Traineeships 2026 - Operations and Programme Units

Global Health EDCTP3 and Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) are organising a call for expression of interest for trainees in their respective Operations and Programme Units, for the Autumn session starting in October 2026.

In addition, for CBE, a second traineeship period corresponding to the Spring session will start in April 2027.

About Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking

The Global Health European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 3 Joint Undertaking (Global Health EDCTP3 JU) is a partnership between the European Union and the EDCTP Association, uniting over 40 African and European countries.

The JU tackles global health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa by supporting collaborative research and innovation to develop new medicines, vaccines and diagnostics that can save lives across sub-Saharan Africa and around the world.

About Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe.

The role of CBE JU is to bring together various actors from bio-based industries, ranging from farmers to scientists, to solve the technological, regulatory and market challenges of the sector. Its public-private funding scheme boosts innovation and market deployment and paves the way for future investments.

Traineeship programme

The programme gives trainees an understanding of the Joint Undertakings and their role within the activities of the European Union, as well as enables them to acquire practical knowledge and professional experience in the field of each JU.

The trainee will have an opportunity to:

• Acquire practical experience and knowledge of the day-to-day work of an EU organisation.
• Work in a diverse, multi-cultural, and multi-linguistic environment, contributing to the development of mutual understanding, trust and tolerance.
• Put into practice knowledge acquired during their studies, particularly in their specific areas of competence.

From this experience the trainee will gain ability to work effectively in a multinational/multicultural and complex environment; accuracy and attention to detail; very good organisational and communication skills; report preparation and writing skills; web-tool/database management skills; time management.

Job description

With the guidance of a supervisor, the trainees will work with colleagues in the following areas that support institutional objectives including:

• Follow-up of ongoing projects and support to the evaluation of project proposals;
• Support data collection and data analysis, including dashboards visualization;
• Draft notes, prepare documents and presentations, including background materials;
• Support in the organization of meetings/workshops, including preparation of the agenda, the presentations and of their minutes.

The successful candidates may be required to undertake other tasks and activities in the interest of the service.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following requirements, to be fulfilled by the closing date for applications and maintained throughout the selection procedure and appointment:

Nationality

• Be a national of a member state of the European Union or, for EDCTP3 only, of a country member of the EDCTP Association and participating in the Global Health EDCTP3 programme.

Education and professional experience

• Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three (3) years attested by a diploma or on-going post-university studies.

Languages

• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge (at least B2 level) of another of these languages to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties.

Prior experience

• Have not previously undertaken for more than six (6) weeks a paid or unpaid traineeship or any kind of employment in another EU institution, Agency, or body.

Selection criteria

Eligible candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following criteria:

Essential qualifications

• A very good command of oral and written English (at least C1 level).
• A relevant Master’s Degree related to programme.
• Proficiency in MS Office, in particular Word processing, Excel spreadsheets, Outlook, PowerPoint.

For CBE JU: biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, chemical engineering, biology, environmental engineering, etc.

For EDCTP3: biomedical sciences, epidemiology, public health, etc.

Advantageous criteria

• Professional experience or project development in area relevant to the chosen JU.
• A PhD in a field relevant to the programme of the chosen JU.

Behavioural competences

• Growth mindset.
• Ability to manage priorities and multi-task.
• Attention to detail.
• Analytical capabilities.
• Customer service-oriented approach.
• Interpersonal and collaboration skills: ability to listen and create goodwill, work in a team.

Conditions of employment

Admission to a traineeship does not confer on trainees the status of temporary agents or other servants of the European Union nor does it entail any right or priority with regard to future engagement in the JU. Trainees cannot benefit from any privileges and immunities granted by the host country to temporary agents or other servants of the Global Health EDCTP3 and CBE JUs.

The traineeship is offered for a 6-month period.

Remuneration

The grant shall amount to 25% of the monthly basic salary of an official in grade AD 5, step 1 (EUR 1.539,16 per month).

Grants paid to trainees are not subject to the special tax regulations applying to officials and other servants of the European Union. Trainees themselves are solely responsible for the payment of any taxes resulting of their traineeship contract by virtue of the laws in force in their respective countries.

Recruited trainees are entitled to receive a contribution to public transport in accordance with the rules as set out in the contribution scheme to public transportation for the JUs.

Travel allowance

Trainees are entitled to a reimbursement of travel expenses incurred:

• At the beginning of the traineeship: from the place of recruitment to the place of traineeship.
• At the end of the traineeship: from the place of the traineeship to the place of recruitment.

Health and accident insurance

Health and accident insurance is mandatory. Trainees shall be responsible for organising their own insurance against accident along with health cover and any insurance required for family members for the duration of the traineeship. Trainees should submit to the JUs a copy of the insurance concluded within maximum two (2) weeks from the start of the traineeship.

Missions

In exceptional cases only, trainees may be sent on a mission provided that the mission is of a technical, and not of a representative character. The authorisation shall be granted by the Executive Directors of each JU. For the reimbursement of these mission expenses, the general procedure of reimbursement provided in the Mission guides will apply, as for the JUs staff members.

Independence and declaration of interest

The successful candidate will be required to make a declaration of their commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence.

Protection of personal data

All personal data provided by applicants will be dealt with in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data.