Job Description

RESEARCH ASSISTANT (CITATION REVIEWING & DATA EXTRACTION) - X4 POSITIONS

EIGHT (8) WEEK FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

27 - 30 HOURS PER WEEK @R215 PER HOUR

HEAD QUARTERS, WOODSTOCK OR REMOTE (INTERNET ACCESS REQUIRED)

The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) is a registered non-profit organisation focused on the pursuit of excellence in research, treatment, training and prevention of HIV and related infections in Southern Africa.





We have fantastic short-term opportunities for motivated individuals who are detail-oriented, organized, and able to meet deadlines. Could that be you? If so, we invite you to explore the possibility of joining us for this focused project to contribute to Desmond Tutu Health Foundation's exciting work.

Position Overview

The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation is currently recruiting for four (4) temporary Research Assistants (Citation Reviewers and Data Extraction) for an 8-week appointment starting 1 September 2025.

The main purpose of these positions is to support a research project by reviewing pre-identified academic citations, downloading full papers, extracting relevant information, and collating this data into a structured Excel spreadsheet.





Working hours are 27-30 hours per week at R215 per hour, with some flexibility in terms of when hours are worked. The expectation is that each reviewer completes extraction for approximately 60 papers per week, with key deadlines throughout the contract period. Work can be performed either at DTHF Headquarters (Woodstock) or remotely from anywhere with stable internet access.




Background in

biology, medicine, psychology, or related field

Honours or Masters-level qualification (can be ongoing) Proven ability to

meet deadlines and manage workload independently

Strong

attention to detail and accuracy

Proficiency with

Excel

(data entry, spreadsheet management) Familiarity with

citation/reference management software

(specifically) EndNote Ability to

access and download peer-reviewed academic papers

from online databases and journals (costs of non-open access papers will be covered by the employer) Strong written communication skills

Responsibilities:

Access and download assigned academic papers based on pre-identified citations Extract key information and data points from each paper according to project requirements Record extracted data accurately into a supplied Excel spreadsheet template Maintain progress of ~60 papers reviewed per week Adhere to set deadlines while managing workload flexibly Communicate with the project lead on any challenges or issues encountered Ensure data collation is complete, accurate, and audit-ready

Values fit: Passion Innovation Progress Integrity Respect Excellence

Submit a detailed cover letter, updated CV with certified copy of highest qualification and details of two (2) current contactable referees by 27th August 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.





If you are a foreign national applying for this position please attach a copy of your work permit to your application.




Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks after the closing date please consider your application as unsuccessful.




We are committed to equity in our employment practices. It is our intention to appoint individuals with the aim of meeting our equity objectives. We reserve the right not to appoint if no suitable candidates are identified.




I understand and accept that by applying for this position, I authorized DTHF to process my personal information in accordance with its internal operational requirements.



I further understand that the personal information I disclose to DTHF will be processed in accordance with the requirements set out in the Protection of Personal Information Act and may include the transferring thereof to third parties for the purposes of verification.



This job may be removed before it expires.




Desmond Tutu Health Foundation is a child-friendly organisation committed to the protection of children.

For more information about the organization please visit our website.