Study guide for a thesis Animal Breeding and Genetics
(ABG) at the Animal Breeding and Genetics Group
(version August 2015)
1.
Introduction
When you read this, you have almost certainly decided to do a thesis at the Animal
Breeding and Genetics Group. Since this thesis, as any other thesis you may do, is an
important part of your study in Wageningen, it is essential that you be well informed about
the course of events during the period that you will be working on your thesis. This study
guide will inform you about the different stages that can be defined in the planning and
execution of your research project. The objectives of each stage will be indicated.
Important! At the start of your thesis project, you will have to fill in and sign a standard
thesis contract form. In this contract are agreements between you and your supervisor
with respect to, for example, how much time each of you put in the project on weekly
basis, how often you meet, whether you will take other courses during the duration of the
project, etc. You therefore fill this contract in together with your supervisor, who should
hand it to you at your first meeting (ask him/her!). After you filled it in and it is signed by
you and your supervisor, you need to hand it in at the secretariat. They will register you as
thesis student and take your picture for the photo board so that people can see who is
doing a thesis within the abg group.
For working on your thesis there are student work places available with the required
software installed. Ask your supervisor which place would be most suitable for you.
On behalf of all members of the Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, good luck with your
thesis!
2.
Stages of a thesis Animal Breeding and Genetics - objectives,
activities and obligations
An ABG thesis can be divided into three separate stages with well-defined activities:
-
the initiation stage (± 4 weeks)
the execution stage (dependent on the number of credits of your thesis)
the completion stage (± 4 weeks)
Each stage has its own specific didactic objectives. These are presented in Table 1. A
summary of things to remember is in Appendix 5.
2.1 The initiation stage
During the initiation stage you study relevant literature (background information as well
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as specific information), obtain the necessary computer and/or laboratory skills to
perform your research, and write your research proposal. By the end of the initiation stage
you should have a final version of your research proposal (2 pages), approved by your
supervisor(s). The research proposal should be in agreement with the outline as given in
appendix 1 of this study guide.
Table 1.
Didactic objectives of the three stages of a thesis in Animal Breeding and
Genetics
Initiation stage
Execution stage
Completion stage
Learn to:
Learn to:
Learn to:
-
Deliminate the research
topic
-
Solve the research
questions
-
Correctly interpret
research results
-
Define the research
objectives
-
Work independently
-
-
Define the research
questions
Signal specific problems
which arise and to solve
these problems after
deliberation with your
supervisor or (other)
experts
Compare own research
results with results from
literature
-
Report research results in
writing as well as orally
-
Define the research
approach
-
Develop a plan of action
and a realistic time
schedule
Present and motivate the
plan
-
-
Choose and use the tools
needed to investigate the
research questions
-
Collect and analyse data
from own research or
from the field
The research proposal is important because this defines your plan of action. The plan
should detail the goals and objectives of the project and the methods you will employ to
reach them.
When your research proposal is ready you need to present it during a Thursday Lunch
Meeting. This is an informal weekly meeting where students and members of ABG present
their research plans, their results, or just something interesting they came across and
would like to share. To schedule your presentation, you need to make an appointment
with Ole Madsen (ole.madsen@wur.nl ). You also need to send them your research
proposal so that they can attach it to the email invitation for the meeting (for more
information, see 3).
2.2 The execution stage
The execution stage is the stage during which you do your actual research and start
planning and writing your report. Throughout this period you should have regular (e.g.
weekly) meetings with your supervisor(s) to discuss your work and to indicate the
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progress you have made. During this execution phase you are strongly encouraged to
come up with your own ideas on how your research could be executed and what else could
be interesting to investigate. The idea is that in the end you will have a report that includes
a combination of results of ideas raised by your supervisor, but also by you!
Mid-term evaluation
About half way in your thesis project your supervisor will fill in the thesis evaluation form
as far as that is applicable at that time and use that to discuss with you how you are doing.
This way you will be notified in time which points are going well and which could be
improved on. In case your supervisor did not mention it, please remind him or her about
this evaluation moment. It is of benefit to the both of you to have a good discussion on how
things are going.
2.3 The completion stage
The completion stage is the stage in which you finalise your thesis, prepare and present
your colloquium and do your oral examination with Prof. van Arendonk or Prof. Groenen.
