Acceptable use of AI during EMBL’s Recruitment Process

Candidates are expected to:

• Submit applications that truthfully and accurately reflect their own skills, experience, and achievements.
• Use AI tools responsibly, ethically, and transparently.
• Ensure that any work submitted as part of the recruitment process represents their own thinking and abilities.

Using AI can support your application, but must not replace your voice and personal contribution.

When applying for a role at EMBL, we support the use AI tools in the following ways, provided the final content remains your own and is factually accurate:

• Language support: Improving grammar, spelling, clarity, or tone of application materials (e.g. CVs, cover letters), particularly for candidates where English isn’t their first language. 
• Structuring and organisation: Helping to organise ideas, outline responses, or format application documents.
• General preparation: Researching public information about EMBL, gaining advice on interview preparation (e.g. how to answer competency questions) and understanding job requirements  
• Accessibility support: Supporting candidates with disabilities or specific needs to engage fully and fairly in the recruitment process.

The following uses of AI are not acceptable and may result in disqualification from the recruitment process:

• Misrepresentation: Using AI to fabricate qualifications, experience, publications, data, or achievements.
• Substitution of skills: Submitting AI-generated answers, assignments, or technical work that doesn’t reflect your own knowledge or abilities.
• Assessment circumvention: Using AI tools during interviews, tests, or assessments where independent work is explicitly required, unless prior approval has been given by EMBL.
• Identity misuse: Using AI to impersonate another individual or to conceal your true identity.
• Confidentiality and data breaches: Uploading EMBL assessment materials, interview questions, or other confidential information into AI tools without permission.

• Written applications: AI may be used for language and clarity support, but content must be your own. EMBL’s people drive our culture and your true voice will make you stand out. 
• Scientific, technical or practical tasks: Unless explicitly stated otherwise, submitted work should demonstrate your own reasoning, approach, and expertise. 
• Interviews and live assessments: Candidates are expected to respond independently and in real time, without AI assistance, unless explicitly permitted.

Any specific restrictions or permissions will be communicated by EMBL during the recruitment process.

EMBL may ask candidates to confirm that their application materials and assessments comply with this guideline. Candidates should be prepared to explain their approach and reasoning for any submitted work.

Failure to comply with this guideline may lead to:

• Exclusion from the current recruitment process.
• Withdrawal of an offer of employment.
• Exclusion from future EMBL recruitment processes, where appropriate.