About our research
Research institute
This Master’s specialisation is tightly connected to the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), a world leading research institute in the field of human impact on the natural environment. The institute contributes to mitigating ecosystem degradation and finding solutions to restore the natural environment.
Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES)
Research departments
During your Master's you will do at least one internship at one of our research departments. Relevant departments are:
At the department of Plant & Animal Biology we aim to understand the interactions between environmental change and developmental and physiological processes, in plants and in animals. Our ambition is to develop innovative strategies and technologies to tackle challenges around food security, sustainable food production, species resilience to climate change, and improvement of human health.
The department Ecology comprises a team of ecologists dedicated to preserve and pursue ecosystem health. Our group unites aquatic and terrestrial ecologists focussing on plants, animals, microorganisms and their interactions in a changing world.
The Microbiology department aims to discover the key microbial players in the nitrogen, sulphur and methane cycles in marine and freshwater ecosystems. The research group became famous with anammox bacteria, which oxidise ammonium directly to nitrogen without the need for oxygen. Anammox is now used in compact waste-water treatment installations all over the world.
The department of Environmental Science investigates the impact of stressors on animal and plant species and humans. They aim to understand and predict both the relative and cumulative impact of anthropogenic stressors on species including humans. The methods developed and the results obtained are used by governments, agencies, industry and consultancies.
Our researchers
Get to know our researchers and their work, you could be working alongside them in this Master's!
Current projects
Curious what our researchers are working on? Have a look at our ongoing projects.
-
HeatYield
The project will contribute fundamental biological insight as well as materials and strategies for breeding of heat tolerant crop varieties.
-
Asexual Embryo: Asexual reproduction through clonal seeds
In "Asexual Embryo" we explore the mechanism of asexual reproduction through clonal seeds – Apomixis – in plant species like dandelion. Moreover, we will explore the potential to engineer clonal seed production in crop species like tomato.
-
Understanding and preventing the impact of endocrine disruptors on the hypothalamus-pituitary axes in sensitive populations
The HYPIEND project examines the effects of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) on the stress, reproduction and thyroid endocrine systems besides implementing strategies to minimalize the exposure to EDCs in sensitive populations.
Research facilities
RIBES researchers make use of state-of-the-art molecular, analytical and microscopy facilities in the modern Huygens building of Radboud University. New greenhouse and growth chambers were specifically designed for RIBES research needs and became operational in 2014. Only a few other comparable facilities exist in the world.
-
Greenhouse, phytotron and experimental gardens
The modern greenhouse complex of the Radboud University houses growing rooms, climate rooms, mesh chambers, a root lab (phytotron) and an experimental field of 7000 m².
-
Radboud Zebrafish Facility
The Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences houses aquaria where research is done with zebrafish as an animal model.
-
Bioreactors
The bioreactor facility hosted at the Department of Microbiology is used for the cultivation of microorganisms and microbial communities from the environment.