As soon as you and your supervisor agree that you are approaching finalisation, please
make an appointment for the oral examination with one of the secretaries (Ada
Wiggerman, Monique van Hoften, or Lisette Bourquin). Because of the busy schedule of the
professors, this should be done at least four weeks before the planned date. Before you can
submit the final version of your thesis, you need the approval of your supervisor(s). You
have to submit your thesis at least one week before the date of your examination in order
to allow Prof. van Arendonk or Prof. Groenen and your supervisor(s) to prepare for the
examination.
You should present your colloquium before your oral examination (does not have to be on
the same day). Colloquia are held during the Thursday Lunch Meetings, and every third
Thursday of the month there is also time allocated following that meeting, if the number of
students planning a colloquium is large. It is strongly advised to present your colloquium
even before you submit the final version of your thesis. The discussions during your
colloquium may help you to further improve your thesis. At least one week before your
colloquium, a written summary (maximum 2 pages, 1.5 line spacing, font size 11) should
be send to the colloquium coordinator Ole Madsen (ole.madsen@wur.nl). Your
supervisor(s) should approve this summary before submission. The summary of your
colloquium should be in agreement with the outline as given in appendix 2 of this study
guide.
As far as your thesis is concerned, the forms in which you will present and discuss your
results on paper have to be determined in consultation with your supervisor. The outline
as given in appendix 3 should be followed as much as possible. Some important points you
should consider while preparing your report are given in appendix 4.
3.
Presentation of research proposal and colloquium
When you are doing a thesis with Animal Breeding and Genetics you have to present your
research proposal during one of the weekly meetings of staff and students involved in
quantitative/biological-oriented animal breeding research, held on Thursdays (13.153
14.15). These meetings are co-ordinated by Ole Madsen (ole.madsen@wur.nl). The
schedule usually is quite busy, so please inform them as soon as you know when you
would like to present your research proposal.
All students have to present their colloquium during the ABG colloquia during, often
during the Thursday Lunch Meetings. However, there is limited time available during
these meetings as also other presentations are schedules then. Every third Thursday of the
month there is additional time allocated afterwards, so that also in busy periods students
can present their colloquia. Also for your colloquia, please register with Ole Madsen.
Presentations of research proposals and colloquia will always be in English.
4.
The final version of your thesis
When your thesis is finalised you have to submit your final thesis. You can do this, after
consultation with your supervisor, by submitting an electronic version to one of the
secretaries of the Animal Breeding and Genetics Group (Monique van Hoften or Lisette
Bourquin). They will make sure the thesis is printed. As you will be sending it by email,
please make sure the thesis is not larger than 6 Mb.
5.
Last but not least…

As soon as you know when you will submit the final version of your thesis, you can
make an appointment for your oral examination with your supervisor and Prof Johan
van Arendonk or Prof Martien Groenen through one of the secretaries of the Animal
Breeding and Genetics Group. Keep in mind that you have to submit your thesis at least
one week before your oral examination in order to allow your examiners to study your
thesis. The oral examination takes approximately one hour. Prof. Van Arendonk or
Prof. Groenen and your ABG supervisor be the examiners. Occasionally an external
supervisor may be present during the examination. The evaluation will be according to
the items mentioned on the Thesis Evaluation form as used by all groups at the
university. The items mentioned on this form will be graded and weighed to come to
your final mark. These items include the level of independence in your work, your
presentations, and the quality of you report. After the examination you will be asked to
fill in the written “Evaluation Questionnaire of Thesis-courses WU”.

While you are working on your thesis Animal Breeding and Genetics, we expect you to
join the weekly Thursday Lunch Meetings as frequently as possible, but at least
(compulsory) all ABG colloquia in the period from start of thesis work until
examination. By doing this you will be well informed about the research in progress
within the Animal Breeding and Genetics Group and you will certainly broaden your
perspective.

If you don’t work with a company, university, institute, etc. outside Wageningen, we
recommend you to work in Zodiac during day time (not at home). There are student
work places available in a number of designated areas in the building. They all use a
clean desk policy, so every day please take all you belongings with you when you leave.
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
Joining coffee and tea breaks (with or without cake…..) is also recommended and
highly appreciated (approximately at 10:15 and 15:15).
