Introduction
Programme overview
Plants use intricate systems for growth, development, transport and metabolism to cope with adverse environmental conditions, but also have considerable capacity to adapt genetically to both biotic and abiotic factors. An understanding of the mechanisms that underlie these features is of fundamental importance for all biological disciplines. This is the subject for you if you are interested in plant biology, evolution and biodiversity.
You will gain knowledge and understanding of how plants function at different levels of organisation, from the molecular to the eco-physiological level, as well as of the methodology used in plant biological work and in research into physiological, molecular and cell biological issues. You will learn about the mechanisms that are involved in the evolution of new plant species and the factors that control plant diversity and the distribution of plant species. You will come to understand the way in which mating systems and population structure influence gene flow and genetic diversity in plants. You will study how plants interact with other organisms and their ability to adapt to environmental change. You will be given a scientifically-based perspective to the conservation biology of plants and gain practical experience of ecological methodology. Field trips and laboratory work are integrated parts of many courses in this study programme.
Special features of the programme:
- A broad range of courses covering ecological and evolutionary topics related to plants, fungi and lichens.
- Close connections to state-of-the-art research in an international environment.
- Integration of theoretical analyses with fieldwork and strong training of laboratory skills.
- Freedom to create your own study programme and specialisation.
Curriculum
Programme structure
Compulsory courses:
- Plant Function
- Plant Evolution and Adaptation
- Master’s degree project in Plant Science
Electives:
- Plant Systematics and Diversity
- Population and Community Ecology
- Soil and Plant Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution
- Methods in Molecular Biology
- Genetic Analysis
- Bioinformatics and Sequence Analysis
- Processing and Analysis of Biological Data
Most courses are full-time studies and you usually take only one course at a time. The courses are typically teaching-intensive, with lectures, seminars, excursions as well as theoretical and practical exercises. You are expected to spend about 40 hours per week on studies, self-studies included. Normally you take two courses of 15 credits per semester, i.e. a total of 60 credits per year.
Career Opportunities
Career prospects
The educational programme provides a foundation for continued studies at the doctoral level within the fields of plant biology, evolutionary botany, plant ecology, conservation biology, plant breeding and biotechnology, but also opens doors to employment within the public sector, forestry and agricultural organisations, ecological and conservation consultancy, plant breeding and education.