Internship in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques for multimedia data processing or malware analysis

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

Applications are invited for this internship project at the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).

Europol is located in The Hague, The Netherlands, and its mission is to support EU Member States in preventing and combating all forms of serious international and organized crime, cybercrime and terrorism.

Europol’s main tasks are the following:

a) to collect, store, process, analyse and exchange information, including criminal intelligence;

b) to coordinate, organise and implement investigative and operational actions to support and strengthen actions by the competent authorities of the Member States;

c) to notify the Member States, via the national units, without delay of any information and connections between criminal offences concerning them;

d) to provide information and analytical support to Member States in connection with major international events;

e) to develop, share and promote specialist knowledge of crime prevention methods, investigative procedures and technical and forensic methods, and provide advice to Member States;

f) to support Member States' cross-border information exchange activities, operations and investigations, as well as joint investigation teams, including by providing operational, technical and financial support;

g) to proactively monitor research and innovation activities that are relevant for the achievement of Europol’s objectives and contribute to such activities by supporting related activities of Member States and by implementing its own research and innovation activities;

h) to prepare threat assessments, strategic analyses and general situation reports relating to its objective, including organised crime threat assessments.

For more information please visit Europol’s website.

The objectives of Europol’s internship scheme are:

• To provide interns with a unique and first-hand experience of the workings of Europol in particular and of the European Union institutions in general. It aims at providing an understanding of the objectives and goals of the Europol processes and policies;
• To enable interns to acquire practical experience and knowledge of the day-to-day work of Europol departments and services. To provide the opportunity to work in a multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi-ethnic environment contributing to the development of mutual understanding, trust and tolerance. To promote European integration within the spirit of new governance and through active participation to create awareness of true European citizenship;
• To provide the opportunity to interns to put into practice knowledge acquired during their studies and training and in particular their specific areas of competence. To introduce these interns to the professional world and the constraints, duties and opportunities therein.

Europol, through its internship scheme:

• Benefits from the input of enthusiastic interns, who can give a fresh point of view and up-to-date academic and educational knowledge, which will enhance the everyday work of Europol;
• Creates a pool of interns with first-hand experience of and training in Europol procedures, who will be better prepared to collaborate and co-operate with Europol in the future;
• Creates long-term “goodwill ambassadors” for European ideas and values both within the European Union and outside.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

INTERNSHIP PROJECT SPECIFICATION

The aim of this internship project announcement is to establish a reserve list of successful candidates for (a) the Data Science and AI Team in ICT Strategy & Execution Coordination Unit, Capabilities Directorate and (b) the CYBORG Team in the European Cyber Crime Centre (EC3), EC3 Operations Unit, Operations Directorate. 

The selected applicant(s) will join the internship project(s) for a minimum period of 6 months and a maximum period of 12 months, including any possibility of extension based on the performance of the intern and the interest of the service and subject to budget availability, with a work schedule of 40 hours a week. The internship will take place at the Europol premises in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Based on the profile of the successful candidates, the selected intern(s) will be allocated to one of the teams listed below:

Data Science and AI Team (one internship)
This internship project focuses on developing and using Python scripts for automated data processing of multimedia formats (text, image, audio), as well scripts for data annotation, data augmentation or synthetic data creation in those formats. The intern will support the team by:

• Using python scripts;
• Assisting with the development of data augmentation techniques;
• Supporting with the development of scripts for automated creation of synthetic data;
• Assisting with the development of scripts for data annotation;
• Reviewing and researching academic literature about these topics;
• Assisting with the training and testing of machine learning models;
• Other related tasks identified by the supervisor.

CYBORG Team (two internships)
This internship project focuses on developing analysis tools and/or exploring malware analysis options. Depending on their skillset, the intern(s) will support the team by:

• Creating scripts and programs in Python to process and analyse data;
• Assisting with the development of scripts for data annotation / data processing / data visualisation;
• Developing machine-learning techniques to extract insights from large datasets including PCAP, malware samples, netflow data, etc.
• Assisting in the development of front-end tools for data exploration or back-end development for efficient data handling;
• Reviewing and researching academic literature about these topics;
• Other related tasks identified by the supervisor.

REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1.

• Be a national of a Member State of the European Union;
• Have reached the age of majority in their country of origin;
• Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies or vocational training relevant for the tasks of Europol. Only diplomas issued by EU Member State authorities and diplomas recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU Member State bodies are accepted. If the main studies took place outside the European Union or at a non-EU establishment located within the European Union the candidate’s qualification (hereinafter “non-EU diploma”), must have been recognised by a body delegated officially for the purpose by one of the European Union Member States (such as a national Ministry of Education);
• Have very good knowledge of English, which is Europol’s main language of internal communication, and a satisfactory knowledge (corresponding at least to B1 level of the Common European framework of reference for the level of languages) of another language of the European Union.

2.

• Not have already for more than six weeks:
• Benefited from any kind of internship (formal or informal, paid or unpaid) within a European institution, agency or body (including Europol), or
• Had any kind of employment within a European institution, agency or body (including Europol).

