
Fostering transparency and quality in systematic reviews
Launched in 2020, the joint The BMJ and Maastricht University PhD programme recruits one PhD student annually to contribute to vital research in the responsible conduct of publishing scientific research. It now proudly supports three students tackling diverse topics such as systematic review search strategies, librarian involvement in peer review, communication of retraction notices, and the use of AI in peer review.
The BMJ PhD programme impacts the biomedical research community by fostering transparency and quality in systematic reviews.
This programme reflects our dedication to advancing the quality and transparency of research. Unlike other publishers, we uniquely open our doors to collaborate with external researchers, cementing our position as the leading publisher researching research. This PhD initiative builds on our extensive history of experimentation in peer review and conducting trials designed to improve research reporting, ensuring our publishing policies are evidence-based.
Embarking on a PhD programme is a transformative journey marked by rigorous research, academic growth, and the development of specialised expertise. It offers scholars like Melissa Rethlefsen a platform to delve deeply into their chosen field, contribute to cutting-edge research, and shape the future of their discipline.
The PhD programme’s focus on the responsible conduct of biomedical publishing initially drew Melissa’s interest. With a background in improving systematic review reporting and quality, Melissa saw this as an opportunity to formalise her work and contribute significantly to the field.
Melissa’s research focuses on a randomised control trial involving librarians and information specialists in peer review and improving the reproducibility and transparency of systematic review search strategies. The PhD programme has significantly influenced Melissa’s career, providing her with mentorship from leading experts in the field. These mentors have guided her research and opened up new opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.
Melissa has leveraged her research to conduct webinars and workshops for medical librarians and researchers worldwide, promoting best practices in systematic review reporting. Her success in her studies and involvement in our PhD programme exemplifies the potential of innovative educational initiatives to drive significant improvements in research practice and reporting.
In 2025, Melissa passed her PhD defence. This impressive PhD highlights a very positive collaboration between BMJ Group and Maastricht University and helps to showcase some of the research on research (or meta-research) we do at the Group. With our own research programme, we continue to be the leading publisher in this important field of research and highlight our commitment to improving the integrity of the scientific record.

The BMJ’s PhD programme has been a transformative experience, offering unparalleled mentorship and the opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research. This programme has enabled me to contribute meaningfully to improving the quality and transparency of systematic reviews, and I am grateful for the support and collaboration with BMJ Group.”
Professor Melissa L. Rethlefsen
Executive Director, Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center at University of New Mexico
To learn more about the PhD programme or to suggest collaborative research ideas, you can contact Sara Schroter, Senior researcher at BMJ Group, at sschroter@bmj.com
Together, Melissa and BMJ Senior Researcher Sara Schroter have published several articles, including the following:
- Rethlefsen ML, Schroter S, Bouter LM, Kirkham JJ, Moher D, Blanco D, Ayala AP, Brigham TJ, Grossetta Nardini hk, Kirtley S, Nyhan K, Townsend W, Zeegers MP. Improving peer review of systematic reviews and related review types by involving librarians and information specialists as methodological peer reviewers: a randomized controlled trial. (In press BMJ Evidence Based Medicine).
- Rethlefsen ML, Brigham TJ, Price C, Moher D, Bouter LM, Kirkham JJ, Schroter S, Zeegers MP. Systematic review search strategies are poorly reported and not reproducible: a cross-sectional metaresearch study. J Clin Epidemiol. 2024 Feb;166:111229. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2023.111229. Epub 2023 Dec 3.
- Rethlefsen ML, Brigham TJ, Price C, Moher D, Bouter LM, Kirkham JJ, Schroter S, Zeegers MP. Systematic review search strategies are poorly described and not reproducible: a cross-sectional meta-research study. medRxiv 2023. 05.11.23289873; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.11.23289873.
- Rethlefsen ML, Schroter S, Bouter LM. et al. Improving peer review of systematic reviews by involving librarians and information specialists: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 22,791 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05738-z