Why does ECDC need a candidate expert directory?
One of the key tasks of ECDC is timely delivery of evidence based scientific advice to support the policies and decisions of Europe’s risk managers and policy/decision makers in the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States. This can only be achieved through effective use of scientific excellence across Europe. To this end, ECDC, in cooperation with Members States, maintains a directory of external scientific experts (ECDC Candidate Expert Directory). This directory enhances ECDC’s capacity to conduct risk assessments, increases the transparency of the process through which experts are invited, and enables ECDC to respond more effectively and flexibly to the growing workload, particularly when there is an unexpected and urgent need for highly specialised expertise.
What happens after I respond to this announcement?
ECDC maintains a directory of external experts with basic background and contact information. This directory is used in the process of selecting experts to join ECDC’s specific scientific panels as needs arise. Each time ECDC needs the support of an external expert for a specific scientific task, a shortlist of potential experts is drawn up from the directory. The candidates who closely match the sought profile are contacted to check on their availability and interest in participating in the identified task.
Please note that sending your application to ECDC Candidate Expert Directory does not mean that you will be automatically invited to join an ECDC panel at some future time, but it will greatly increase a chance of this happening. This application does not lead to employment with ECDC as a staff member. See job opportunities for vacancies at ECDC.
What if I applied or worked as ECDC expert before October 2010?
Since we are completely re-organising our expert registration system, it will unfortunately be necessary for all interested experts or candidates to re-apply.
When and how can I join a scientific panel, group or otherwise participate in ECDC scientific activity?
To be selected for a particular panel, experts will have to meet certain criteria of scientific competence to assure optimal level of scientific advice provided by the Centre. These criteria include, but are not limited to:
- relevant professional experience e.g. previous involvement in risk assessment and provision of scientific advice
- ability to communicate and work in at least one Community language
- some measure of scientific capacity and experience, such as number of publications in peer-reviewed journals, number of PhD students supervised, etc.
- completed declaration of interest
In case your profile would be of interest for a given panel or another type of scientific involvement with the Centre, to review your profile in more detail against the criteria listed above, you will be asked to provide additional information.
What happens if I am selected to join a scientific panel, group or other ECDC scientific activity?
The amount of work depends on the type of specific activity. It may range from reviewing a draft risk assessment document produced by internal ECDC experts and providing comments (which usually involves no more than a few hours work) to being part of a longer-term ECDC scientific panel working on a specific guidance which may involve a few one-two days trips to ECDC premises in Stockholm or (rarely) another location for face-to-face panel meetings and individual work from home location of varying duration by e-mail or internet forum.
In accordance with ECDC regulations, selected experts from the directory who participate in specific scientific activities requiring travel to and stay in Stockholm or at another location, shall receive travel and daily subsistence allowances (including accommodation allowance if needed). More information about the allowances as well as expense reimbursement processes and rules will be sent to the experts selected for providing scientific advice to ECDC.
How does ECDC assure absence of conflicts of interest regarding members of its scientific panels?
Absence of interests prejudicial to the independence of potential external ECDC experts is based on review of submitted declarations of interest. ECDC has internal operating procedures regulating review of declarations of interest and prescribing steps to avoid such conflicts to interfere with the Centre’s scientific independence.
Who will use the directory and will my data be protected?
Your personal data will be processed, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000, under the responsibility of ECDC’s Chief Scientist (the ‘controller’) for the purpose of possibly selecting you for collaboration at ECDC.
They will be made available to ECDC public-health-expert staff with a work-related interest in the directory, and may be shared with other EU institutions and agencies, where necessary. However, in response to each such request to share data outside of ECDC, the Centre will ask for your permission before forwarding any of your personal data.
Furthermore, names of experts selected for participation in scientific panels will be published on ECDC's website.
Please note that provision of data in fields marked with an asterisk is a necessary condition for your inclusion in the directory. You will have at any time the right to obtain free access to your personal data and to have ECDC verify, rectify or erase them. These rights may be exercised by addressing a request to the controller (ECED@ecdc.europa.eu).
Apply to become ECDC external expert