Trainee (Accelerating Innovation, Optimizing Regulation, Strengthening Global Leadership)

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 Regulatory Science and Innovation Task Force.

Specific objectives and projects

Europe’s biotech and pharmaceutical sectors are at the forefront of medical innovation, yet regulatory and investment challenges can slow progress. To remain globally competitive, Europe must optimize its regulatory pathways, align investment strategies, and accelerate innovation adoption. This traineeship offers the opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of regulatory science and investment strategies that drive health innovation.

During this traineeship you will support Program Lead, EU Competitiveness in:

1. Assisting in the analysis of investment trends and regulatory processes in Europe's biotech and pharmaceutical sectors to identify key innovation bottlenecks.

2. Mapping regulatory pathways from early-stage discovery to market authorization, incorporating real-world evidence (RWE) and decision-making timelines.

3. Conducting research on regulatory science tools such as adaptive pathways and rolling reviews, assessing their impact on investment efficiency.

4. Supporting stakeholder engagement activities, including gathering insights from EU regulatory bodies and innovation networks.

5. Helping to track regulatory and funding pathways to enhance Europe's global competitiveness

Learning outcomes

• Understanding of how regulatory science and investment strategies interact across drug development.

• Exposure to translational pathways, regulatory decision-making, and the role of real-world data in accelerating approvals.

• Hands-on experience in research, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

• Familiarity with commercial intelligence tools for regulatory investment tracking.

• Observation of high-level policy discussions and regulatory forecasting at the EU level.

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 Master's degree in Health Economics, Data Science, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, Life Sciences, or AI in Healthcare, that must have been obtained between 6 May 2024 and 6 May 2025 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

For criteria 1 and 2, you will be required to provide proof in the application form and at the interview stage. Failing to present these documents may result in the disqualification from the procedure.

Additional skills

• Experience in AI, machine learning, or predictive modeling.

• Knowledge of venture capital, biotech funding, or regulatory science.

• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (e.g., adaptive pathways, real-world data applications, regulatory science initiatives).

• Strong analytical and data visualization skills.

• Ability to translate complex datasets into actionable regulatory and investment insights.

Behavioural Competencies

You will demonstrate the following behavioural competencies:

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

Expected selection timelines

Conditions of traineeship

The traineeship is offered for 10 months (1 October 2025 – 31 July 2026) 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.

The Agency pays a monthly stipend of €1,942.19 for a full-time traineeship (reduced accordingly for 80% or 50%) and a travel contribution upon joining the Agency.

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

The conditions of employment are stated in the Executive Decision on rules governing the traineeship programme at the EMA available here.