Bachelor & Master Theses

Are you interested in investigating the drivers of insect decline, in predicting how climate change will affect biodiversity, or in researching applied solutions for sustainable agriculture? Our research group offers a wide range of empirical, experimental, and computer-based thesis projects that tie in with our current research.

Thematic Fields for Theses

Depending on your scientific interests and career goals, we offer various research areas involving field experiments, laboratory analyses, and computer-based modeling, or a combination of these approaches. Here are the thematic areas that a thesis could address:

1. Long-Term Ecological Trends & Predictive Modeling

The focus here is on analyzing long-term datasets and opportunistically sampled global occurrence data. We use advanced statistical methods to evaluate this data, identifying long-term trends and macroecological shifts. In a current project, for example, we are working on a climate risk assessment for tiger beetles (Cicindelinae).

2. Agroecology & Insect Conservation

Investigate how practical conservation measures promote beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes. This area either involves literature reviews or active fieldwork in agricultural systems including the evaluation of trap catches.

How to Apply

We appreciate your initiative! If you are interested in writing your thesis in our Animal Ecology research group, please follow these steps:

1. Explore our work: Learn about our current research, the main areas of our research profile, and the focus topics of our team members to find out whose interests align most closely with yours.
2. Get in touch: Send a brief email to that person with a summary of your research interests. Please attach a short CV and your current transcript of records.
3. Plan ahead: We recommend contacting us at least 2–3 months before your planned start date (preferably sooner), especially if your thesis will involve spring or summer fieldwork.