What is an internship?

The internship is a research activity that you carry out first-hand, under supervision, designed to help you develop scientific and experimental skills. Throughout the internship, you will produce original results that will be included in your thesis. The internship is your first real opportunity to get involved in a larger research project, to experience the working environment of a laboratory, to interact with more experienced colleagues and to make a meaningful intellectual contribution to a team's work.

Throughout the internship, you are expected to learn how to formulate scientific or technological questions and address them using appropriate experiments and methods, to interpret results, to troubleshoot technical issues and work towards a specific goal related to basic or applied research, diagnostics, biotechnology or another area within neuroscience.

Credits: 27 CFU
Minimum duration: 8 months. This is a formal and binding requirement that you must meet.
Supervisor: your academic point of reference. They ensure the quality of both your internship and thesis. The supervisor must be either a lecturer on the Board of Studies or a permanent academic staff member of the University of Trieste. Even if your internship is hosted by an external institution, you must have an internal supervisor from the University.
Co-supervisor: the person (researcher, company representative, etc.) who oversees your day-to-day research, other than your supervisor. You may have up to two co-supervisors.
Where you can carry out the internship: it can take place in a Department of the University of Trieste or in an external institution (research centre, company etc.), including institutions abroad. If the host institution requires an agreement, make sure it’s already in place among those signed by the Department or the University. If it isn’t listed, you’ll need to request its activation.

Starting the internship

• Fill out the form "Internship/training project application" · Email the completed form to didattica.dsv@units.it at least two months before the planned start date of your internship.
• For external internships, include the risk assessment form, completed and signed by the host institution.
• For internships within the University, follow the mandatory health surveillance procedure in order to access the laboratories. Detailed instructions are provided in the "Internship/training project application" form.
• You can only begin your internship after receiving formal approval. The outcome will be posted as a notice on the Moodle course "SM75 - Communications to students".
• N.B. - If your internship/internship activity involves contact with vulnerable individuals, such as in facilities such as nurseries, preschools, and elementary schools, hospitals, clinics, retirement homes, and reception centers, you must undergo a Mantoux test. The university has an agreement with ASUGI to provide this test free of charge. To obtain it, you must complete the "Modulo Test Mantoux" (downloadable on this page - in Italian) and provide your details (name, surname, and date of birth). It is not necessary to obtain the signature of the competent doctor, but to book the test, you can call the regional CUP or the Infectious Disease Prevention and Prophylaxis Service (040 399 7566), indicating that you have a referral from the competent doctor. The other healthcare companies, ASUFC and ASUFO, are not affiliated. The test can also be taken, at your own expense, in private facilities.

After the internship

• Fill out the second part of the "Internship/training project application" form, titled “Recognition of the activity carried out”, and have it signed by your Supervisor.
• Submit the completed form to the Academic Office by email at didattica.dsv@units.it to have your credits officially recorded.

Forms and docs for the internship