Meet our Interns - Cecilia Landmark

Please briefly describe yourself and what you do

My name is Cecilia Landmark, I am 31 years old and live in Piteå, Sweden. I have a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences with a specialization in Biomedical Sciences at Linnaeus University in Kalmar.

Please describe why did you want to do an internship at the Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center.

I wanted to do an internship at Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center because of its strong reputation for clinical research in neurodegenerative diseases. As someone who is deeply interested in both neuroscience and clinical research, I saw it as a unique opportunity to gain insight into what it is like to work in the field I am training for. For me, the thesis was a chance to try out the professional role in practice, to work closely with research and data in a real-world environment. It gave me both experience and a clearer picture of what I want to work with in the future.

How long did your intership at the Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center last?

Our collaboration began in January and ended at the end of May.

What did you learn during your internship at the Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center?

During my internship at Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center, I gained a deeper insight into what it is like to work with clinical research in practice. I got to use and deepen my knowledge from my education, especially in scientific thinking, analysis and writing. I also learned a lot about communication both personally and in scientific contexts, as well as what the research process looks like from data collection to the finished report. In addition, the internship gave me many important insights into the professional role itself and confirmed that I enjoy this way of working.

What challenges did you face during your internship at the Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center?

One of the biggest challenges was to familiarize myself with the clinical research field of ALS, which is both complex and interdisciplinary. It required a lot of reading to understand concepts, methods and previous studies. I was also faced with adapting to a new way of working to write and structure scientific texts according to the requirements and guidelines that Karolinska Institutet applies, which was somewhat different from what I was used to from my education. It was challenging but educational, and I feel that I have developed both in my ability to think scientifically and to communicate more professionally.

Are you satisfied with your overall experience at the Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center? If yes, please share with us what you enjoyed the most during your internship. If not, please share what did not meet your expectations so we can improve ourselves.

Yes, I am very satisfied with my time at Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center. What I appreciated most was the fantastic support I received from my supervisors, Caroline and Juliette. They were accessible, patient and educational, and managed to convey their expertise in a way that was adapted to my level as a bachelor's student, which I know is not always easy. Their commitment and way of including me in the work made me feel both safe and motivated. I really have nothing to be dissatisfied with, on the contrary, this time has exceeded my expectations.

Please share with us what is the key information or learning experience you will keep from this internship.

The biggest insight I have gained during my internship is how incredibly important research is that even the kind that initially doesn’t yield any clear answers or strong results. I have come to understand that every little piece of the puzzle, every sub-study and every analysis without a conclusive finding still contributes to the bigger picture. It is precisely these small steps that together lead to real breakthroughs. It has given me a whole new respect for the research process and a stronger motivation to be a part of it myself.

Would you recommend the Karolinska ALS Clinical Research Center to a friend or colleague?

Without a doubt! For everyone, regardless of level.