Company
About the Organization
Sciensano is a renowned scientific institute that is dedicated to the challenge of uniting science, health and society. Sciensano is made up of about 1000 passionate workers who are committed every day to serving human and animal health through a variety of activities carried out in a professional and independent framework. Thanks to its long tradition of scientific expertise, Sciensano has distinguished itself as a leading scientific and public institution, but also as a key player in the interconnection between human health, animal health, and the environment ! Today, Sciensano draws its strength and specificity from a global and multidisciplinary approach to health, mobilizing unique research angles with the objective of contributing to the health of everyone.
More about Sciensano at : www.sciensano.be
Job description
Wanna give your training a strong societal turn ?
We are currently looking for a final-year Bachelor's or Master's student to join the Data Office team from October 1, 2026, to November 30, 2026. In this internship, you will identify and standardize the cataloguing of external datasets used by Sciensano.
The Data Office is responsible for ensuring that all data relevant to research, surveillance, and decision-making at Sciensano are collected, managed, and made available efficiently, reliably, and with the highest quality standards. These data must be stored, analyzed, shared, and reused while complying with the strictest standards of security, compliance, and ethics.
As part of its research, surveillance, and public policy advisory activities, Sciensano relies on numerous data sources, including datasets provided by external organizations and partners.
To gain a better overview of these data sources and facilitate their reuse, Sciensano is continuing the development of a central metadata catalogue compliant with the (Health)DCAT-AP standard. In this context, we are looking for an intern who will contribute to identifying, documenting, and cataloguing these datasets.
Within the Data Office, we are seeking a motivated individual to help map the external data sources used by Sciensano and contribute to improving the quality of our metadata catalogue.
Sciensano: the ideal place for your internship.
Choosing an internship at Sciensano means giving your education a strong societal dimension. Do you have the talent, curiosity, and commitment we are looking for in our future intern? Then don't wait any longer!
At Sciensano, our people are our greatest asset. You will join a human-sized organization where personal development is a priority, and where your mentor will be a dedicated scientist committed to guiding you through a journey of learning and excellence. You will work in a welcoming environment where kindness, inclusion, diversity, respect, and openness are core values.
You like what you are reading ? Amazing ! Then, your tasks will involve :
- Conducting an inventory of the external datasets and data sources used by Sciensano's various scientific departments.
- Identifying needs and opportunities for additional external data sources that are not currently available.
- Organizing and conducting interviews with researchers and data owners to gather information about these data sources.
- Documenting dataset metadata, including origin, ownership, content, terms of use, update frequency, accessibility, and other relevant information.
- Creating and maintaining metadata records in the central catalogue in compliance with the (Health)DCAT-AP standard.
- Reviewing, improving, and completing existing metadata records to enhance the quality, completeness, and consistency of the catalogue.
- Reporting on the progress of the inventory and, where appropriate, making recommendations to improve metadata management within Sciensano.
Profile
Your Profile :
Degree : You are a final-year Bachelor's or Master's student in Information Science, Data Science, Bioinformatics, Health Sciences, Computer Science, Library and Information Science, Public Administration, or a related discipline with an interest in data governance, metadata management, and research data, as well as an affinity for the scientific or public sector.
General Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Proactive mindset and ability to work independently.
- High level of professional integrity and strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and reliability in all tasks.
Technical Skills
- Basic knowledge of data and information management.
- Good command of Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Interest in health data, scientific research, or public health.
- Understanding of metadata and metadata standards is an asset.
- Knowledge of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) is a plus.
- Interest in data cataloguing, documentation, or data management is appreciated.
- Basic knowledge of databases, data repositories, or metadata management tools is considered an asset.
Language Skills
- A good active command of English is essential.
- Basic knowledge of French and/or Dutch.
We offer
The Offer :
- A full-time internship at a renowned scientific institute
- A dedicated mentor who will accompany you throughout your internship
- The opportunity to connect with leading scientists in your field
- A clear internship convention between you, your institution and us
- A stimulating internship environment to strengthen your expertise or acquire a first great experience
Application deadline : by 1st of September 2026.
Contact
Send your application quickly via our website : https://www.sciensano.be
What happens next ?
1° Our recruiters will analyze each application
2° We will then send you an email to inform you of the decision made based on your cv and cover letter
3° The candidates whose application best matches the position will be invited for an interview
