Master thesis topics at the Department of Biological Sciences
On this page, we will present possible themes for master’s projects for students starting a master’s programme at the Department of Biological Sciences (BIO) at the University of Bergen (UiB). Please note that the list is not exhaustive, and additional topics may also be available.
Main content
At the Department of Biological Sciences, we offer two 2-year master’s programmes—Master’s in Biology and Master’s in Molecular Biology—as well as two 5-year integrated master’s programmes (only in Norwegian): Fish Health – Aquamedicine (professional degree) and Aquaculture (integrated master’s programme, Master of Science in Engineering).
All programmes include a 60-credit master’s thesis, and you will work in close collaboration with our research groups while completing your thesis. Before starting your thesis work, you must have completed the required compulsory and elective courses associated with your study programme.
Below you will find an overview of possible themes for master’s projects linked to our research groups.
Possible master’s thesis topics in the Fjord and Coastal Ecology research group
The Fjord and Coastal Ecology research group studies environmental impacts on individuals, species, populations, and ecosystems in fjords and along the coast.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Anne Gro Vea Salvanes | Henrik Glenner | Benthosema glaciale fjord populations and its parasite Sarcotretes scopeli | Those interested in environmental influences on marine ecosystems and host-patasite- interactions |
| Anne Gro Vea Salvanes | Aino Hosia (UM) | Fjord populations of the jellyfish P. periphylla | Those interested in environmental influences on marine ecosystems |
| Arild Folkvord | Sonnich Meier (IMR) | Growth and condition of young-of the year fish in the Barents Sea | Master in biology |
| Arild Folkvord | Come Denechaud / Florian Berg (IMR) | Age and growth studies of selected marine fish species | Master in biology |
| Arild Folkvord | Erling Kåre Stenevik (IMR) | Seasonal dynamics of somatic condition and muscle lipid content in Norwegian spring spawning herring | Master in biology |
| Anne Gro Vea Salvanes | Mesopelagic fish in fjords | Those interested in environmental influences on marine ecosystems | |
| Settlement mechanisms with special empahsis on barnacle larvae | |||
| Faunestics and strategies to manage invasive species | |||
| Biodiversity and behavioral ecology of marine parasites | |||
| Condition and winter survival of 0-group herring and capelin | |||
| Distribution and life-history of mesopelagic fish in fjords | |||
| Distribution and maturation of helmet jellyfish P. periphylla in fjords | |||
| Settlement mechanisms with special empahsis on barnacle larvae | |||
| Faunestics and strategies to manage invasive species |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Marine Microbiology Research Group
The Marine Microbiology research group studies microorganisms (microalgae, bacteria, archaea, and viruses) and the ecological roles they play in nature. Our work includes cruises, fieldwork, and laboratory research. We analyze environmental samples and conduct experiments both in the lab and in the field. Much of our activity is focused on the Arctic and the rapid environmental changes taking place there.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Ruth-Anne Sandaa | Marin virusøkologi og evolusjon | Master in biology | |
| Håkon Dahle | Beregningsbasert mikrobiell økologi | Master in biology | |
| Genom-analyser av mikroorganismer | Master in biology | ||
| Bioinformatikk | Master in biology | ||
| Lise Øvreås | Microbial community diversity and ecology studies | Master in biology | |
| Microbial processes in Arctic tundra systems | Master in biology | ||
| Olga Lage (Uni Porto) | Isolation and characterization of Planctomycetes from Arctic environments | Master in biology | |
| Damien DeVos | Comparative metagenomics of Planctomycetes | Master in biology | |
| Nachiket Marathe (IMR) | Antimicrobial resistance genes in Arctic soil and sediments | Master in biology | |
| Lars Smedsrud (GFI) | Sea Ice microorganisms and climate change | Master in biology | |
