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300088 PP Reseach Project in Behavioral and Cognitive Biology (2026W)

10.00 ECTS (6.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie

Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Registration is open from Th 10.09.2026 14:00 to Th 24.09.2026 18:00
Deregistration possible until Th 15.10.2026 18:00

Details

max. 12 participants

Language: German, English

Lecturers

Classes

First meeting (Vorbesprechung): 01.10.2026, 15:00 – 17:00 Uhr, SR 5.1, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Wien, 5. OG
Attendance at the first meeting is mandatory (representative possible); otherwise, you will be deregistered from the course.

Projects and topics will be presented at the first meeting. Students can indicate their topic preferences, which will be considered during the allocation process if possible. Students will be assigned to a project after the first meeting, and the assignments will be announced no later than October 7, 2026.

Additional fixed date (oral presentation of the Bachelor's thesis – attendance mandatory):
Thursday, 28.01.2027, 15:00 – 17:00 Uhr, SR 5.1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In individual research projects, students learn to address research questions in behavioral and cognitive biology. The course includes the development of experimental design, data collection and analysis, as well as writing and presentation of a scientific report (bachelor’s thesis). The aim of this course is to implement scientific methods in research projects carried out in the field and/or lab.

The course is held in both semesters with different supervisors.

Supervisors and topics (projects) in the winter semester:

Thomas Bugnyar
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Tecumseh Fitch
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Leonida Fusani
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Matthias Nemeth
Title: Behavioral stability in male guinea pigs
Description: Behavioral observations of social groups and behavioral tests will be used to investigate if and to which extent various behavioral aspects are temporally stable and correlated.
Location: animal care facility UBB
Time: ca. 4 weeks (November), 15h/week (day of week/time relatively flexible)
Language: German (English possible)

Lena Pflüger
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Carina Siutz
Title: Sex differences in the behavior of rats
Description: in male and female rats, exploration and anxiety will be assessed using behavioral tests; in addition to sex differences, the effect of hierarchy on these behaviors will be investigated.
Location: animal care facility UBB
Time: ca. 4-6 weeks (Oct/Nov), 10-15h/week (day of week/time relatively flexible)
Language: German (English possible)

Supervisors in the summer semester:
Thomas Bugnyar
Tecumseh Fitch
Leonida Fusani
Eva Millesi
Sabine Tebbich

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular meetings with the supervisor; participation/data collection; writing and presenting (date: 28 January 2027) a bachelor's thesis

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Participation in the project, attendance at the presentation session, writing and presenting a bachelor's thesis.
Bachelor's thesis 70%
Participation 20%
Presentation 10%

Examination topics

Will be announced during the course

Reading list