Ans.Red.

Students in research

Ans.Red.
Students in research

Students in research

- Would you like to contribute to a research project and receive credits for it?  

In the spring of 2025, NMBU started a brand new pilot project, known as Students in Research (SIF). This is a golden opportunity for students to get a taste of research early in their studies, before a possible bachelor’s and master’s thesis. The project is open to all students in all programs and years. AU member Ingeli Mortensen is the project manager for SIF and Tuntreet had a chat with her. 

Journalist: Jardar Nikan Alaei
Translator: S. Faseeha F. Gillani
Photographer: Thale Jensen Hevrøy


Students in Research (SIF) is a pilot project in 2025 with the goal of increasing student involvement in research, by allowing students to apply to participate in a research project and receive credits. So far, some student-involved research has already been carried out, but the idea behind SIF is to “develop a system that is available to all students so that they can have the opportunity to participate in research projects and gain experience with research before a possible bachelor’s/master’s thesis,” says Mortensen. The idea is that SIF will become a permanent offer for students, either as a separate subject or as a separate special curriculum. 

The formation of SIF 

When we asked how SIF came about, Mortensen replied, “The concept of Students in Research was initiated by the former research manager at AU. There was a desire to involve students more in research and the idea was taken up by the Research Committee.” When Mortensen started her role at AU, she worked on further developing SIF together with a working group consisting of employees from the research department, the studies department and the communications department at NMBU. “Since last fall, we have developed the project and put in place a framework, a system and a platform.” 

When the concept of ‘Students in Research’ was first raised among the researchers at NMBU, several were skeptical that such a project could be implemented, “When we set up a working group and developed a concrete plan, there was a lot of positivity among management and employees.” During the initial phase of the pilot project, Mortensen says that they chose to involve students and other employees, and this provided valuable input and ideas that have helped shape the implementation of the project. 

Interested researchers play an important role in the implementation of the pilot project. We asked about the recruitment process and Mortensen could tell us, “We have involved the researchers a lot. We have invited them to workshops for brainstorming, and we have involved the Research Committee centrally.” By involving interested researchers, they received good input on how the project could be implemented best for both the student and the researcher, “When we sent out an interest form before Christmas, I did not expect so many people interested in the pilot project 2025. There were over 40 researchers from all faculties, so it turned out that there is a lot of interest in this here.” 

The structure of SIF

The working group for SIF has developed its own learning objectives based on the degree you take and the credits you take through the special curriculum. SIF special curricula have been created for bachelor’s degree levels of 5 and 10 credits and for master’s degree levels of 5 and 10 credits. What all SIF special curricula have in common is that they should relate to the learning objectives stated on NMBU’s website:

  • Students gain practical experience with research as a working method and process.    

  • During the special curriculum, students will have gone through two or more stages of the research process, including relevant methods and tools.

  • Students acquire relevant professional knowledge and skills. 

  • Through participating in research, students develop an understanding of the unique nature of research and its contribution to society.

The application process  

The application process starts with finding a project that you are interested in via a platform that has been developed. After checking whether the project and the schedule are suitable for you, you move on to writing an application to the responsible researcher/teacher. The application should contain a transcript and a letter of motivation of no more than one page. Mortensen adds that there are no specific requirements for applying, but emphasizes that it is the researcher who decides who they want to admit based on the applications. After submitting an application, the students will be contacted by the researcher and will be notified whether they have been admitted or not. It is up to the researcher themselves whether they want an interview process in addition. 

Special curriculum and assessment method 

SIF special curriculum gives students the opportunity to adapt their own learning by entering into an agreement. On the NMBU website it is stated that “A special curriculum is a theoretical and/or practical assignment that, in the online version of course descriptions, is not specified as a separate course or as part of a course”. The student, together with a main supervisor and a co-supervisor, come together and enter into a SIF special curriculum agreement on what the curriculum, workload, and assessment method will be. The main supervisor will be a permanent academic employee at NMBU, for example as an associate professor or professor. A co-supervisor, on the other hand, can be a postdoctoral fellow or a PhD fellow. Further on the website it is stated that you will “work with one or more researchers/lecturers, and one of these will have the main responsibility for following up your work throughout the project period and for providing you with the necessary support and feedback”.