Trainee (Improving consistency of MRLs for substances used in both veterinary drugs and pesticides)

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 Pharmaceuticals Office.

Specific objectives and projects

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are legally binding limits of residues of pharmacologically active substances that can be present in human food following their use in agriculture. They are set at levels that ensure consumer safety and play an important role in determining the acceptability of imported food. The EMA undertakes the scientific evaluation required for the establishment of MRLs for veterinary drugs while EFSA does the same for pesticides. Some active substances are used in both veterinary drugs and in pesticides and, for some of these, different MRLs have been established for the veterinary drug and pesticide, potentially causing difficulties for authorities responsible for monitoring residue levels. In this traineeship you will undertake a scientific analysis of these dual use substances and consider how divergent MRLs could be harmonised and what the impacts of such harmonisation might be.

Learning outcomes

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 veterinary medicine or life sciences (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

• Experience of reviewing scientific reports
• Experience of writing scientific reports
• Good communication skills

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