| Procaryotic diversity in Arctic Ocean | Master in biology | ||
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Environmental Toxicology Research Group
The Environmental Toxicology research group studies toxic compounds and how these substances can affect living organisms.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Odd André Karlsen | Anders Goksøyr/Fekadu Yadetie/Sofie Søderstrøm/Maria F. Miguez | Reseptor-miljøgift interaksjoner og hormonforstyrrende stoffer | Master in biology/Master in molecularbiology |
| Effekter av oljeeksponering i fisk med bruk av in vitro og ex vivo metoder | Master in biology/Master in molecularbiology | ||
| Utvikling av molekylære verktøy for toksisitetstesting og miljøovervåkning | Master in molecularbiology | ||
| Anders Goksøyr | Odd André Karlsen/Fekadu Yadetie/Sofie Søderstrøm/Maria F. Miguez | Etablering og bruk av in vitro metoder for effektstudier på marine pattedyr | Master in biology/Master in molecularbiology |
| Effekter av oljeeksponering i fisk med bruk av in vitro og ex vivo metoder | Master in biology/Master in molecularbiology | ||
| Immuntoksikologiske effekter av PFAS i marine pattedyr | Master in biology/Master in molecularbiology |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Theoretical Ecology Research Group
The Theoretical Ecology research group uses systems thinking to study how the living world functions, which requires a holistic perspective on how organisms have evolved within their environments. This is a complex (“wicked”) problem, as it begins with the environment, requires the integration of multiple disciplines, considers interactions among a diversity of species, and addresses complex phenomena with limited data.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Sergei Budaev | Modelling decision-making and cognition | Master in biology | |
| Sergei Budaev | Feed intake in fish: from physiology to algorithm | Master in biology/bioinformatics | |
| Sergei Budaev | Deciphering determinants of fish behaviour in virtual reality | Master in biology/bioinformatics | |
| Mikko Heino | Potentially IMR | Fisheries biology | Master in biology |
| Katja Enberg | Potentially IMR/NORCE | Fisheries biology | Master in biology |
| Øyvind Fiksen | Aquaculture of cod using light-attraction of wild prey | Master in biology | |
| Øyvind Fiksen | Modelling of marine microbial ecology, marine ecosystems, and fish larvae | Master in biology | |
| Tom Langbehn | Effects of light and advection on pelagic and mesopelagic ecosystems | Master in biology | |
| Øystein Varpe | Potentially NINA | Seabird ecology | Master in biology |
| Øystein Varpe | Potentially NORCE | Ecology of coasts and fjords | Master in biology |
| Christian Jørgensen | Potentially IMR | Fish bioenergetics | Master in biology |
| IMR | Mainly in TEG | Marine ecology or fisheries biology | Master in biology |
| Jarl Giske | Cognition, decision-making, and agency in animals | Master in biology | |
| Nadja Meister | Blue mussels and dogwhelks in the intertidal | Master in biology | |
| Arjen van der Kamp | Terje Lislevand (UM) | How does beak morphology influence birdsong in sunbirds and spiderhunters (Aves: Nectariniidae)? | Master in biology |
| Arjen van der Kamp | Terje Lislevand (UM) | Evolution and trade-offs between courtship signals in bowerbirds | Master in biology |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Terrestrial Ecology Research Group
The Terrestrial Ecology research group conducts interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research with a long-term perspective and broad geographical scope, focusing primarily on terrestrial systems.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Anne E Bjune | Heidi Lie Andersen (UM) | When did Hedlundia lancifolia establish in Norway? | Master in biology |
| Anne E Bjune | Heidi Lie Andersen (UM) | Pollen production in the endemic Hedlundia lancifolia (smalasal) | Master in biology |
| Anne E Bjune | Alistair Seddon | Analysis of pollen trap data (2004-2024) | Master in biology |
| Suzette Flantua | How well is global alpine biodiversity protected and what are the largest threats? | Master in biology | |
| Suzette Flantua | Patterns of alpine biodiversity (plants, mammals, reptiles, birds) in the Neotropics | Master in biology | |
