My time in Uppsala has been incredibly pleasant and rewarding. I arrived in July, at a time when most of the students and residents of the city were away on their summer holidays. The city initially felt quite empty, which was a bit odd at first. However, this gave me a unique opportunity to experience Uppsala from a different perspective—quieter and more serene.

One of the best decisions I made was to buy a bike. I can recommend Facebook Marketplace, which is used a lot in Sweden. It allowed me to explore the city and its beautiful surroundings, helping me get a real feel for the local environment and culture. My Experience with the ‚Fish in Food Webs‘ Workgroup at SLU

Regarding my internship with the „Fish in Food Webs“ workgroup at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), I can only speak highly of the overall experience. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed into a warm, collaborative, and professional environment. The people I met were incredibly friendly and approachable, making my integration into the team seamless. What I particularly appreciated was the trust they placed in me early on. I was given responsibility over several tasks, which made me feel both useful and like I was contributing meaningfully to the workgroup’s projects.

Internship Structure and Fieldwork Experience
My internship could be divided into a few key phases. During the first two weeks, I focused on preparing samples for upcoming fieldwork sessions. This was a great introduction, as I had the chance to familiarize myself with the team members and the various projects we were working on. From mid-July to the end of August, I shifted into hands-on fieldwork, assisting with different projects, including research at a facility near the Forsmark nuclear reactor.
The Forsmark facility provided a fascinating research opportunity. There, the sea water used to cool down the nuclear reactor is pumped into a closed bay, resulting in water temperatures that is consistently 4°C warmer than the surrounding sea. This creates an ideal setting for studying the effects of climate change on food webs, as we could directly compare the warmer water with the natural sea temperature, offering a glimpse of what we might expect 50 years into the future due to global warming.
Mesocosm Experiment and Fieldwork Contributions
One of my key tasks involved assisting with a mesocosm experiment, where we set up 20 different tanks, each representing a distinct aquatic environment. Half of these tanks replicated a benthic (bottom-dwelling) environment, while the other half represented a pelagic (open water) environment. The tanks had varying water temperatures to simulate different climate change predictions and their impact on energy transfer throughout the aquatic food webs.
Throughout the experimental phase, I assisted in collecting and filtering water samples, measuring bacterial and benthic productivity, and recording various environmental parameters such as water temperature, light intensity, and pH levels. This provided me with invaluable practical experience in conducting experiments and working with complex data sets.

Research in the Baltic Sea Region
In addition to my work at Forsmark, I also travelled further north to participate in another project in collaboration with the state’s fish monitoring team. Here, we sampled fish and collected data on their weight, size, and species distribution. We also gathered gastropods and took water samples for chlorophyll concentration analysis. The overall goal of the project is to identify differences between monitoring stations along the Baltic Sea, where salt concentrations vary dramatically as you move north. These variations have a direct impact on the local ecosystems and food web dynamics.
Moreover, I assisted in the annual monitoring at Forsmark. For one week, we went out every morning to catch fish with nets at preselected locations. Afterward, we carefully removed the fish from the nets and recorded their measurements for further analysis. Along with fish, we collected samples of algae and gastropods to check their radionuclide concentration and study their role in the ecosystem.

Post-Fieldwork Analysis
Once the fieldwork phase was completed, I transitioned to lab work, where I analysed the collected fish samples. This process involved recording the fish’s weight, measuring their somatic weight, gonads, and guts, and determining their size and sex. We also extracted scales and otoliths (ear bones) for age determination, along with muscle tissue for DNA and stable isotope analysis. This comprehensive approach allowed me to gain practical skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation, which are crucial for anyone pursuing a career in ecology.

Personal Growth and Future Directions
I highly recommend doing an internship with the „Fish in Food Webs“ workgroup. Not only did I gain a deeper understanding of fish ecology and various sampling techniques, but I also got valuable insights into the inner workings of both the research and monitoring departments at SLU. The experience has been instrumental in helping me evaluate my future career path, as I am currently contemplating whether to pursue a PhD. This internship offered me a clearer perspective on both academic research and applied ecological work, which has been invaluable in shaping my career considerations.

Final Thoughts
If you have an interest in fish ecology and are willing to handle the strong smell of fish (especially in warmer weather), this is a fantastic place to spend a few months. The work is rewarding, the learning opportunities are vast, and the environment is both professional and welcoming. I couldn’t have asked for a better internship experience.

Tips for other Interns

Preperation

Visa application

Since Sweden is part of the EU, there was no need to apply for a visa.

Internshipsearch
I received the tip for this particular workgroup through my master’s supervisor. In Scandinavia, many universities provide excellent information about various research groups on their websites, making it easier to find potential internships.

Apartmentsearch
Securing housing in Uppsala can be challenging, so it’s essential to start looking well in advance. I reactivated my old Facebook account and found a room through a Facebook group dedicated to advertising available rooms and apartments.

Insurance
At my workplace in Sweden, accidents occurring during work hours are covered through my internship contract. As Sweden is an EU country, my German health insurance also applied during my stay.

Formalities on Site

Telephone/Internet
I used my existing contract from Germany since EU roaming works well in Sweden. Additionally, my landlord provided internet in my apartment, which was very convenient.

Bank/Accountopening
Since my stay in Sweden was only for three months, opening a local bank account wasn’t necessary. Setting up a Swedish bank account involves a lot of paperwork and can be time-consuming, but my German bank account worked perfectly fine throughout my stay.

Everyday/Leisure

Going out options
The natural surroundings in and around Uppsala are beautiful. You can fish in the river without needing a license, which is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. I highly recommend getting a bike to explore the forests, especially since mushroom picking is a popular activity in autumn.