Research Internship at the Karolinska Institute

I completed my 3-months-internship at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. I worked in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, in the Molecular Metabolism division. I worked directly with a team consisting of a Postdoc and a PhD student. The group’s research aims to understand the regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA and RNA metabolism, as well as their effects on gene expression and RNA degradation in mitochondria.

My main tasks included fundamental molecular biology and biochemistry methods such as DNA extraction and genotyping, protein extraction from mouse liver samples, Western blots for protein analysis, RNA isolation and qPCR. The experiments I conducted were part of my supervisors‘ project, which investigates the effects of the SLC25A26 gene deletion in the hepatocytes of a conditional mouse model to explore mitochondrial dysfunctions.

Before the Internship: Preparation
After realizing that the mandatory ABV internship included in my study program was an ideal opportunity to gain international experience and apply for Erasmus+ funding, I began researching institutes in various countries. I sent several applications for a summer internship to the Karolinska Institute. Initially, I received rejections as July is a vacation month in Sweden and preference was given to master’s students for longer internships. However, I eventually received some invitations for Zoom meetings with different group leaders. The application process was somewhat stressful and time-consuming, but it was manageable with careful preparation and rewarding once I received an offer. When the Learning Agreement was signed by all parties and I received an invitation letter from the research group, I was able to apply for housing at KI Housing. I applied for a studio apartment (one room with a bathroom and kitchen) about four months before the internship began. A month later, I was offered a studio apartment in KI Residence Solna. Its location was great: just 6 minutes on foot from the Biomedicum (where I was working), 30 minutes from many restaurants and cafes and 40 minutes from the Central Station and city center. It was also well connected with busses. In the meantime, I arranged for insurance and booked my train ticket. I travelled directly from Berlin to Stockholm overnight.

The Internship
In the first week, I conducted experiments alongside my supervisors. After this period, I was able to work independently. Thanks to my theoretical knowledge from my studies, I was well-prepared, but the practical implementation in a professional lab was a completely new experience. At the university, many materials and steps for the practical courses are prepared by the tutors. In the lab, however, I had to handle everything from scratch. This not only increased my independence but also my understanding of the entire work processes.
On the first day, I was introduced to all the team members and shown around the lab. My supervisors ensured that I felt truly comfortable and secure before working independently. Whenever I made a mistake, they were understanding and emphasized that the best way to learn is through errors. After each experiment, I received feedback. Together, we analyzed what I should do differently or what I had done wrong to understand the cause of the faulty results.
My workday usually started around 9 a.m. and ended around 5 p.m., though working hours could vary a lot depending on the experiments. In addition to my daily experiments, I regularly attended meetings and every Wednesday, there was a fika, a Swedish tradition where everyone met for coffee and pastries.

Life in Stockholm
Life in Sweden generally does not differ too much from life in Germany. However, there are some differences. The summer in Sweden is cooler, with generally lower temperatures than in Germany and it rains significantly more. This did not prevent me from enjoying the beautiful nature that Stockholm and its surroundings offer, though. The city is surrounded by water and green spaces, with numerous opportunities for day trips to nearby nature reserves, like Stockholm´s Archipelago or Tyresta National Park, or cities like Uppsala.
Every weekend, I planned to do something new and try as much as possible to get to know the city and the country better. Sometimes I also did something during the week. Often, I went jogging in the evenings and noticed that many people engage in outdoor sports, not just when the weather is good. I also visited restaurants, roof tops, pubs, and clubs. There are good options for vegan food, although the selection is not as diverse as in Berlin. The nightlife differs somewhat from Germany: even on Saturday nights, people often don’t stay out very late. I also visited museums and castles, not only in Stockholm but also in neighboring cities.
One of the most noticeable differences was the higher cost of living. Food, restaurants, bars and museums are significantly more expensive in Sweden than in Germany and student discounts are not as common. Nevertheless, daily life is manageable as you can practically pay with card everywhere.
Making new friends is not easy, especially with locals, but I was lucky to be with other international students in the lab. There were also events organized by the housing where I was living that brought many people together and I could make some friends there, too. Sometimes, I also went out for drinks or meals with colleagues in a bigger group. Everyone speaks good English, so the language barrier is rarely a problem.

Conclusions
Overall, I had a very positive experience. The work atmosphere in the lab was cooperative and supportive. From the beginning, I was welcomed into the team and received the necessary support to quickly get up to speed. The practical application of my theoretical knowledge and the associated learning curve significantly strengthened my skills and confidence. Being in a beautiful and motivating city like Stockholm made the experience even better and more interesting and I am grateful for the opportunity to have completed the internship there. The experiences I had helped me both professionally and personally.


Tips for other interns

 

Preperation

  • Once you have the Learning Agreement with the topic/project, it’s helpful to do a bit of research about it.
  • You can conveniently travel from Berlin to Stockholm by night train. Snälltåget is relatively affordable and comfortable and it takes about 17 hours to reach Stockholm.
  • Stockholm is a risk area for ticks, and it is recommended to get vaccinated against TBE (FSME-Impfung in German).

 

Visa applciation

None needed for EU-citizens.

 

Internshipsearch

I sent several applications for a summer internship to the Karolinska Institute. Initially, I received many rejections because July is vacation time in Sweden, and they preferred to take master’s students for longer periods. Three months were often considered too short.

 

Apartmentsearch

Finding accommodation in Stockholm can be very competitive. You should apply to KI Housing as early as possible to secure housing, but you must have the Learning Agreement signed by all parties and an invitation letter from the KI research group. There are many housing options available: family apartments, studio apartments, studios with shared kitchens, or shared rooms. The apartment includes internet and access to a communal laundry room and they are well- equipped. The demand is high, so it is important to apply on time. Alternatively, you can also look at Facebook groups.

 

Insurance

I used the Group Insurance from DAAD for health, accident and liability insurance.

 

Other

I would recommend to rent a bike. I rented mine at Jonna bikes and it was relatively cheap.

 

Formalities on Site

Telefone-/Internet

EU-Roaming for outside the campus, eduroam at the Institute and the Studio Apartment at the KI-Residence had WiFi.

 

Bank/Accountopening

It is not needed to open a bank account and you don´t need cash. You can pay everywhere with card.

 

Goin out options

Stockholm has a lot to offer. There are many restaurants, pubs and clubs, as well as cool museums, with the Natural History Museum being especially recommended. There are good opportunities for day trips to nearby cities or weekend getaways. The nature is beautiful and perfect for those who enjoy hiking.

 

Other

Other notes: Everything is more expensive than in Germany, from shopping to dining out. However, the city is very safe.

 

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