| Suzette Flantua | Using remote sensing tools to study alpine vegetation change | Master in biology | |
| Alistair Seddon | Tianyuan Wang | Greenhouse/ field experiments to understand plant responses to environmental stress | Master in biology |
| Alistair Seddon | Vigdis Vandvik | Investigating tipping points in ecosystems over time (e.g. using satellite or long-term ecological data) | Master in biology |
| Alistair Seddon | Anne E Bjune | Machine learning identification of pollen grains | Master in biology |
| Pete Manning | Social survey of the components of nature underpinning cultural ecosystem services in Norway | Master in biology | |
| Pete Manning | Understanding the structure and fnction of soil Collembola (springtail) communities (data synthesis project) | Master in biology | |
| Inger Måren | Anne E Bjune | Changing perceptions of ecosystem services in Scandinavian mountains | Master in biology |
| Inger Måren | Anne E Bjune | Linking cultural landscapes and cultural heritage in mountain systems | Master in biology |
| Vigdis Vandvik | Sonya Geange / Liv Guri Velle (NIBIO) | How do global change drivers (pollution, drought) affect regeneration after fire in coastal heathlands? (DURIN) | Master in biology/Integrated teacherprogramme |
| Vigdis Vandvik | Aud Halbritter | Direct and indrect effects of climate warming on alpine plant communities (RangeX / NATURA) | Master in biology/Integrated teacherprogramme |
| Aud Halbritter | Vigdis Vandvik | Global change impacts on alpine grasslands (NATURA) | Master in biology/Integrated teacherprogramme |
| Vigdis Vandvik | Hanif Kawousi, Joachim Topper (NINA) | Ecosystem carbon storage in habitats i Bergen municipality (EcoBudgets) | Master in biology/Integrated teacherprogramme |
| Vigdis Vandvik | Hanif Kawousi, Joachim Topper (NINA) | Biodidversity and ecosystem services of urban, rural, and natural habitats in Bergen municipality (EcoBudgets) | Master in biology/Integrated teacherprogramme |
| Aud Halbritter | Vigdis Vandvik, Ørjan Totland | biodiversity and ecosystem fuctions along ridge to snowbed gradients at Finse (Centre for Mountins in Transition) | Master in biology/Integrated teacherprogramme |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Deep-Sea Biology Research Group
The Deep-Sea Biology research group studies biodiversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution of microbes and animals living in deep-sea ecosystems. The group uses an interdisciplinary research approach by integrating data from multiple fields, including molecular, biochemical, (micro)biological, and geochemical sciences.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Mari H. Eilertsen | Jon A. Kongsrud (UM) | Faunal communities of chemosynthesis-based ecosystems (hydrothermal vents, cold seeps or organic falls), biodiversity, endemism, connectivity. Integrated morphological and molecular methods. | Master in biology |
| Mari H. Eilertsen | Jon A. Kongsrud (UM) | Faunal communities of oil-well associated methane seepage | Master in biology |
| Manuel Malaquias (UM) | Henrik Glenner | Molecular and morphological assessment of deep sea molluscan diversity and ecology in Norway | Master in biology |
| Anne Helene Tandberg (UM) | Jon A. Kongsrud (UM) | Integrated taxonomy on Amphipoda from Norwegian Waters. (MADAM project - associations with microhabitats) | Master in biology |
| Pedro Ribeiro | TBD | Benthic faunal communities of a nuclear waste dumping site in the abyssal NE Atlantic | Master in biology |
| Pedro Ribeiro | TBD | Benthic ecology and ecosystem functioning on an Arctic seamount | Master in biology |
| Runar Stokke | TBD | Arctic Deep-Sea microbiomes - example: Deciphering the CAZyome and Carbohydrate Turnover in Microbial Biofilms from Arctic Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents Using Multi Omics | Master in biology |
| Ida Helene Steen | Petra Hribovsek | Cultivation and characterization of anaerobic microorganisms from deep-sea hydrothermal vents | Master in biology |
| Manuel Malaquias (UM) | Dimitar Dimitrov (UM) | Global patterns of speciation and biogeography in the deep-sea | Master in biology |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Marine Biodiversity (UM) Research Group
