Internship Abroad

Every autumn, when the world of cutting-edge research buzzes with excitement and speculation about the future Nobel laureates, the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm also finds itself in the spotlight. This is because Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Prize, stipulated in his will that this institution should be the one to award the prizes in the field of Medicine.

For Medical Device Technology student Theresa Rohrmoser, a Nobel Prize wasn't on the horizon—at least not yet. But even for the mandatory professional internship required in her degree program, Sweden's premier medical university is an excellent choice.

"Completing my internship abroad was always a big dream of mine, to get to know another country not just as a tourist, but over a longer period of time. To then have the opportunity to conduct research at the Karolinska Institute—one of Europe's most renowned medical universities—was beyond what I could have imagined," Rohrmoser shares enthusiastically.

The Medical Device Technology student, in her fifth semester of her bachelor's degree, spent nearly five months living in Stockholm. Starting in early August, she enjoyed the late summer in Scandinavia with countless beautiful sunsets, and just before Christmas, she experienced the shortest days of the northern winter, with only about five hours of sunlight. The stunning Christmas lights in the city helped her endure the dark period, making it "almost magical."

She worked at SciLifeLab (Science for Life Laboratory)—one of the largest molecular biology research labs in Europe—in the field of biophysics. The internship there allowed Theresa Rohrmoser to work in an international team and gain insight into the global research community. Additionally, she had the chance to attend several biophysical symposiums where esteemed researchers presented their work. "A particular highlight for me was being at the heart of the action during Nobel Prize week, which allowed me to engage much more deeply with the award ceremony. The opportunity to hear lectures from Nobel laureates is not something you get often," the aspiring medical technician reflects.

She believes she will "certainly benefit from this experience for a long time," as it offers so much to learn for life, introduces you to many interesting and wonderful people, teaches you about the country and its traditions, and even helps you learn a lot about yourself. Moreover, the student also found time for weekend trips to the Scandinavian capitals of Oslo and Copenhagen, as well as a kayaking trip in the archipelagos—the island world between Sweden's capital and the open Baltic Sea.