Non-academic organizations – InterACT [Skip to content](#main) [ ![InterACT](https://interact-programme.be/build/assets/interact-Bz2nHYWk.svg)](https://interact-programme.be) Menu - [About](https://interact-programme.be) - [Call](https://interact-programme.be/call) - [FAQ](https://interact-programme.be/faq) - [VUB supervisors](https://interact-programme.be/vub-supervisor) - [Non-academic organizations](https://interact-programme.be/non-academic-organizations) - [People](https://interact-programme.be/people) - [News](https://interact-programme.be/news) [Apply](https://interact-programme.be/apply) - [About](https://interact-programme.be) - [Call](https://interact-programme.be/call) - [FAQ](https://interact-programme.be/faq) - [VUB supervisors](https://interact-programme.be/vub-supervisor) - [Non-academic organizations](https://interact-programme.be/non-academic-organizations) - [People](https://interact-programme.be/people) - [News](https://interact-programme.be/news) [Apply](https://interact-programme.be/apply) Search Non-academic organizations ============================ Below you will find a list of non-academic organizations that have already agreed to host fellows for a secondment. Are you a Belgian non-academic organization interested in hosting a fully funded postdoctoral fellow for 3-5 months? During the secondment, the InterACT programme will continue to pay for the fellows’ salaries and transportation. So the secondment will be at no cost to your organization. Complete this short form and we will include your information below so that applicants can easily find you! [Open the form](?form=1#apply-form) - European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) -------------------------------------- ### Mentor: Jasmina Cunmulaj Strategic Partnership and Leadership Manager Non-Governmental Organisation ### Presentation The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows on research that strengthens the connection between evidence, policy and civil society. Areas of particular interest reflect EPHA’s strategic priorities: determinants of health, including health inequities, prevention and health-harming industries; Planetary and One Health, including climate, pollution, food systems and antimicrobial resistance (AMR); and democracy and civic space, including evidence-based policymaking, public trust and meaningful civil society participation. EPHA welcomes opportunities for applied and policy-oriented research, knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly where research can inform European policymaking, strengthen evidence-based advocacy and contribute to systemic and societal impact. Fellows would have opportunities to engage with EPHA’s network of civil society organisations, experts, policymakers and partners, helping to bridge research, policy and action. - FEANTSA - European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Migration ### Mentor: Simona Barbu Policy Profiles Team Leader NGO ### Presentation FEANTSA – Migration department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of EU policy and migration and homelessness. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - DGAPF - Directorate-General Animal Plant and Food ------------------------------------------------- Foods and Consumer Products ### Mentor: Carl Berthot General Advisor and Strategic Director Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation DGAPF – Foods and Consumer Products department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of food safety and risk assessment, chemical and emerging contaminants in the food chain (including PFAS, pesticide residues and heavy metals), animal feed safety and sustainability, novel protein sources, novel foods, food innovation and emerging technologies, food contact materials, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and new genomic techniques, cosmetics and other consumer products, tobacco and related products, evidence-based policymaking, and the interaction between scientific research, risk assessment and risk management. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields, with particular interest in stakeholder engagement and the societal impact of public policies related to food safety and consumer products. - DGAPF - Directorate-General Animal, Plant and Food -------------------------------------------------- Crop Management Division ### Mentor: Miryam Benalla Collection Management Officer Plant Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation DGAPF – Crop Management Division is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of the integration of the One Health approach into policy, the use of open and non-public data for the assessment and forecasting of phytosanitary risks, and the integration of social sciences into communication strategies. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - CERAC - Climate Risk Assessment Center -------------------------------------- Federal and international policy ### Mentor: Tristana Beyens Thematic expert - Federal and international policy Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation CERAC – The federal and international policy department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of understanding and avoiding maladaptation to climate change, comparative analyses of climate adaptation policies and legal frameworks, assessment of climate-related hazards such as heat and wildfires, identification of barriers and limitations to climate adaptation in Belgium, and the exchange of good practices from other countries to support evidence-based climate resilience strategies. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - CERAC - Climate Risk Assessment Center -------------------------------------- Social Impact Climate Change ### Mentor: Els Barnard Thematic expert - Social Impact Climate Change Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation CERAC – Social Impact of Climate Change department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of understudied health risks related to climate change, including mental health impacts, interactions between climate-related risks such as heat and air pollution, innovative heat adaptation measures, quantitative comparison of adaptation options, and modelling social vulnerabilities to heat stress risks in Belgium. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - CERAC - Climate Risk Assessment Center -------------------------------------- Environment ### Mentor: Aurore Brunson Thematic expert - Environment Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation CERAC - Environment department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of food risks related to climate and environmental change, the relationship between soil degradation and the nutritional quality of food, the impact of global climate change on food supply, the links between food production systems and soil degradation, and broader interactions between environmental sustainability, food systems, and public health. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment --------------------------------------------- MEDEX ### Mentor: Katty Cauwerts Deputy Director-General - Strategic Advisor Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation FPS - MEDEX is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of the follow-up of civil servants on long-term sick leave, alcohol and drug policy in the medical assessment of professional drivers, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in insurance medicine. