Research Traineeship in Biology I
Research traineeship in biology allows you to deepen you understanding of how scientific studies are conducted. By taking part in the day to day work you will gain insight into the work at a biological institution.
With a research traineeship you largely control what you will learn, by choosing a supervisor and tasks that suit your own interests. The aim is that you should be able to perform the practical and/or theoretical tasks agreed upon . You should also be able to plan and document your work in a satisfactory way. These skills are important both for your continued studies as well as for future work.
Information for admitted students summer 2025
Welcome to summer term 2025 at BIG! Open here, read and let us know if you have any questions.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are registered on the correct course. You must be registered to be covered by the insurance.
Registration periods summer 2025
- Registration for Traineeship in Biology, Research Traineeships and Degree Projects opens 5 May. Make sure you register latest the day you start your work.
- To register follow the instructions found on our pages for new students.
More information about your studies with us
On our website you will find more information about your studies with us.
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Course structure
Before you apply you should read under the heading More information to find out where you can do the traineeship, how you find a work place and what to think about when you write the work plan.
Teaching format
Research traineeship is tought through supervision. During the course you will take part in the day to day work in the research group, this can include labwork, field work, data analysis, reading of iterature, seminars and group meeting. As part of the course you are also expected to document the planning, implementation and reflection of your work in a logbook.
Assessment
You present the research traineeship in the form of a logbook. This means that you should spend a bit of time each day during the traineeship writing down what you have done during the day and reflecting on this. The research traineeship is examined based on your logbook as well as a verdict from your supervisor.
Examiner
Kenneth Ekvall
E-mail: kenneth.ekvall@su.se
Telephone: +46 (0)8-16 4071
Meetings after booking by e-mail -
Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.Research traineeship 7,5 credits equates to 4.5 weeks of fulltime work. The course does not have set start and end dates, but you should apply for the course the period that best fits when you plan to do the traineeship. Which weeks you will work and what workhours you should keep is an agreement you make with your supervisor, these are then specified in the work plan which must be approved by the examiner.
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Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
Research Traineeship in Biology does not have any official literature. Depending on your traineeship you may be expected to read different forms of literature, if so, this is something that you will discuss with your supervisor.
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Course reports
Collated answers are for the full year (not only spring term)
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More information
How to apply
Before you start your internship, you must follow all these steps:
- Apply as usual on Universityadmissions.se. Apply to the period that best matches your plans.
- When you have found a supervisor and you two have agreed on your traineeship, please submit your work plan by filling out this form.
Fill in your work plan here -
Until your work place and work plan have been approved by the course coordinator (examiner), you will have a reserve place on the course (given that you are eligible).
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When the workplace and work plan have been approved by the examiner, you will be admitted and you can register online. Note that you must have passed Research traineeship in biology I before you can be admitted to and registered for Research traineeship in biology II.
You can not start the traineeship until you have registered for the course! This is important because you are not insured by the university until you are registered.
The workplace
Research in biology at Stockholm University spans across the subject from genomics, greenhouse gas producing baltic clams and the cost of advanced brains to natural resource management. In other words there are many different exciting research groups to look for a traineeship placement.
It is your responsibility to find a workplace and supervisor, BIG does not supply placements. To get the most out of the course it is important that you think carefully about what your personal ambitions are with the course, and which research group can best help you achieve them. When you have found a group that suits your interests and aims you make contact with the researcher in question. Useful practice for job hunting.
Get in touch early with the research groups where you would like to do the traineeship, preferably before you apply for the course, some groups need good time margins to be able to schedule a traineeship.
You can find information about the different research groups and their contact details on the departments websites:
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute
- Department of Zoology
Traineeships outside of Stockholm University
It is also possible to do traineeship at other workplaces than Stockholm University, however, these require a Bachelor's degree.
Read more about our different traineeship courses
The work plan
The work plan is an agreement between you, your supervisor and the examiner, to ensure that your work during the traineeship is relevant to the course. When you write the work plan you will familiarise yourself with the work place, the supervisor and what is expected of your work. It is therefore important that you develop the plan in consultation with your supervisor, while you write the plan independently.
When you have applied for the course, and the application round has closed, you will receive a link to a form where you fill in and submit your work plan. In order for you to be admitted to the course, the work plan must be approved by the examiner (see "How to apply" above). The following points must be included in the work plan:
- Supervisor's name, position and e-mail address
- Preliminary start date
- Description of the workplace (max 150 words)
- Job assignments (max 150 words)
- Expectations and own learning objectives (max 150 words)
- Time plan where you specify approximately how many days/weeks you will spend on each task
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Contact
Student office- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratory, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20C
- Office hours
Mon-Thur: 1 PM - 3 PM
Study counsellor for basic level
- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratory, room E315d
Svante Arrhenius väg 20 C
- Office hours
By request
