30-08-2024
A record number of students conducted scientific research this summer
At the "Summer of Science 2024" conference held at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC), Lithuanian and international students presented the results of their summer research conducted in Lithuanian scientific laboratories, universities, and institutes. The students conducted their research under the invitation of the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), with supervision from the country's leading scientists and doctoral candidates. During the internship, students received a monthly stipend of €1,000. This year, RCL has allocated a total of 1.1 million EUR for this programme.
This summer, a record number of students participated in the scientific internship – 265 young researchers from 18 scientific and educational institutions (198 student participants in 2023 and 161 students in 2022). This is the oldest program run by RCL: a total of 3,000 students since 2005 have carried out their scientific research in various Lithuanian research institutions during the summer as an internship. This summer, students from Lithuania and abroad conducted research in 113 fields of natural sciences, 48 social sciences, 37 technology sciences, 26 medical and health sciences, 17 agricultural sciences, 14 humanities, 8 visual arts, and 1 performing and screen arts.
According to RCL chairman Dr. Gintaras Valinčius, Lithuania is among the few European Union countries administrating such a talent development program for young people. “I am particularly pleased to see that this RCL program for young researchers grows every year and attracts more and more participants. The scientific summer internship is not only a great opportunity to deepen academic knowledge and skills but is also an important step into the scientific community. It is a time when valuable connections with specialists from various fields are made and where academic theories turn into exciting discoveries and work,” says Dr. Valinčius.
Lithuania is an attractive destination for international students
Since last year, students studying abroad have been invited to come to Lithuania for the summer to carry out scientific internships. This year, 15 young researchers from universities such as Case Western Reserve University (USA), Catholic University of Valencia (Spain), Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands), etc. decided to deepen their knowledge and skills in Lithuania. “By inviting international students, we aim to show that Lithuania is an attractive country for fulfilling dreams in the field of science. For those who came, it was not only an opportunity to gain knowledge and acquire valuable scientific skills but also a chance to get to know Lithuanian culture, our traditions, and the country's scientific community up close,” emphasized Dr. Valinčius.
Emmanuel Gabriel Njoku from Spain completed his internship at the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (supervised by Dr. Ana Dovilė Juškytė). Emmanuel’s research topic was "The expression profile of blackcurrant (R. nigrum) transcription factors under low-temperature induced stress" – took place in the laboratory of the research center located in Babtai. “My two-month stay in Lithuania was full of wonderful experiences. The people in the laboratory were very friendly, patient, and always ready to help. I learned important practical molecular biology skills, made amazing friends, presented at conferences, and had a great time all-together. I want to advise fellow international students who are considering applying for this program next year to follow their dreams, and they will not be disappointed. It may seem daunting to travel to a new place, but now, looking back, I am glad I took this step,” said Emmanuel.
This summer, young researchers from Ukraine also chose to dedicate their time to scientific internships. At Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), three Ukrainian students conducted different research projects. One of the internship supervisors, Dr. Audrius Bučinskas, Head of the Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology at KTU, shares his insights: “Having participated in several RCL-organized student internships, I have noticed that this is a great opportunity not only for the students to grow professionally but their supervisors as well, especially the younger ones. This time, the inclusion of international students further enriched both sides working on the projects.”
Ukrainian student Daria Shmielova, a KTU student, spent her summer researching the creation of effective human and artificial intelligence teams and leadership skills during her internship at ISM University of Management and Economics (supervised by Prof. Dr. Vita Akstinaitė). Daria decided to dedicate her summer to scientific research in Lithuania because the ongoing war in Ukraine created a challenging environment for similar initiatives. Here, she had the opportunity to choose a research topic and expand her knowledge in her chosen field. The recommendations of universities also encouraged her to join the RCL program. “Lithuania provides enough opportunities for young researchers to embody their ideas. I would advise students from other countries not to be afraid to try new things and take advantage of the opportunities offered by EU universities,” emphasizes Daria.
Research conducted ranges from medical to visual art fields
This year, student internships covered a wide range of scientific fields – from natural sciences, medicine, technology, and agricultural sciences to visual arts. Students selected their internship locations and topics from those proposed by their supervisors. A total of 454 topics were submitted for selection. “This year's topics stood out for their attractiveness and relevance, showing that internship supervisors paid great attention to how to attract future interns,” says Dr. Valinčius.
Julija Lebedeva, a student at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), completed her internship at the Lithuanian Sports University (LSU). The topic of research conducted was "Experiences of gender discrimination and implementation of prevention: the case of medical students," supervised by Prof. Dr. Vilija Bitė Fominienė. “The research topic interested me because of its relevance and importance. I believe that conducting this research as a medical student is more beneficial, as they have a better understanding and perception of what is happening within their studies. The research results can help university administration improve existing measures to ensure gender equality and fairness. Also, by educating medical students about gender equality and discrimination prevention, they become more understanding and sensitive to patients' needs, which can ultimately improve the quality of patient care,” says Julija.
Karolina Sokaitė, a Vilnius University (VU) student who completed her internship at KTU, chose the topic "Inclusive artificial intelligence literature analysis using bibliometric method" (supervised by Dr. Laura Daniusevičiūtė-Brazaitė). Karolina shared her impressions: “This internship gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with new research methodologies and gain valuable skills. The most interesting part was discovering new possibilities for analysis and learning how artificial intelligence can be applied in the field of education.”
Justė Bukauskytė completed her internship at the Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA), where her research supervisor was Prof. Dr. Rasa Janulevičiūtė. Justė's research topic was "Design research based on the activation of human motor skills." Justė chose to spend her summer on research, aiming to spend her time meaningfully, gain new skills, and learn something new. “The topic of sustainable energy generation is of a great interest to me. I wrote my bachelor's thesis on this subject. By exploring this area, I found meaningfulness and great future potential in alternative energy generation. I am fascinated by technological innovations and the opportunity to contribute to creating a cleaner planet,” says Justė.
Scientists and doctoral students for supervisors
Every year, internship supervisors interact with students during the summer internship. This year, RCL introduced a new feature – doctoral students have been also given an opportunity to become internship supervisors. One of the priorities in selecting internship locations was given to topics proposed by doctoral students. This year, 28 doctoral students were selected as internship supervisors. “This is a good opportunity and new possibilities for young researchers who have chosen a scientific career to test themselves by leading small science or art projects,” said Dr. Valinčius about the decision to include doctoral students as supervisors.
Agnė Baranauskaitė, a doctoral student at the Nature Research Centre (NRC), one of the internship supervisors, believes that summer internship is a great opportunity for students to test themselves and immerse themselves in the daily life of a scientist by dedicating a full working day to their chosen topic, as during the semester, students often have limited time. “The two-month internship forces you to carefully consider all the tasks, and when unexpected challenges arise, it encourages you to think faster about possible solutions. Therefore, the internship not only provides new knowledge but also develops critical thinking,” says Agnė.
VU Institute of Psychology (VU IP) doctoral student Miglė Marcinkevičiūtė also shares her experience as an internship supervisor: "I am glad that RCL provides an opportunity to expand ongoing research by involving students. I think that summer internships help us create a more relaxed connection with students and more accurately reflect the life of a scientist. Also, it is pleasant to work with students without the pressure of many other deadlines. I wish this excellent tradition to continue!"
RCL will continue the student summer scientific internship program in the future, and new calls for students to participate in the summer scientific internship competition will be announced in the I quarter of 2025. More information about RCL announcements can be found here.
More information about the summer internship:
Ilona Monstavičienė
Program Coordinator
Tel. +370 604 53 802
Email: [email protected]
Research Council of Lithuania
