Biology - Paleontology

Overview

Topics that receive special consideration include the distribution of living organisms in space and time, the course of extinction events and recovery of biodiversity, the development of new building plans, functional morphology, construction morphology, phylogeny, trends within development lines as a function of environmental influences and paleo-ecology as well as the dating of evolutive processes. 

Research into biodiversity crises and the climate in prehistoric times has become very important through contemporary discussions of the influence of humans over the death of species and climatic changes. 

Their ability to adapt technical procedures to specific scientific problems allows them to expand their problem solving skills. 

The ability to work exactly and treat precious materials, instruments and organisms carefully is particularly important. Working with organisms requires students to apply their ethical responsibilities. 

The master’s thesis, which is a research project within the master’s program, teaches students to conduct research independently as would be required for a dissertation. 

Career options

Doctorate in one of the fields of biosciences; teaching and research at universities and other institutes of higher education; work in the chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, agrobiology and food technology industries; teaching at secondary level and in vocational, agricultural and engineering schools; management posts in industry, public administration and politics; planning for nature conservation and environmental protection, private and public; work in zoos, museums, research institutes, laboratories and clinics; scientific journalism. 

The degree courses of Biology - Paleontology at the University of Zurich qualify graduates to find work in not only specific biological or educational professions.