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields - FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment --------------------------------------------- Directorate-General for Environment ### Mentor: Claire Collin Head of Climate Department Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation FPS – Directorate-General for Environment department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the area of climate services, including the development, provision, and use of climate-related information to support evidence-based decision-making and environmental policy. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in this field. - FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment --------------------------------------------- Directorate-General for Preparedness and Response ### Mentor: Stijn De Kesel Project leader and Advisor-General Strategic Leader Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation FPS – Directorate-General for Preparedness and Response department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of the organisation of the 1733 non-emergency medical assistance service, operating alongside the 112 Emergency Centre. The integration of the First Medical Responder (FMR) into the Emergency Medical Assistance System (Dringende Geneeskundige Hulpverlening, DGH), which inlcudes: Cost-efficiency within the DGH fixed budget envelope; Recognition and capacity planning; Training requirements; Dispatching by the Emergency Call Centre (NC); Insurance coverage; Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. Mentors for the Directorate-General for Preparedness and Response are: Stijn De Kesel and Hannelore Andries (Advisor-General Strategic Leader; hannelore.andries@health.fgov.be) - Sciensano --------- Epidemiology and public health: Health services research ### Mentor: Joke Wuyts Rare diseases teamleader non-profit ### Presentation The Rare Diseases Team at Sciensano works at the intersection of research, healthcare and policy. Our activities focus on data collection and analysis to advance epidemiological research, inform healthcare policy, and improve the quality of care for people living with rare diseases. Sciensano – Epidemiology and Public Health (Rare Diseases Team) is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of rare diseases research and epidemiology using registry data, the use of real-world health and clinical data to better understand rare diseases, the organisation and quality of rare disease care, and research on newborn screening and cross-border care using registry-based data. The team welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration to advance epidemiological research, inform healthcare policy, and improve the quality of care for people living with rare diseases Our activities: Our team manages several rare disease registries, including the Central Rare Disease Registry, Belgian Neuromuscular Diseases Registry, Belgian Cystic Fibrosis Registry and Belgian Bleeding Disorders Registry, Belgian Genetic Testing Database, and manages the Belgian Orphanet database, as well as contributes to projects related to cross-border care, data interoperability and data linkage. More information about the Rare Diseases Team: https://www.sciensano.be/index.php/en/topics/rare-diseases/sciensano-role Collaborations: Our activities covers a broad range of rare disease areas and includes collaboration at national and international level with healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and patient organisations. Depending on the candidate’s expertise and interests, and on our ongoing activities at the time of the secondment, we can identify a suitable topic and scope within the team. - FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment --------------------------------------------- Service of the President (DVZ) ### Mentor: Thomas Janssens Deputy Strategic Advisor Government (Federal Ministry) ### Presentation FPS – Service of the President (DVZ)department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of evidence-based policy making, policy advice, the use of scientific evidence in decision-making, policy development, policy evaluation, and knowledge translation between research and policy. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - POLIS ----- Policy & Projects ### Mentor: Karen Vancluysen Secretary General International non-profit association ### Presentation POLIS is the leading European network of cities and regions, working together on sustainable mobility and innovation. Since 1989, European local and regional authorities have been working together within POLIS to promote sustainable mobility through the deployment of innovative transport solutions. To this end, we support peer-to-peer exchange and offer training on a wide range of transport topics, we help our members engage in and get access to EU-funded research and innovation, and we provide local decision-makers with the necessary information and tools for making sustainable mobility a reality. POLIS is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of active travel and health, clean vehicles and air quality, smart mobility and traffic systems, road safety and security, access and parking, urban freight transport, governance and integration. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields More information about POLIS is available here: www.polisnetwork.eu On this page, you will find more about the wide range of topics POLIS addresses: https://www.polisnetwork.eu/what-we-do/topics/ - FEANTSA-European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Youth and LGBTIQ+ homelessness ### Mentor: Sergio Pérez Barranco Policy officer Non-profit ### Presentation FEANTSA – Youth and LGBTIQ+ Homelessness is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of prevention of youth homelessness, including school-based interventions; stable transitions into housing for young people leaving child protection systems; youth work in homelessness services; housing solutions for young people experiencing homelessness, including Housing First for Youth; and links between the youth and homelessness sectors. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - EuroHealthNet ------------- ### Mentor: Alison Maassen Programme Manager Non-profit (ASBL/VZW) ### Presentation EuroHealthNet is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of health promotion, health equity and inequalities, chronic diseases and risk factors, diet and physical activity, healthy ageing, vaccination, fair economies and social systems, housing and neighbourhoods, climate crisis and sustainability, Health in All Policies and governance, sustainable health systems, mental health and wellbeing, and EU affairs and policy. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - FEANTSA-European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Housing team ### Mentor: Anna Bajomi Energy poverty policy officer EU NGO, non-profit ### Presentation FEANTSA – Housing Team is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of renovation and humanisation of homeless service buildings, financing the renovation of the worst-performing buildings, implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), prioritising vulnerable households in energy savings and financing schemes, EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) funding for energy efficiency, analysis of national and EU funding distribution with a focus on vulnerable groups, facilitating the transition of low-income solid fuel users to affordable and clean heating solutions, and the broader social, economic, and health benefits of small-scale district heating systems, including geothermal solutions. