AMEO at Eurofins – Timo Fuchs and Jann Baumeyer (2024)

Every Summer Semester, Ecotox Master students do a 2-month internship or AMEO (Applied Module at an External Organization). Today, Timo Fuchs and Jann Baumeyer tell us about their AMEO experience at Eurofins Agroscience Services Ecotox GmbH

For three months, we, Timo Fuchs and Jann Baumeyer, had the opportunity to complete our AMEO internship at Eurofins Agroscience Services Ecotox GmbH. Eurofins is a subsidiary of the Eurofins Group and a leading European service provider for efficacy and registration testing of agrochemical products, chemicals, biocides, and veterinary products. The company’s clients include major international chemical and pharmaceutical companies, as well as smaller manufacturers and service providers.

During our internship, we mainly worked on field studies, strictly following the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), study plans, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). We were involved in tasks such as bee, pollen, and vegetation sampling, conducting measurements, recording data (e.g. colony assessments, mortality, flight and behaviour of honey bees), and documenting experimental phases.

In the field handling bees
In the field handling bees
Taking field notes of bee samplings
Taking field notes of bee samplings
Areal view of research field
Areal view of research field

In addition, we occasionally worked in the laboratory, for example, preparing nectar stomachs. Within Eurofins Agroscience Services Ecotox GmbH, we predominantly worked in a team that focused on the effects of agrochemical products on bees. This specialization allowed us to gain insights into how these products impact bee health and learn from experienced professionals in the field.

We received a monthly salary of 500 Euros plus an additional 200 Euros for travel expenses. Overall, this internship was a valuable experience that allowed us to apply our theoretical knowledge in a practical setting and deepen our skills in fieldwork. It also helped us develop our abilities in compliance with regulatory guidelines and fostered our capacity to work independently and efficiently. This hands-on experience was a great step in preparing us for future careers in the field of ecotoxicology and environmental sciences.