Trainee (Improving public access to Veterinary Medicines data)

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 Veterinary Strategic Support Office.

Specific objectives and projects

The UPD Public Portal provides the public with official, up to date information on all authorised veterinary medicines in the EU and EEA, in all official EU languages. It helps the public, veterinary healthcare professionals and other users find reliable information on veterinary medicines. 

The traineeship project goal is to enrich UPD Public Portal with new data sources and design an improved user experience. To achieve this goal, the traineeship will centre on three analytical deliveries, under the guidance of your mentor and experienced colleagues

• Mapping & Evaluation of New Data Sources - Identify and assess potential new data sources that could enhance the quality, completeness or clarity of information displayed on the UPD Public Portal.
• Gap Analysis of Current Portal Content - Conduct a structured review of existing portal content to identify opportunities for improved data presentation.
• User Needs & Experience Assessment- Analyse how different user groups (public, veterinary healthcare professionals, stakeholders) interact with the portal and determine how information finding tasks can be simplified and made more intuitive.

To do this you will apply structured analytical methods, such as:

• Data source mapping frameworks
• Gap and quality analysis
• Task flow and usability assessment
• Comparative analysis and benchmarking
• Clear documentation and communication of findings

By the end of the traineeship, the outputs you will produce are

• A Data Source Mapping Report - Overview of potential data sources, their characteristics and recommendations for inclusion.
• A Gap Analysis Report - Structured assessment of current UPD Public Portal content, highlighting missing or inconsistent information.
• A User Needs and Accessibility Assessment - Evidence‑based insights into the information‑seeking behaviour of different user groups and barriers they encounter.
• Recommendations for Future Development- Practical suggestions for improving information architecture, search functionality, navigation and data presentation.
• Conceptual Mock‑ups or Proposed Layout Improvements- High‑level examples illustrating clearer, more intuitive ways for users to find the information they need.

All outputs will directly support ongoing improvements to the UPD Public Portal and feed into future EMA development work.
The output of your work will be visible to, and used by, all UPD Public Portal users. 

Learning outcomes

You will take on meaningful tasks from the start, working in a supportive environment where learning is encouraged.
You will learn how EMA supports Veterinary Medicines Regulation in EU and EEA; and how the EMA works and communicates information to all interested parties.
You will get hands-on experience with EMA's technology stack and gain experience in understanding and documenting stakeholder needs.

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 scientific, mathematics, or computer science, or a degree with a substantial quantitative or statistical component (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

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

It would be advantageous to have user experience knowledge or process design experience.

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.

The Agency pays a monthly stipend of €2,049.77 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.

Expected selection timelines