Dieuwertje Lont
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, WU
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Appendix 1
Guide lines for a project proposal
The project proposal (2 pages A4) should at least include the following information in the
indicated order:
Administrative information
your name and registration number
the name and number of the thesis as well as the number of credits
the name of your supervisor at the Animal Breeding and Genetics group,
followed by the name and affiliation of any external supervisor
the location of the research (if not at the Animal Breeding and Genetics group)
Title of the project
Project team (names of all people involved in the project and their affiliations, in
alphabetical order)
Introduction resulting in aim of your thesis project and research questions
Material(s)
Method(s)
Time schedule
Remarks regarding specific agreements or arrangements
References
Appendix 2
Guide lines for the summary of a colloquium
The summary of a colloquium (max 2 pages A4, 1.5 line spacing, font size 12) should
include the following information in the indicated order:
The text: Colloquium Animal Breeding and Genetics, “date”
Administrative information
your name
the name and affiliation of your supervisor at the Animal Breeding and
Genetics group, followed by the name and affiliation of any external
supervisor(s)
Title of your research project/thesis
Objectives
Material(s) and method(s)
Results and Discussion
Conclusions
Acknowledgements (in case of joint project with third partners)
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Appendix 3
Guide lines for a report/scientific paper
The report/scientific paper should include the following:
Cover
The cover should contain the title of your thesis and your name. If you have
done a thesis for a company, then the company logo should be on the cover
page as well. You are not allowed to use the company cover, at least not for the
version you hand in for grading. You are allowed to use it for the copies you
make for the company. But the Wageningen University logo should be on it as
well.
Title page The title page should contain title of your thesis, your name, your registration
number, the number and name of your thesis (Thesis Animal Breeding and
Genetics ABG-804..), month and year of finishing the thesis, and the names and
affiliations of your supervisors.
Contents
Preface
English summary and summary in your native language
Introduction
Material(s) and method(s)
Results
Discussion
Conclusions and implications
References
Appendices
Note. The set-up of your report or scientific paper may differ from the outline given above.
For example
you may combine results and discussion or discussion and conclusions
you may add a chapter with a review of the relevant literature
you may include a list of abbreviations.
Appendix 4
Points to consider when preparing a report
The following are some points to consider when preparing your report.
0. Start immediately!
many people find it very difficult to start writing and save it all up to the end of the
project. Don’t do that! Start writing as soon as there is something to write. You can
always change it again, but then at least there is something ‘on paper’ that you can
build upon. And starting it usually the difficult part. Similarly: prepare tables and
figures as soon as you have results. It may also help to get a better overview on
where to go in your research project.
1. Appearance
- Is the general appearance of your report pleasing to the reader?
(i.e. proper spelling, grammar, printed text)
2. Presentation
- Is your write-up easy to follow, logical, complete? General rule of thumb: put yourself
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in place of the reader: would you understand it (without pre-knowledge)? Help the
reader to understand your point and give enough information to achieve that.
- Did you make an effort to write your report in precise and concise style?
(Get other students or friends to read the manuscript before submission.)
- Are the tables, graphs and charts clearly described and referenced (titles, units, etc.)?
- Do you use consistently proper units and terms?
3. Technical contents
- Are all required points covered?
- Do you justify your results and conclusions?
4. Remember
- A report is communication with other persons. Keep in mind that the reader need to
understand what you are writing. The reader you are writing for may not have all the
background knowledge you have obtained during your work.
Appendix 5
Summary of things to remember
1. Fill in the thesis contract with your supervisor and hand it over to the secretary.
2. When you hand in your contract at the secretary’s office, you will be registered as
MSc thesis student and have your picture taken for the photo board.
3. Pre-proposal:
a.
Finish within 4 – 8 weeks
b.
Register (some weeks ahead!) for a presentation during the Thursday
Lunch Meetings with Ole Madsen
4. Attend all colloquia during the time you work on your thesis
5. Finishing:
a.
After consultation with your supervisor, make an appointment with the
examiner through the secretaries at least 4 weeks before the examination.
This to avoid scheduling problems.
b.
Register for the colloquia with Ole Madsen as soon as you know when you
are going to present and hand in your summary (max 2 A4) no later than 1
week in advance.
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