SELECTION CRITERIA

a.    Experience (in academic or professional settings):

• Experience or interest in programming in Python, data science and machine learning, including via study assignments;
• Experience in projects related to data science, machine learning or cybersecurity, including via study assignments;
• Experience or interest in working with large datasets.

b.    Subject knowledge/education:

• Completed university studies or vocational training, in the field of computer science, engineering, programming or any other relevant for the project(s) field;
• Knowledge of software development, ideally in Python;
• Knowledge of machine learning;
• Knowledge of database systems, relational (SQL) and/or non-relational (noSQL);
• Understanding of data analysis techniques;
• Familiarity with network protocols/network analysis tools.

c.    General competencies:

• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbally and in writing;
• Very good time management skills and ability to work under tight deadlines/under pressure;
• Proficient user of IT applications in general and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the internet;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work well in a team as well as independently;
• Ability to work in an international and multi-cultural environment.
  

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Applications for internships, as well as document(s) proving the recognition of a non-EU diploma (where applicable), must be submitted via the online e-recruitment tool available on Europol’s website. They shall be received by HR at the latest on the closing date set.

The selection will be carried out by a Selection Committee consisting of one representative of the HR Unit and at least two representatives from the Directorate(s)/Department(s) requesting the internship.
Applications for internships will be judged on merit, on the basis of the published selection criteria. Europol will keep, to the best level possible, gender balance and equilibrium between interns from the different Member States.  

Candidates invited to a remote interview will be required to provide, before or on the day of the interview, the following documents in original or (certified) copy:

• A valid passport/identity card;
• University Diploma (or Certificate of completion of studies proving that the candidate has a level of education corresponding to completed university studies)/certificate of completed vocational training.

After the selection procedure has taken place, the Selection Committee will establish a list of successful candidates (reserve list), which shall be valid for 12 months. Inclusion on the reserve list does not guarantee receiving an internship offer.

Internships shall not be offered to successful candidates included on the reserve list who for more than six weeks have already:

a) benefited from any kind of internship (formal or informal, paid or unpaid) within a European institution, agency or body (including Europol), or
b) had any kind of employment within a European institution, agency or body (including Europol).

COMPENSATION, TERMS AND CONDITION

SALARY: NONE

During the period of internship, interns currently receive a MONTHLY MAINTENANCE GRANT of 1.500 EUR, serving the purpose to cover the costs of living in The Netherlands. In accordance with the rules applicable to the Europol’s internship scheme mentioned below, this amount may be updated in the course of an internship.

Upon request, interns must be able to provide invoices and receipts relating to living expenses incurred in the Netherlands during their internship at Europol.

The interns who continue to be paid by their employer for the purpose of following an internship at Europol, or who receive a grant or a subsistence allowance from another source aimed at covering the living costs incurred by interns during an internship at Europol, shall only be entitled to a financial contribution from Europol if the sum they receive is less than the amount of the monthly maintenance grant. In that case, they shall receive the difference.

All interns are insured by Europol against the risk of accident or death while present or having a link to Europol premises.

All interns must possess sickness insurance throughout the entire period of their internship. Proof of this insurance must be presented to HR before the start date of the internship. Interns are advised to take out a civil liability insurance.

An intern placed at Europol shall be allocated a formal supervisor who will be responsible for his/her supervision whilst at Europol. This shall include the establishment of formal learning objectives and assessing these at the end of the internship. The intern and his/her supervisor will be required to produce a final report on the internship period (i.e. Internship Performance Report).

Europol offers to interns the same flexible working arrangements offered to staff members, two (2) days of leave per complete month of internship as well as ad hoc additional days of leave in exceptional circumstances.

The internship contract will be provided to the intern on the first day of the internship.

No intern may serve beyond a 12-month period at Europol in the same or a similar capacity (i.e. a second internship).

All interns who may be entrusted with a sensitive activity or access classified information at Europol shall be security cleared at the appropriate level, prior to commencing the internship.

Interns shall provide a recent (i.e. not older than three months when presented to Europol) Certificate of Good Conduct prior to commencing the internship. An overview of relevant certificates for each of the Member States is available on the Europol website. The certificate is to be issued by the authorities of the Member State of which the intern is a national. Europol may also accept a valid security clearance issued by a competent National Authority, which should be presented for validation to Europol prior to commencing the internship.

Please note that the internship scheme of Europol is governed by the Decision of the Executive Director on Internships available on Europol’s website. Candidates are kindly invited to refer to the said Decision for further details on Europol’s internship scheme (such as the internship contract, financial matters and insurance, working conditions, interns’ rights and obligations, early termination). 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Privacy Notice

Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC, applies to the processing of personal data carried out in the process of selection of interns at Europol, following the application of this Regulation to all administrative personal data held by Europol in accordance with Article 46 of the Europol Regulation.

For additional information, please consult the applicable privacy notice available on Europol’s website.

MAIN DATES

Publication date: 5 February  2024
Deadline for application: 26 February 2024, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone
Remote interviews: March 2024
Starting date of the internship project: May/June 2024 or later