Other information

Information about Scientific Integrity, Epidemiologist B registration, Clinical Research Unit, IXA etc.

Amsterdam Research Board

The Amsterdam Research Board (ARB; link on Intranet location AMC), a new body of Amsterdam UMC, represents researchers of Amsterdam UMC and advises the Board of Directors in regard to science policy. Together with the deans and administrative staff, the ARB pursuits responsible science. The ARB is chaired by the Vice-Dean Research and comprises directors of all the research institutes, several independent researchers and two Research support directors.

AMC-VUmc Research Code

The AMC-VUmc Research Code – “Independence in scientific research” – is a collection of guidelines designed to help researchers preserve their independence in the process of performing scientific research.

The guidelines are based partly on national laws and regulations and international agreements, and are partly the outcome of discussions and experiences within the AMC itself.

The chapter on Good Mentorship pays attention to the reciprocal duties and responsibilities of PhD supervisors and junior researchers/PhD candidates.

Good_Mentorship_Chapter_2_AMC-VUmc_Research_Code (2).pdf

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Epidemiologist A or B

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the scientific (bio-)medical discipline that studies the occurrence and distribution of diseases in defined human populations, and relates these to determinants, exposures and consequences (health outcome). In Epidemiology, the emphasis is in particular on the principles and methods of research and their proper application.

Registration as Epidemiologist

Registration as Epidemiologist A (Junior Epidemiological Researcher at Master level) takes place at the Netherlands Epidemiology Society (Vereniging voor Epidemiologie; VvE). Registration as an Epidemiologist B (Senior Scientific Epidemiological Researcher at PhD level) takes place at the Foundation for Medical Biological Scientific Research (Stichting Medisch Biologisch Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; SMBWO). To become a registered epidemiologist, one must follow a structured curriculum of education and training in Epidemiology. A candidate must be supervised by a registered senior epidemiologist on a day to day basis. One can apply for registration when one meets the registration requirements. The Netherlands Epidemiologiy Society (VvE) provides all information about registration as an epidemiologist.

Application for registration

All information about the procedure on application for registration can be found on the website of the Netherlands Epidemiology Society. Below, you may find direct links (in Dutch) to:

Detailed requirements of registration as an Epidemiologist A or B.
Costs apply for registration applications.
All applications must be submitted in a standard format, and should always be signed by a Senior Epidemiologist who has been acknowledged by the Netherlands Epidemiology Society as Epidemiology Trainer (Opleider Epidemiologie).
For the AMC and UvA, the acknowledged Epidemiology Trainers are:
Prof. dr. K. Stronks (K.Stronks@amc.uva.nl; 020-5661645), and
Prof. dr. G.J.M.G. van der Heijden (Geert.vander.Heijden@acta.nl; 020-5980246).

A timely request and proposal for registration, preferably prior to the start of the education and training, includes consultation and advice. Please contact one of above acknowledged Epidemiology Trainers.

All registration applications are assessed by the Board of Inspection and Assessment (Commissie Toezicht en Beoordeling - CTB). The CTB checks whether applications meet the registration requirements.

Epidemiology Education and Training Program

Several universities provide a structured Epidemiology education and training program on master and/or postgraduate level. Some of these programs have been formally recognized, approved and accredited by the Netherlands Epidemiological Society. Neither UvA nor AMC currently has a program that as such has been approved and accredited. Therefore employees of the UvA and AMC will have to follow the registration application procedure for a not-recognized program (niet erkend opleidingstraject). For registration of applications based on a niet erkend opleidingstraject, the following considerations must be taken into account and should be discussed with the Acknowledged Epidemiology Trainers:

Sufficient Epidemiological nature of the research experience;
Adequate epidemiological educational and training environment;
Daily supervision by registered Epidemiologist B.

All documents for applications, for Registration Epidemiologist A, niet erkend opleidingstraject or Registration Epidemiologist B, niet erkend opleidingstraject.

Scientific Integrity

Scientific Integrity Counselor AMC / UvA

The AMC Graduate School works closely with the AMC / UvA Scientific Integrity Counselor (former Scientific Ombudsman), who can be approached for questions or reports of alleged professional misconduct by anyone directly or indirectly involved in scientific research at the institution. If possible, he will seek to mediate or find a solution for the complaint, failing which he will refer you to the UvA Academic Integrity Committee, where a formal complaint about a possible violation of academic integrity can be lodged.

At the request of AMC employees, the Scientific Integrity Counselor also makes recommendations on good scientific conduct in line with the Amsterdam UMC Research Code. Compliance with this code is seen as an integral part of the activities of everyone working at the AMC, including PhD candidates.

