Svenja Hess works as an aquaculture expert
An oyster-focused master’s thesis within the Master’s Programme in Sea and Society led to a position as an aquaculture expert. At her workplace at the Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Svenja Hess quite literally has the ocean just around the corner and can combine report writing with fieldwork.
What do you work with?
"I work as an aquaculture expert at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. Here, I’m involved in several different research projects on mussels, oysters, and seaweed. For example, I work on the EcoOyster project, where we investigate how the invasive Pacific oyster can be used as a resource while its harvesting can also support habitat restoration. We also study how aquaculture can adapt to climate change and contribute to restoration efforts."
What do you do at work?
"It varies a lot. Everything from writing applications for new projects to conducting data analyses. Writing reports and scientific articles is also part of the job. I also do quite a bit of fieldwork, both at our experimental farms near the research station and at commercial farms along the coast."
What do you like best about your job?
"The best part is getting out on the sea, for example when we take the boat out to our test farms in the Gullmar Fjord. When the sea is calm, the sun is shining, and a porpoise swims past the boat – it’s magical. I also really enjoy attending conferences, talking about my work, and meeting colleagues."
How did you get the job?
"I was lucky! I wrote my master’s thesis about the Pacific oyster. When my supervisor at IVL got a new job, she recommended me to take over her responsibilities. I applied for the position and got it!"
What from your education has been most useful in your work?
"I’ve made great use of the course on laws and regulations, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Water Framework Directive. I’ve also benefited a lot from the course on the blue economy and everything related to marine biology – especially our fieldwork at the research stations. Before I started the Sea and Society programme, I did my bachelor’s degree in administrative law in Germany and knew very little about marine life."
Do you have any tips for new students on the Sea and Society programme?
"I think they should take the opportunity to build a network during the programme. There are many interesting guest lecturers who can serve as entry points to jobs. During a course at Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, we had a visit from the seaweed company Nordic Seafarm, and I learned they were looking for part-time staff. I applied and got the job. I became so interested in seaweed cultivation that I later did an internship at the company, where I learned both how to propagate seaweed in the lab and how offshore cultivation works. That experience has been very valuable in my current job."
"For students who, like me, come from other countries, I would also recommend learning Swedish. It makes it much easier to find a job in Sweden."
