Trainee (Optimising assessments in the context of referral procedures)

This traineeship opportunity is open at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Amsterdam, with an intake on 1 October 2026.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU) responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU.

About the traineeship programme

The Agency is looking for motivated, qualified recent graduates or students on an Erasmus+ or other programme, or PhD students or Master's students (who posses a previous degree), who are interested in gaining experience and contribute to the Agency’s work for every patient in Europe. The purpose of a traineeship at the Agency is to perform tasks that are predominantly in the interest of the trainee’s training and principally serve to increase the trainee’s knowledge and to gain relevant experience.

Placement description

We are looking for a trainee in the Referrals Office.

Specific objectives and projects

Referral procedures on human medicines can encompass both nationally authorised products and centrally authorised products, as well as marketing authorisation applications. These procedures require EMA to carry out a scientific assessment of the issue referred to it, in relation to a particular medicinal product or class of medicines, or a broader scientific matter, in order to make a recommendation for a harmonised position across the EU. These procedures are rare and complex by nature, and some of them may affect hundreds of medicinal products, with a large volume of data submissions.

To support assessors and committees in their assessment of these procedures, comprehensive guidance for assessors is needed. Building on existing training material, available guidance and templates as well as any new learnings acquired in the context of the assessment of recent procedures, the trainee will develop a dedicated workbook for assessors, clearly detailing the scientific/procedural/regulatory specificities of these procedures depending on their legal basis. To achieve this, the trainee will be expected to liaise with different assessment teams to identify the needs, consider possible ways to streamline workflows to reduce unnecessary complexity, and create further capacity for the Agency and the network.

This activity is part of a larger project that aims at optimising and facilitating the assessment of data gathered by committees and assessors, with a view to strengthening capacity and capability across the EU regulatory and scientific network. This work will contribute to supporting robust regulatory outcomes and the protection of public health.

Learning outcomes

Through this project, the trainee will:

• gain knowledge of the functioning of the Agency, its scientific committees and the EU regulatory network;
• gain a good understanding of the different types of referral procedures;
• strengthen knowledge of EU pharmaceutical legislation;
• develop and enhance skills in data analytics, project management, organisation and communication.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration for this placement, you are required to:

1. enjoy full rights as a citizen of a European Union Member State or Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway;
2. possess a university degree in pharmacy, medicine or other life science (minimum of three years or more) that must have been obtained between 6 May 2025 and 6 May 2026 or be a university student on an Erasmus + or a similar programme or a PhD student or a Master's student with a previous fully finished degree in the areas mentioned before.
3. a thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1) and good knowledge of other official EU language (at least B2) of the Common European Framework for Languages

Additional skills

Excellent verbal and writing communication skills with ability to compile, summarise and present information clearly and effectively. Desired education in development or registration of medicines.

Behavioural Competencies

You will demonstrate the following behavioural competencies:

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Working with others
• Adaptability
• Research and analytical skills
• Learning and development

Conditions of traineeship

The traineeship is offered for 10 months (1 October 2026 – 31 July 2027) and takes place at the Agency’s premises in Amsterdam with possibility for teleworking up to 40% of working time from The Netherlands and occasional teleworking from outside The Netherlands. Traineeships are offered for either full-time or part-time (80% or 50%) if combined with university studies.

Each trainee will have a mentor at the Agency who will guide the trainee through the programme.

What do we offer?

• Meaningful work contributing to protecting the health of every individual and animal in Europe within multinational, multidisciplinary team
• Development opportunities (e.g. internal mobility, mentoring, peer coaching, career reflection programme, etc.)
• Work-life balance (flexible working arrangements, teleworking, generous annual leave plus official holidays)