Always Open · Rolling Applications
Contribute to Real Research.
Grow Your Career.
No experience necessary for most roles. No rigid schedule. Just meaningful contribution to active research — with a certificate, reference, and free workshop access to show for it.
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🙋 All Volunteer Positions ● Always Open
All positions are unpaid but come with a certificate, professional reference, free workshop access, and potential publication acknowledgement. Click any role to see full details.
Research Volunteer — Literature Review & Academic Writing Support
● Rolling
📍 Remote
⏱ 2–3 months · 8–10 hrs/week
🌍 International welcome
💼 Unpaid
Assist DSD researchers with systematic literature reviews, reference management, abstract screening, and academic writing support. Ideal for students wanting real publication experience without a full internship commitment.
Literature ReviewZotero / MendeleyAcademic WritingRemoteNo prior experience needed
Literature Review Track · Remote
Systematic Reviews · Reference Management · Manuscript Editing
Compensation
Unpaid Volunteer Role
Certificate of volunteering + professional reference letter + free DSD workshop access + publication acknowledgement where applicable
What You'll Do
Screen and summarise research papers for DSD projects
Manage reference libraries in Zotero or Mendeley
Draft literature review sections under researcher supervision
Proofread and edit research manuscripts before submission
Assist with systematic review protocols (PRISMA where needed)
What You'll Gain
Real experience contributing to peer-reviewed research
DSD volunteer certificate (recognised by 11+ universities)
Professional reference from your supervising researcher
Free access to one DSD training workshop of your choice
Acknowledgement in publications — co-authorship for strong contributors
How to Apply
1
Submit a short expression of interest (200 words max) and your CV via the form below. No cover letter required.
2
DSD team responds within 5 working days. Brief 15-minute Zoom intro call with your assigned supervisor.
3
Onboarding brief sent. Start on a date that suits you — no fixed start date.
Community Volunteer — Science Communication & Social Media
● Rolling
📍 Remote
⏱ Flexible · 4–6 hrs/week
🌍 Open to all countries
💼 Unpaid
Help DSD communicate research to broader audiences through Facebook, LinkedIn, and blog posts. Design graphics using Canva. Translate findings into accessible language. No science background required — strong communication skills are all you need.
Social MediaScience CommunicationCanvaContent WritingNo science degree needed
Science Communication Track · Remote
Facebook · LinkedIn · Blog · Canva Graphics
Compensation
Unpaid Volunteer Role
Certificate + professional reference + portfolio of published DSD social media content + free workshop access
What You'll Do
Write plain-language summaries of DSD research findings
Create and schedule Facebook and LinkedIn posts
Design research infographics and social graphics in Canva
Draft blog posts and newsletter content
Bangla-language content creation a strong bonus
What You'll Gain
Published content portfolio to show employers or clients
DSD volunteer certificate
Professional reference letter from DSD communications team
Free access to one DSD training workshop
Experience communicating real science to real audiences
How to Apply
1
Send a short note about your communication experience and a sample of your writing or design work (any format).
2
Brief intro call with the DSD team. We'll explain what content is needed and agree a schedule that works for you.
3
Start creating — your first post will go live within 2 weeks.
Research Volunteer — Data Entry & Dataset Cleaning Support
● Rolling
📍 Remote
⏱ 2 months · 5–8 hrs/week
🌍 International welcome
💼 Unpaid
Assist DSD's data team with formatting field survey datasets, checking data quality, and running basic descriptive analyses. Excel or SPSS users welcome. Ideal for students who want hands-on data experience for their CV.
ExcelSPSSData CleaningQA / QCRemote
Data Support Track · Remote
Excel · SPSS · Field Survey Datasets · QA/QC
Compensation
Unpaid Volunteer Role
Certificate + reference + dataset contribution credit + free workshop access
What You'll Do
Enter and format field survey and lab data in Excel
Check datasets for errors, duplicates, and missing values
Run basic descriptive statistics in Excel or SPSS
Follow DSD data management protocols and templates
What You'll Gain
Real research data experience for your CV
DSD volunteer certificate and reference letter
Free access to one DSD training workshop (SPSS recommended)
Dataset contribution credit in published research
Volunteer — Translation & Bangla Content Support
● Rolling
📍 Remote
⏱ Flexible · 4–6 hrs/week
🇧🇩 Bangla / English bilingual required
💼 Unpaid
Translate research summaries, website pages, and workshop materials between English and Bangla. Help make DSD's research outputs accessible to Bangladeshi communities and students who read primarily in Bangla.
BanglaEnglishTranslationLocalisationRemote
Translation Track · Remote
English ↔ Bangla · Research Summaries · Workshop Materials
Compensation
Unpaid Volunteer Role
Certificate + reference + translation credit in published Bangla materials + free workshop access
What You'll Do
Translate research summaries from English to Bangla
Localise website content and workshop handouts
Proofread existing Bangla content for accuracy and tone
Science or academic vocabulary knowledge a bonus
What You'll Gain
Translation portfolio with real published materials
DSD volunteer certificate and professional reference
Free access to one DSD training workshop
Credit in all translated publications and materials
Common Questions
Volunteer FAQs
Everything you need to know before applying.
Do I need a science background to volunteer?
▼
Not for all roles. The Science Communication and Translation tracks require strong language and communication skills — no science degree needed. The Literature Review and Data Support tracks benefit from some academic or research background, but motivated beginners are considered.
Is this open to international volunteers outside Bangladesh?
▼
Yes — all volunteer roles are fully remote and open to applicants from any country. We have active volunteers from India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK. The exception is the Translation role, which requires strong written Bangla skills.
How many hours per week is expected?
▼
It depends on the role — between 4 and 10 hours per week. We're flexible. If life gets busy, just let your supervisor know. We understand volunteers have other commitments and we work around your schedule, not the other way around.
Can I get co-authorship on a publication?
▼
Yes, for volunteers who make a substantial intellectual contribution to a project. This is assessed by your supervising researcher. At minimum, all meaningful contributors receive acknowledgement in the paper. Co-authorship is offered when your contribution meets the ICMJE criteria — we're transparent about this from the start.
When will I receive my certificate?
▼
Your DSD volunteer certificate is issued within 7 working days of completing your volunteer period. We also provide a detailed reference letter from your supervising researcher upon request, which we recommend requesting before your last week.
What if I want to transition from volunteer to intern or staff?
▼
Several current DSD interns and staff started as volunteers. There's no automatic pathway, but strong volunteers are the first people we contact when a paid internship or job vacancy opens. If you're interested in this, just let your supervisor know — we keep internal talent notes.
From Our Volunteers
What Past Volunteers Say
★★★★★
"I volunteered remotely from India and still got a publication acknowledgement, a strong reference letter, and skills I used directly in my own thesis. The flexibility was exactly what I needed alongside my own PhD work."
Priya Sharma
Literature Review Volunteer · India
★★★★★
"I had no science background but joined the science communication track. Within 3 months I had 12 published Facebook posts, a DSD certificate, and a reference that helped me land a paid content role at an NGO."
Kevin Osei
Science Communication Volunteer · Ghana
★★★★★
"The data entry work seemed simple at first but I learned proper QA/QC protocols and real research data management. My supervisor was responsive and I ended up extending my volunteer period by another month voluntarily."
Nadia Akter
Data Support Volunteer · Dhaka
Ready to Make a Difference
in Research?
Applications are always open. Pick the track that suits you and submit a short expression of interest — we respond within 5 working days.