Collaborating Expert

The Collaborating Expert Programme is addressed to scientists and professionals who can share their expertise in a particular area of EMA’s activities or are interested in collaborative research projects related to EMA’s scientific work.

The aim is to provide a mechanism for EMA and external researchers to collaborate in identifying and tackling important research questions to support regulatory decision-making.

This will help ensure that regulatory science remains at the cutting edge so that EMA can deliver its fundamental mission of protecting human and animal health and facilitating the availability of medicines to patients.

We are piloting a new programme of expert collaborations across the areas of EMA’s work. These experts will be salaried by their home institution but hosted by the EMA, either in person, or remotely.

You can find further information about the programme in the menu below.

  • Opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a scientific EU Agency allowing you to develop new competencies and skills in line with your personal interests and professional aspirations;
  • Opportunity to share, develop and translate your knowledge to contribute to the Agency’s objectives in public health;
  • A collaboration at the Agency’s premises in Amsterdam, and/or remotely;
  • Full-time (40 hours a week) or a part-time arrangement, in Amsterdam and/or remotely, depending on the profile (see specific collaboration profiles for further details);
  • Interaction and dissemination of your work to stakeholders including, as appropriate, academic publication.

  • Building inter-institutional collaboration with the EMA;
  • Personnel and expertise development of your staff and/or students;
  • Potential for facilitated access to regulatory data and information;
  • Joint research undertaking, and publications as appropriate.

  • An open-minded approach to maximising the opportunities from collaboration;
  • An interest in learning about the Agency’s working methods;
  • A readiness to contribute to the Agency’s work with your expertise and fresh perspective;
  • A proactive attitude.

  • The possibility to contribute to the Agency’s mission;
  • Support and partnership to translate your ideas into tangible impact;
  • Help you to grow professionally;
  • Create learning opportunities for you;
  • Open collaboration with European regulatory specialists.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply for the Agency’s Collaborating Expert programme, you must:

  • Be an EU or EEA national
  • Meet the requirements stated in the profile description;
  • Be a paid employee from national/European academia, research institutions or international organisations or a post graduate student within such organisations;
  • Proof of employment/student status and agreement in principle of employer/academic institution;
  • Have a thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1). Good knowledge of another official EU language (at least B2) would be an asset. Language levels can be viewed at the Common European Framework for Languages.
  • How to apply

    Please review the programme and identify which profile you are most interested at View all jobs page, select the opportunity of interest and submit an online application through the Careers portal.

    For guidance on how to use the EMA Careers portal, see EMA Careers user guide.

    Make sure you fulfil all eligibility criteria stated in the vacancy notice. If you don't meet the criteria, EMA cannot progress your application.

    Make sure you complete your candidate profile and application form as fully as possible, paying particular attention to the pre-screening questions and the ‘professional qualification’ section of the application form.

    During the first stage of the assessment of your application, EMA may use your answers to pre-screening questions to assess how you match the requirements of the advertised opportunity.

    You can create a candidate profile at any time and use it to pre-fill any future applications. You can change information in your application until the deadline for applications.

    You can log into the candidate portal at any time to track the progress of your applications.

    EMA communicates with candidates via email, so please check your inbox and spam folder regularly.

    Tips for your application

    The application form includes questions asking you to confirm you meet all the eligibility criteria. If you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, EMA will not be able to progress your application.

    Substantiate your answers to the pre-screening questions by describing all your relevant qualifications and experience (if applicable), even if already mentioned in other sections of your application form.

    Tailor the description of your skills to the requirements listed in the vacancy notice.

    Make sure your answers are concise and respect character limits.

    Check your grammar and spelling before submitting your application.

    Make sure you submit your application before the closing date. EMA cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date.

    What happens after I applied?

    We will assess your application to see how well you meet the listed requirements. This will take approximately 1-2 months.

    Collaborative experts that best match the profile will be invited for a short remote discussion to assess the collaboration potential.

    If you are successful, we will inform you again and send you a collaboration agreement with a starting date agreed between yourself, your organisation and the Agency.