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - Mental Health Europe -------------------- Policy unit ### Mentor: Camille Roux Policy Manager Non-profit ### Presentation Mental Health Europe is the main independent European non-governmental network organisation committed to the protection of the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities, the promotion of positive mental health, the prevention of mental distress, and the improvement of mental health care and social inclusion. Mental Health Europe (MHE) is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of the rights of persons with disabilities, with a focus on psychosocial disabilities, social rights and equality as determinants of mental health, and digitalisation & health. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - Sciensano --------- Health Services Research ### Mentor: Margot Buyle Team lead Diabetes Non-profit ### Presentation Sciensano – Health Services Department is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of diabetes in children, adolescents and adults, diabetic foot, diabetic registries, and quality of care. The department welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - Sciensano --------- Department of Chemical and Physical Health Risks - Health Impact Assessment ### Mentor: Eva De Clercq Support in environmental epidemiology methods and guidance for data sources Federal Research Institute ### Presentation Sciensano – Department of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Health Impact Assessment is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of air pollution, non-ionising radiation, chemical substances, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, and climate. Special attention is paid to socioeconomic factors which may have an impact on the relationships between environment and health, as well as to vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. The unit welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration to strengthen scientific evidence on the links between environment and health and to support evidence-based public health and environmental policies. - European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) ------------------------------------ Policy & Advocacy - Social Rights, Economic Justice & Research ### Mentor: Juliana Santos Wahlgren Director Non-for-profit ### Presentation European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of social rights, economic justice, research methodology, EU policies on social rights, EU policies on anti-discrimination, active research participation tools, civil society organisations, and research for advocacy purposes. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - Sciensano --------- Department of Chemical and Physical Risks - Unit trace elements ### Mentor: Hester Blommaert Scientist Non-profit ### Presentation The Sciensano Department of Chemical and Physical Risks (unit trace elements) is a National Reference Lab for the quantification of trace elements in food, feed, and food contact materials. Currently, the lab has 1 HPLC-ICP-MS for the determination of Hg, As, and Se-species, and they are planning to develop more methods for speciation of trace elements. They also have a QQQ-ICP-MS and two ICP-OES instruments for robust determination of a wide range of contaminants and nutrients. An important role of the team is to do research projects related to human exposure to inorganic substances and the related health effects. Lastly, they support and advise the Federal Agency for Food Safety (FAVV) and the FOD public health. - ThinkYoung ---------- ### Mentor: Charles Howard Head of research Non profit ### Presentation ThinkYoung is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of research, surveys, focus groups, and data analysis related to Gen Y, Gen Z,Gen α, and soon Gen β. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration to provide decision-makers with rigorous information and insights on younger generations. - Sciensano --------- Risk and health impact assessment unit ### Mentor: Pelgrims Ingrid Scientific collaborator Public scientific institute ### Presentation Sciensano – Risk and Health Impact Assessment Unit is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of environmental epidemiology, air pollution, exposome research, and causal inference. The unit welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration to better understand and assess the impacts of environmental factors on human health. - Sciensano --------- Unit Nutrition and Physical Activity, Service Health Information ### Mentor: Nicolas Berger Senior Scientist Non-profit/research ### Presentation Sciensano – Unit Nutrition and Physical Activity, Service Health Information is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of dietary intake and physical activity measurement, complex analyses of food consumption and accelerometer data, statistical analyses providing policy insights, policy evaluation, inequalities in obesity, diet and physical activity, planetary health, and smart surveys. The unit welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - European Environmental Bureau ----------------------------- All EEB environmental policy teams ### Mentor: Patrizia Heidegger Dpt Secretary General Non-profit ### Presentation European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of EU environmental and climate policy, including climate and energy, chemicals, air, water, soil, sustainable food systems, circular economy, industrial emissions and pollution, environmental rights, civic space, nature protection and restoration, and economic transition. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. - Enabel ------ ### Mentor: Leónidas Leiva Expert Government Agency ### Presentation Enabel is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of climate and environment (food systems, natural resources management and biodiversity), social and economic empowerment (global health, education and skills development, economic and business development, social protection), demographic transitions (human mobility, urban development), peace, stability and democracy (justice, security, civil registry), and transversal themes (gender equality and inclusion, digitalization, global citizenship education). The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration across its partner countries, including Belgium, Central African Republic, Jordan, Mozambique, Tanzania, Benin, DR Congo, Mali, Niger, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mauritania, Palestine, Ukraine, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Senegal. - BEUC AISBL ---------- Policy or Enforcement departments ### Mentor: Laetitia Galesloot Head of Human Resources Non-profit ### Presentation BEUC AISBL is interested in collaborating with InterACT fellows in the areas of economy, enforcement and redress, competition law, consumer rights (including dark patterns and marketing influence), digital policy (including data protection, privacy, online platform regulation and artificial intelligence), sustainable consumption and production, product safety, food policy, health policy, transport policy (air, rail and automobile), and energy policy. The organisation welcomes opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration in these fields. 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