Volunteer Opportunity: Literature Review Assistant
Terra is looking for a researcher to compile and summarize scientific literature on terrain restoration, fasting, minerals, and traditional diets. This is a remote role with a modest monthly stipend.
About the Role
Terra's educational content is grounded in both traditional knowledge and emerging research. We need someone to help build an internal database of peer-reviewed studies. The Literature Review Assistant searches academic databases, screens papers for relevance, and writes concise summaries.
You do not need to be a scientist. You need to read carefully, think critically, and summarize clearly.
Responsibilities
| Responsibility | What It Involves |
|---|---|
| Literature searching | Use PubMed, Google Scholar, or similar databases to find relevant studies. |
| Screening | Filter results for relevance, quality, and recency. |
| Summarization | Write concise summaries (200-300 words) including key findings and limitations. |
| Citation management | Organize papers and summaries in a shared spreadsheet or document. |
| Topic tagging | Tag papers by topic (autophagy, fasting, minerals, traditional diets, salt composition). |
Time Commitment and Stipend
| Monthly Output | Stipend (KSh) |
|---|---|
| 20-30 paper summaries | 8,000 - 11,000 |
- Stipend paid via M-Pesa at the end of each month
- Based on completed and approved summaries
- No minimum. If you complete fewer than 20 summaries, stipend is prorated at KSh 400 per summary.
- No work = no stipend for that month
Terra is a small, volunteer-run collective. Our stipends are modest. We are transparent about that.
What You Gain
- Monthly stipend (KSh 8,000 - 11,000)
- Research experience for your CV
- Reference letter from Terra
- skill development in literature search and summarization
Who Should Apply
Ideal candidates have:
- Ability to read and understand peer-reviewed papers (basic level)
- Familiarity with PubMed, Google Scholar, or similar databases
- Strong summarization skills (clear, concise, accurate)
- Attention to detail
- Organized approach to work
Students in health sciences, nutrition, biology, or related fields are strongly encouraged to apply. Early-career researchers are welcome.
You do not need:
- A degree (students are welcome)
- Previous experience with systematic reviews
- Advanced statistics knowledge
Topics You Will Cover
| Topic | Example Questions |
|---|---|
| Autophagy | How does fasting trigger autophagy? What are the health implications? |
| Intermittent fasting | What are the effects on metabolic health? What durations are studied? |
| Minerals | How do magnesium, potassium, and trace elements affect insulin sensitivity? |
| Traditional diets | What does research say about pastoral communities and chronic disease? |
| Salt composition | How do traditional salts differ from commercial table salt? |
| Bone broth | What compounds are extracted during simmering? What are the documented benefits? |
How to Apply
Send an email to [your email address] with the subject line: Literature Review Assistant Application – [Your Name]
Include:
- A brief introduction (who you are, why you are interested in Terra)
- A short research summary (200-300 words) of any one scientific paper related to fasting, minerals, or diet
- Your weekly availability
Response time: 5-7 business days.
Selection Process
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | We review your application and research summary. |
| 2 | Brief formal call (15 minutes). |
| 3 | Paid trial: Summarize 5 papers on a given topic. You receive KSh 2,000 for the trial. |
| 4 | If approved, you are confirmed in the role. |
Terra is an educational framework. It is not a medical treatment, diagnosis, or cure. The literature review assistant summarizes published research. They do not interpret or evaluate health outcomes.