Lab Rotations

Overview of Individualized Research Training (IRT)

Each lab rotation (IRT) consists of lab work with a supervisor of the student's choice. During the same semester, you will attend a related Skills Course. Skills courses are designed to train you in the specific writing and presentation skills required to complete a successful IRT and thrive as a scientist.
The lab rotations and associated courses are mandatory for all students.
To proceed to the next IRT project, you must have successfully completed the previous lab rotations.
The second lab rotation (IRT2) must take place in a different lab than the first lab rotation (IRT1).
It is recommended that the third lab rotation (IRT3) take place in the lab where the student will conduct his or her Master's thesis.
The required amount of time spent on the lab rotation increases progressively with each semester, until you are spending all of your time doing research for your Master's Thesis in the 4th Semester.
See Suggested IRT Projects for a list of possible IRT projects here at the LMU.
See Past IRT Projects to learn about some of the IRT projects conducted by our students in previous years.
Go to the Skills Courses page to learn more about the courses associated with each IRT.

Click on each IRT to download a PDF of the guidelines.

To evaluate the first draft of the IRT1 and IRT2 report, the supervisor has to fill in the IRT1 & IRT2 Feedback Form and return it to the student by the date specified in the guidelines.

To grade the final draft of the IRT1 and IRT2 report, the supervisor has to fill in the IRT1 & IRT2 Grading Form and return it to the student (and EES coordinator) by the date specified in the guidelines.

Coordinator: Alice Edler
Total ECTS points: 6
Description: In this module, students work in the lab, learn a method, and carry out a small project. They write a report and give a presentation about their work in the IRT1 conference held at the beginning of March. The students also participate in a scientific writing course, where they learn the skills necessary to write their IRT1 report and future manuscripts.
Goals: Students are introduced to research in practice and acquire writing skills.

Course No.: P1.1
Description: Students get a thorough and hands-on overview of a major research project that is carried out in the lab. They do a literature search, read the relevant literature and talk to all the people in the lab who are involved in the project. They learn about the methods and contribute a small sub-project (e.g. measurements or an experiment) of their own. They do a short (15min) presentation at the IRT1 conference in March. They write a report on the project and their own contribution. They receive feedback on the report and improve it.
Goals: Students get involved with active research. They learn about everyday life in research and about the scientific background, research plan, and methods of a particular research project. They communicate about their work.
Type of Instruction: Practical Research
ECTS points: 4

Coordinator: Alice Edler
Description: Students conduct a larger (semester-long) independent research project, write a manuscript about it and present a poster as part of the EES Conference in October. The IRT2 module must be carried out in a different lab from the IRT1. Projects will usually be suggested by the lab adviser, but should be developed further by the student.
Goals: Students acquire further research experience, write a manuscript and present a poster.
ECTS points: 6

Course No.: P6.1
Description: Students carry out a small research project on a topic in the field of Evolution, Ecology or Systematics. They do a literature search and read relevant literature. They write a small research plan, discuss it with various people in the research group and carry it out. They write a report about their research in the style of a scientific manuscript.
Goals: Students learn how to conduct a small independent research project of their own and write a paper about it.
Type of Instruction: Practical Research
ECTS points: 5

Coordinator: Alice Edler
Description: Students plan their Master's thesis, collect preliminary data, and write a detailed grant proposal including a budget and time plan. In the Skills Course that is part of this module, students learn how to write a grant proposal.
Goals: The goal of this module is to conduct a larger (semester-long) independent pilot study as preparation for the Master's thesis.
ECTS points: 12

Course No.: P9.1
Description: Students carry out a pilot study as preparation for their Master's thesis. The topic of the project should be in the field of Evolution, Ecology or Systematics. They find and read relevant literature. They write a small research plan and discuss this plan with various people. They collect preliminary data and/or do some preliminary analysis. They write a grant proposal that follows the format of a standard big-agency (e.g. DFG) grant. With their grant proposal they apply for grant money. They give a short (15min) presentation at the IRT3 conference, where a committee of three EES faculty members will decide how to allocate grant funds.
Goals: Students learn how to design a research project and write a scientific grant proposal based on preliminary data or analysis from their own pilot study.
Type of Instruction: Practical Research
ECTS points: 10