Student Research Assistant

We are seeking a motivated Student Research Assistant to support the project “SPIRE: Developing reporting guidance to reduce ‘SPIn’ in medical REsearch reporting”, funded by the Amsterdam Public Health (APH) Methodology Project Grant.

Your function

Transparent and accurate reporting of medical research is essential for trustworthy evidence-based decision-making. However, “spin”—the practice of presenting research findings in a biased or misleading way to influence interpretation—remains common in medical publications. Spin can distort the interpretation of scientific evidence and may affect clinical and policy decisions. The SPIRE project aims to develop and co-create practical, user-oriented reporting guidance to help minimize “spin” in medical research reporting, with a specific focus on randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. The project will engage international experts and stakeholders through consensus-building activities, including online Delphi meetings and pilot testing.

Your duties

The Student Research Assistant will support the project team with:

• Supporting communication with international experts and stakeholders, including assisting with email invitations and follow-up communication
• Assisting in organizing project meetings, including core team meetings, Delphi expert meetings, pilot-testing sessions, and workshops/tutorial sessions
• Preparing meeting materials, taking meeting notes, and supporting meeting logistics

Your profile

The ideal candidate:

• Is currently enrolled as a Master's student at a Dutch university;
• Has good English comprehension skills and is able to understand scientific literature and discussions;
• Has basic knowledge of or experience with qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups, Delphi methods, qualitative analysis);
• Has an interest in health research and research methodology;
• Has preferably knowledge of research reporting guidelines or research transparency.

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At ACTA, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable.

• A salary € 3.084,00 (SA) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Student assistant step 3
• A position for at least 0.1 FTE (approximately 4 hours per week on average; workload may vary across phases of the project)
• Duration: 10 months (preferably October 2026 to July 2027; start date flexible in consultation)

About us

ACTA is a partnership between the Faculties of Dentistry at the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam. Everything related to dentistry can be found under one roof.