{"id":9306,"date":"2026-08-23T19:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T17:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uni-bremen.de\/praxisschock\/?p=9306"},"modified":"2026-09-26T23:32:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T21:32:32","slug":"erasmus-internship-at-the-university-of-the-azores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uni-bremen.de\/praxisschock\/2026\/08\/23\/erasmus-internship-at-the-university-of-the-azores\/","title":{"rendered":"Erasmus+ Internship at the University of the Azores"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Planning of the Internship<\/strong>
\nStarting my BSc in Biology at the University of Bremen, I was keen to supplement the knowledge acquired in university courses with practical research experience. When I discovered that external internships could be integrated into my bachelor\u2019s program, I planned to undertake one or more, even though it meant prolonging my studies. Since my main area of interest is coral reef research, I wanted to dive into the fascinating ecosystem of cold-water corals (CWC).<\/p>\n

The OKEANOS institute at the University of the Azores has a strong focus on deep-sea research and is perfectly located on Faial Island, where the surrounding waters drop down to 3,000 meters. The Azores Exclusive Economic Zone harbours large CWC ecosystems, which allows for regular coral sampling by researchers at OKEANOS.<\/p>\n

The research of my supervisor focuses on the impacts of fisheries and the prospective effects of deep-sea mining on CWCs. I found her research especially interesting as it aims to guide sustainable marine resource use and the designation of marine protected areas, while including close collaboration with local fishers. When I contacted her to express my interest, she replied quickly and positively, and my very good impression was confirmed during a short meeting where we discussed project details.<\/p>\n

It took me a while to collect all the necessary documents for the ERASMUS+ application, but once everything was submitted, the process went smoothly. I was also able to secure a place at the local student accommodation for the time of my stay.<\/p>\n

Arrival and First Days<\/strong>
\nIn the student accommodation, I shared a flat with two others, which was a great opportunity to connect with fellow interns from the beginning. On my first day, I had a meeting with my supervisor, who introduced me to the lab team. Everyone was very friendly and made the work environment enjoyable from the start.<\/p>\n

During the internship, I learned a lot about flow-through aquarium systems and how to handle CWCs. The main part of my internship focused on a simulated deep-sea mining stress experiment, where I conducted respiration measurements and prepared a scientific report based on the collected data.<\/p>\n

Free Time Endeavors<\/strong>
\nIn my spare time, I went hiking frequently. The Azores are volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, which results in mild winters and high humidity. This makes them green paradises with diverse vegetation and beautiful rocky coastlines (fig. 1).<\/p>\n\n\t\t