Trainee program for Baltic Sea ambassadors

Many workplaces across both the public and private sectors have an ambition to drive a green transition. One way to achieve this is by strengthening staff competence through further education in environmental and climate issues. With the aim of broadening knowledge in practical environmental science among social scientists - such as lawyers, political scientists, journalists, economists, and educators - BalticWaters is funding salaries for two trainee positions over a four-month period. The primary goal of the program is to increase understanding of environmental issues and how concrete measures can contribute to a healthier sea. In the longer term, the experience gained from the program can foster a deeper understanding of today’s environmental challenges and inspire participants to promote a green transition within their future workplaces.

About the trainee program

As a trainee at BalticWaters, you will gain deeper insight into how concrete measures can contribute to a healthier Baltic Sea. Under the guidance of researchers and experts, you will develop a policy document or in-depth article that identifies key challenges and proposes practical solutions. The foundation offers two trainee positions for individuals with different academic backgrounds, who will work together on a selected theme and explore an issue from multiple perspectives.

What will you gain?

You will gain a broad understanding of the Baltic Sea’s environment - from land to sea. The program will also equip you with skills in communicating scientific findings to decision-makers and in integrating scientific evidence with national and international policy.

Through your work, you will engage with researchers, experts, government agencies, and other key stakeholders, giving you valuable insight into the landscape and governance of environmental policy.

Who can apply and what is funded?

The program is aimed at Swedish speaking individuals who have recently graduated in social science disciplines such as law, political science, journalism, economics, or education. The foundation provides salary funding for two participants over a four-month period. BalticWaters covers ongoing supervision, materials, and travel related to the work. Accommodation during visits to project sites will be covered, but not housing for the remainder of the program period.

Would you like to complement your social science degree with practical environmental science, and are you interested in working in an environment where research is translated into concrete measures and communicated to decision-makers? Then you might be the right candidate for our trainee programme!

Application

You apply to our trainee programme by submitting a personal letter explaining your motivation for applying and what you expect to gain from the programme (download the application template here). Please also include your CV and degree certificate. Send your application to: trainee@balticwaters.org. If you have any questions about the programme, please contact helene.limen@balticwaters.org. Please note that the application, and the program, is in Swedish.

Timeline for the 2026 Call

  • The call opens on 30 March 2026 and closes on 26 June 2026.
  • The trainee programme begins on 14 September and runs for four months.
  • Please note: Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis, and positions may be filled before the application deadline. If you are interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

The positions for the 2026 trainee program have now been filled.

Application template

Trainee program content

Week 1

  • Introduction to the foundation’s activities and the trainee programme
  • Study visit to the Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University
  • Study visit to Skansen’s Baltic Sea Science Center (BSSC)
  • Lectures by foundation staff

Weeks 2–3

  • Study visits to Askö and Studsvik with researchers presenting the foundation’s demonstration projects
  • Thriving Bays – visit to Askö with lectures and field sampling
  • ReCod – visit to the BalticWaters fish research laboratory in Studsvik, including lectures and a guided tour
  • Reading and time allocated for selecting research questions linked to the projects

Weeks 4–5

  • The trainees jointly select a research question to develop further
  • A project outline is prepared, including a timeline and a plan for data collection and interviews

Weeks 6–8

  • Reading, interviews, and compilation of background material, with ongoing support and feedback from the foundation
  • A thematic week focused on policy, including a study visit to the Swedish Parliament and discussions with Members of Parliament and staff on how research findings are used in parliamentary work

Weeks 9–13

  • Compilation of written material
  • Draft policy paper submitted to researchers for fact-checking
  • Additional data collection and text revisions

Weeks 14–16

  • Final draft prepared with feedback from the foundation
  • Trainees prepare and present their work to the board
  • Feedback is incorporated and a final version produced
  • Completion of the trainee programme