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Aino Hosia | Luis Martell & TBD at BIO | Complementary methods for comprehensive jelly diversity: Diversity of gelatinous zooplankton on the 2023 OceanX cruise based on eDNA, video transects and net samples | Master in biology |
| Aino Hosia | TBD (IMR & BIO) | Diversity and distribution of hyperbenthic ctenophores and medusae in the Mareano material | Master in biology |
| Aino Hosia | Luis Martell & TBD at BIO | Confirming the validity of the trachymedusa species Sminthea arctica | Master in biology |
| Manuel Malaquias | Kennet Lundin (Gothenburg Museum), Jon Kongsrud (UMB | Molecular and morphological diversity of ectoparasite gastropods in Norway | Master in biology |
| Manuel Malaquias | Ángel Valdés (Cal Poly Pomona, USA) | Taxonomy and biogeography of marine gastropods (Aplustridae) in the Indo-West Pacific | Master in biology |
| Manuel Malaquias | Dimitar Dimitrov (UM) | Diversity, speciation and biogeography of tropical marine gastropods in the Indo-West Pacific | |
| Manuel Malaquias | Revisiting the diversity of bubble shells (Order Cephalaspidea) in Norway using DNA and morphology |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Marine Developmental Biology Research Group
The Marine Developmental Biology (MDB) research group investigates biological processes in fish, with a strong focus on applications relevant to aquaculture and aquatic food production.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Sigurd Stefansson/Tom Ole Nilsen | Early development, smoltification and sexual maturation | ||
| Tom Ole Nilsen/Thi Hong Gam Le | Ion and acid-base regulation, smoltification and production biology | ||
| Jon Vidar Helvik/Mariann Eilertsen | Photoreception and use of light in aquaculture | ||
| Ivar Rønnestad/Floriana Lai | Appetite, digestion and growth in fish | ||
| Sigurd Handeland/Pablo B Vigo/Enrique P Martinez/Floriana Lai | Production technology, open and closed systems |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Molecular Biology Research Group
The Molecular Biology research group currently consists of eight subgroups with overlapping focuses on molecular aspects of biology, ranging from fundamental research questions on the evolutionary aspects of development to studies of key biochemical and cell biological processes.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Fergal O'Farrell | Modelling cancers in Drosophila | Master in molecular biology or Master in biology | |
| Tim Lynagh (M. SARS Center) | Evolution and function of neurotransmitter receptors | Master in molecular biology | |
| Gyri T Haugland | Fiskeimmunologi og -vaksinologi med fokus på utvikling av mRNA vaksiner til fisk | Master in molecular biology/ fish health - aquaculture | |
| Aurelia E. Lewis | Regulation of mRNA processing by signalling lipids in cancer cells and Drosophila | Master in molecular biology or Master in biology |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Fish Immunology Research Group
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Anita Rønneseth | Fiskeimmunologi og -vaksinologi | Fiskehelse - akvakultur | |
| Anita Rønneseth | Vert-patogen interaksjoner | Fiskehelse - akvakultur | |
| Gyri T Haugland | Fiskeimmunologi og -vaksinologi med fokus på utvikling av mRNA vaksiner til fisk | Master in molecular biology | |
| Håkon Dahle | Analyse av biofiltre i RAS systemer | Master in biology | |
| Håkon Dahle | Utvikling av bioinformatiske verktøy relevant for mikrobiell økoloig | Master in biology/bioinformatics | |
| Håkon Dahle | Modellering/Simulering av mikrobielle systemer | Master in biology |
Possible Master’s Thesis Topics in the Sea Lice Research Group
Lakselusgruppen jobber med å finne en god og bærekraftig løsning på et alvorlig velferdsproblem for laks.
| Veileder/Supervisor | Evt biveileder/co-supervisor | Eksempel/tema | Passer for/suitable for |
| Andreas Borchel | TBD | Low density lipoprotein receptors in salmon lice | Fiskehelse - akvakultur/Master in molecularbiology |
| Andreas Borchel | Christiane Eichner | CRISPR interference in salmon lice | Fiskehelse - akvakultur/Master in molecularbiology |