AMC / UvA Scientific Integrity Counselor:

Prof. E.T. van Bavel Department of Biomedical Engineering & Physics T: 31 (0)20 566 5203 E: e.vanbavel@amsterdamumc.nl

Research integrity: serious games

The Erasmus University developed a general dilemma game uses many common dilemmas in science and invites discussion on the subject. The dilemma game

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has an interactive video online "The Lab: Avoiding Research Misconduct", in which you can choose the perspective of one of four characters.

Research integrity: movie "on being a scientist"

The University of Leiden launched a movie on scientific integrity "On being a scientist". Although fiction, the dilemmas in the daily practice of scientific research are very recognizable. Nine different episodes each underline a characteristic aspect of science and together form a story.

The movie was initiated by prof. Bas Haring of the Leiden University, and professionally produced.

PURE page

On the research website of Amsterdam UMC each researcher has a personal page. On these personal pages, a selection of the researcher’s published work as well as current affiliations will be presented. This information is retrieved from PURE, the system for registering research and publications, that can be modified by researchers personally via Pure.

Go to: https://pure.amc.nl/admin (in Google Chrome) and follow these guidelines to complete and/or modify the information on your personal page. More information about Pure : https://intranet.vumc.nl/afdelingen-themas-1/pure.htm

Make yourself and your research more visible to other researchers by completing your Pure page. Your Pure account is set one week after registration at the AMC Graduate School.

Please add the AMC research theme you perform your research in (max. 2), and all other relevant information.

Clinical Research Unit (CRU)

The Clinical Research Unit (CRU) was founded to support clinical research within the AMC.

PhD candidates may ask the CRU for support concerning several aspects of research and data analysis:

data management,
organization, administration and quality examination of research
methodological and statistical support

Innovation Exchange Amsterdam IXA

In addition to the three main missions of the AMC – Patient Care, Education and Research –the valorization of research results is becoming an ever more important fourth deliverable.

With over €70 million in research expenditures yearly, the AMC is a major source of innovation and knowledge at the frontiers of science. Companies interested in marketing new AMC technology (e.g. ideas for new drugs) will actually develop such technology only if it has been properly protected, e.g. through a patent application. This assures market exclusivity for a period long enough to recoup the very high development costs associated with the development of such a product.

Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (IXA) has a professional team dedicated to the protection and development of intellectual property. It is the central contact point for AMC researchers who have question about inventions or who wish to collaborate with external parties in industry or academia, as well as for industry representatives, entrepreneurs and investors who are interested in AMC technologies.

The services of IXA cover a wide range of activities such as handling confidentiality agreements (CDA) or material transfer agreements (MTA), assessment of inventions for patenting, management of intellectual property, negotiating collaborative research and licensing contracts with industry, and creating start-up companies based on AMC knowledge.

* The Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (previously Technology Transfer Offices) of the two academic medical centers (VUmc, AMC) and universities (VU, UvA/HvA) in Amsterdam have recently allied their forces. One of the new aims of this “pan-Amsterdam” TTO, besides the more classical TTO work of licensing and spin-off formation, is to provide dedicated support to large multi-disciplinary initiatives, such as the Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, thus facilitating their interaction with industry.

More information about the Innovation Exchange Amsterdam.

For more information please contact:

IXA, office AMC
T: +31 (0)20 566 5056
F: +31 (0)20 566 9168
J1A-105.2/108
P.O. Box 22700
1100 DE Amsterdam

Re-registration Dutch BIG-register

Re-registration BIG Register: Solution for MD PhDs

Since 2013, periodic re-registration in the Dutch BIG-register is compulsory for medical doctors, in order to be allowed to perform reserved medical procedures. This implies compulsory re-registration after 5 years.

Medical doctors performing (fundamental) research were at risk of not fulfilling the requirement for re-registration. The Minister of Health recently decided that PhD research in the Biomedical Sciences is also considered relevant work experience. This means that medical doctors performing biomedical PhD research can also apply for BIG re-registration. This arrangement is valid for other BIG-registered professionals as well.

The requirements for re-registration remain intact: an equal amount of relevant working hours spent on PhD research in the realm of the (medical) profession is required. This should be proven by an employer statement issued by the PhD supervisor. More information is available on the website of the BIG register (Dutch only).

Student Research

StudentResearch is a website offering opportunities for students to get aquainted with biomedical research at an early stage in their career, through hands-on participation in current research projects. Researchers from all Dutch University Medical Centers can offer research placements for (medical) students. The website aims to bring together researchers and students with a common interest, to enhance both science and academic education.

Note: Link https://www.studentresearch.nl

Housing

Housing in Amsterdam remains a problem. It is often difficult to find an affordable and suitable living space. Some tips and addresses to find a room in Amsterdam can be found here: