Training

HiLIFE and its units are involved in several educational and training activities. Below you can find more information on the activities supported by the institute, and more unit-specific activities are listed in the unit subpages. Several of the HiLIFE training activities listed here are coordinated by the HiLIFE EDU working group.
HiLIFE TRAINEE PROGRAMS
HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarship

The HiLIFE Trainee programs support the enrolled University of Helsinki BSc, MSc, and Lic (Med, Med Vet, Dentistry) students in their journey to become scientists.

Practical research training during undergraduate studies can be an empowering experience. HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarships offer an opportunity to conduct a research training period at a life science research group as a part of your studies (particularly BSc/MSc/Lic thesis). The selected research group can be either at the University of Helsinki or at another research institution in Finland or abroad.

The call for 2026 Trainees has concluded in late 2025. The 19 Scholarship recipients have been announced in (internal access only).

Stay tuned for the 2027 HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarship call! More information will be provided in autumn 2026.
HiLIFE Trainee Course / Summer School / Conference Grant
The latest call was open during 22.4. - 13.5.2024

On this call, HiLIFE offered funding to support the University of Helsinki BSc. and MSc. students interested in attending a local (Finnish) or international course, summer school or conference during June - December 2024.

HiLIFE EDU is not currently planning to open a new Trainee Course / Summer School / Conference Grant call in the upcoming years. If this initiative returns to our annual cycle of support activities, we will inform about it in advance on our communication channels.
SUPPORT FOR HiLIFE POSTDOCS
Postdoc council and representation in HiLIFE EDU

HiLIFE has established a Postdoc Council with members from the Viikki Postdoc Association (ViPA), Neuroscience Center (NC), and Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM). The goal of this Council is to connect postdocs working in different HiLIFE units, as well as share resources and support with the whole HiLIFE postdoc community. Additionally, the Council maintains close collaboration with the University of Helsinki Postdoc Association, for example by co-organizing an annual cross-campus event.

Each year, the HiLIFE Postdoc Council nominates a representative to HiLIFE EDU work group. In 2026, Tristen Hewitt () from NC is serving on this role.
HiLIFE Postdoc Conference Grants

Call open for 2026 HiLIFE Postdoc Conference Travel support

Once an annum, HiLIFE is offering funding for conference travel to postdoctoral researchers (career level 2) affiliated with HiLIFE. (). 

The support, of max. €800 (within Europe) and €1300 (other continents), is intended to be used for the registration and travel costs of the conference. If the total costs are higher than what is covered by the granted support, the applicant should be prepared to provide supplementing personal funding and/or secure additional funds from their research group. 

Further information can be found in .

If you have any questions, please contact . Help with travel-related questions: .

Training at units

Contacts

For inquiries about these training activities, you can write to .