Student Assistant -- MSCA Doctoral Network Application
The planned network focuses on female neurodivergence across the lifespan. ADHD and autism have historically been studied primarily in males, leaving women and girls underdiagnosed and undertreated. A growing body of research suggests that hormonal transitions -- puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause -- may shape how neurodivergent traits are expressed, recognised, and treated in women, and that societal expectations and gender norms further complicate the picture through mechanisms such as camouflaging. The proposed network brings together international partners to train a cohort of doctoral candidates who will investigate these questions across six thematic work packages spanning adolescence through late adulthood.
What are you going to do
As a student assistant, you will support the coordinating team in preparing and submitting this application. Your work will be on the organisational and administrative side of the proposal, not the research content itself. Tasks may include coordinating input from international consortium partners, formatting proposal text, maintaining document version control, communication with network partners, checking compliance with funder guidelines, and managing reference lists. You will work closely with the principal investigator and gain first-hand insight into how large-scale international research proposals come together.
What do you have to offer
Required competencies
- Currently enrolled in a Master's programme at a Dutch university currently and until December 2026
- Available over the summer
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Strong organisational skills: able to manage multiple tasks, track deadlines, and keep documents and correspondence structured
- Careful and detail-oriented in written work, including proofreading, formatting, and checking compliance with guidelines
- Comfortable communicating professionally with international academic partners (e.g., sending reminders, requesting input, following up)
- Able to work independently and take initiative once tasks are clearly defined
Preferred competencies
- Experience with or interest in research grant applications, project management, or academic administration
- Familiarity with reference management software (e.g., Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley), and basic experience with academic literature searches (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar)
- Interest in the research topic (ADHD, female specific health care)
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Do you recognize yourself in most, but not all competencies? We encourage you to apply anyway! We value motivation and willingness to learn as much as prior experience.
What else do we offer
- A temporary position as a student assistant for 7.6 hours per week, until December 2026
- Salary in accordance with the UvA student assistant pay scale
- A welcoming and supportive work environment within an active research group
- First-hand experience with the preparation of a large-scale international research grant, from the inside
- The opportunity to develop professional skills in project coordination, academic communication, and research administration
Where you will work
The Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE) is the research institute of the Department of Child Development and Education. The institute conducts research on a wide range of topics within the fields of developmental psychology, educational sciences, and special needs education.
The Department of Child Development and Education at the University of Amsterdam is seeking a student assistant to support the preparation of a major European grant application: a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) under Horizon Europe.
Student Assistant -- MSCA Doctoral Network Application
The planned network focuses on female neurodivergence across the lifespan. ADHD and autism have historically been studied primarily in males, leaving women and girls underdiagnosed and undertreated. A growing body of research suggests that hormonal transitions -- puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause -- may shape how neurodivergent traits are expressed, recognised, and treated in women, and that societal expectations and gender norms further complicate the picture through mechanisms such as camouflaging. The proposed network brings together international partners to train a cohort of doctoral candidates who will investigate these questions across six thematic work packages spanning adolescence through late adulthood.
What are you going to do
As a student assistant, you will support the coordinating team in preparing and submitting this application. Your work will be on the organisational and administrative side of the proposal, not the research content itself. Tasks may include coordinating input from international consortium partners, formatting proposal text, maintaining document version control, communication with network partners, checking compliance with funder guidelines, and managing reference lists. You will work closely with the principal investigator and gain first-hand insight into how large-scale international research proposals come together.
What do you have to offer
Required competencies
- Currently enrolled in a Master's programme at a Dutch university currently and until December 2026
- Available over the summer
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Strong organisational skills: able to manage multiple tasks, track deadlines, and keep documents and correspondence structured
- Careful and detail-oriented in written work, including proofreading, formatting, and checking compliance with guidelines
- Comfortable communicating professionally with international academic partners (e.g., sending reminders, requesting input, following up)
- Able to work independently and take initiative once tasks are clearly defined
Preferred competencies
- Experience with or interest in research grant applications, project management, or academic administration
- Familiarity with reference management software (e.g., Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley), and basic experience with academic literature searches (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar)
- Interest in the research topic (ADHD, female specific health care)
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Do you recognize yourself in most, but not all competencies? We encourage you to apply anyway! We value motivation and willingness to learn as much as prior experience.
What else do we offer
- A temporary position as a student assistant for 7.6 hours per week, until December 2026
- Salary in accordance with the UvA student assistant pay scale
- A welcoming and supportive work environment within an active research group
- First-hand experience with the preparation of a large-scale international research grant, from the inside
- The opportunity to develop professional skills in project coordination, academic communication, and research administration
Where you will work
The Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE) is the research institute of the Department of Child Development and Education. The institute conducts research on a wide range of topics within the fields of developmental psychology, educational sciences, and special needs education.
To apply, please send a motivation letter (max. 1 page) outlining your interest in the project and what you bring to the role, along with your CV and the name of a reference.
If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your motivation letter and CV. You can apply using the red button until 5 June 2026. In the case of equal suitability, internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates.
For questions about the position, please contact Annabeth Groenman [a.p.groenman@uva.nl]
