Annemieke Buizer

The OPTI-CARE trial PhD position at Amsterdam UMC focuses on improving the care of children with cerebral palsy who use ankle-foot orthoses (EVO’s) to support gait, mobility, and prevention of secondary complications during growth. The project addresses wide variation in current orthotic care in the Netherlands and aims to develop and evaluate a more standardized, optimized treatment pathway. As a PhD candidate, you will help coordinate and carry out a multicenter study in close collaboration with five other centers in the Netherlands. Your work will include recruiting participants, performing measurements, conducting physical examinations, and collecting questionnaire and interview data. You will also analyze the study results, write scientific papers, and present findings at national and international conferences. The project sits within the Kinderrevalidatie team of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Amsterdam UMC, a leading center for orthotic care in children with cerebral palsy. The group works closely with clinicians and researchers across multiple disciplines, combining patient care, scientific research, and education. The project offers a strong translational environment with opportunities for collaboration across clinical centers, knowledge institutions, and companies. You will work with senior researcher Merel-Anne Brehm, rehabilitation physicians Annemieke Buizer and Marc Nederhand, and research assistant Yvette Keij, with weekly in-person project meetings. The department also hosts around 15 other PhD candidates, creating a supportive peer community within Amsterdam UMC Research BV.