and must work full-time in the Department of Biology at HHU. In general, external Master's theses or Master's theses with external reviewers are exceptions to the rule and must be approved by the examination board. This is done when the topic is assigned in the student portal.
If you do not find a place for the thesis, the Biology Department can allocate you a Master's thesis. An allocation takes place upon application.
You can complete the project work at the same institute, but you do not have to do it there. Since the Master's thesis is an experimental work, it can be useful or helpful to complete all modules in the same institute. This applies to both MBIO1 and MBIO2 degree programmes.
The 2-month module Project Outline & Pilot Work relates directly to the Master's thesis and must therefore necessarily be done in the same institute as the Master's thesis. In the case of external work, the first examiner from the subject Biology must confirm the module.