Research Assistant, CRU

University of British Columbia • Vancouver, BC

9d • CA$4,567 - CA$5,386 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) Clinical Research Unit (CRU) assists VCH/UBC investigators to conduct human clinical trials of biomedical or health-related research that follows a pre-defined protocol. Trials can be industry funded, grant funded or investigator initiated. The CRU is operated by the VCHRI which is affiliated with the University of British Columbia. The Research Assistant can be assigned at multiple locations including but not limited to the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, UBC Hospital, and individual departments and divisions within VGH. The VCHRI CRU is committed to the pursuit of excellence in clinical trial services and to promoting research at VCH by providing these services to investigators from all disciplines. The VCHRI CRU is also dedicated to developing a reputation as a site where quality industry sponsored, grant funded, and investigator initiated trials can be undertaken. All research in the VCHRI CRU is conducted with the highest standards of good clinical practice (GCP). The successful candidate will join our Clinical Research Unit to assist with the recruitment and enrolment of ongoing industry, grant funded and Investigator-initiated clinical trials. The candidate will be working with confidential information and adhering to strict study protocols. Positions in this classification perform routine clinical and laboratory tasks and assist the VCHRI CRU to recruit participants, perform study visits, prepare materials for testing and other various tasks as required.

Requirements

• Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Nice To Haves

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or Graduation from a technical college or institute.
• Current Venipuncture certificate and CPR Certification (or willingness to obtain certification).
• Experience working with people in a health care, academic, and/or research environment with knowledge of medical, clinical and research terminology.
• Knowledge of International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) Regulations, Health Canada Div 5 and TCPS2 Certificate.
• Training in WHMIS, Chemical Safety, Biological Safety and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG).
• Ability to operate job related equipment - i.e. centrifuge, incubator, -80 freezers, etc.
• Demonstrated ability with computers and to effectively use MS Word, Excel, Power Point, spreadsheets, databases, and electronic communications at an intermediate level.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to exercise a high level of tact, discretion, sensitivity, and respect with a diversity of people.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, prioritize workload and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of efficiency, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to exercise initiative and maintain confidentiality.
• High motivation, initiative, and ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Ability to think critically, analyze, interpret data and respond in a broad range of activities with a high level of independence.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.
• Demonstrated initiative and the willingness to work closely with members of a research team to ensure problems are resolved quickly and appropriately.
• Experience with using UBC RISe (Research Information System) an asset, to assist with ethics submissions.

Responsibilities

• Provides clerical assistance, including answering phones, booking appointments, scheduling meeting, scheduling tests, and participant reimbursements.
• Assists with logistics and procedures for study participant visits, including but not limited to conducting informed consent, collecting vital signs, participants study follow-up calls; administering of study questionnaires and review medical charts for past medical history and current medications.
• Responsible for data collection, data entry, documentation of process, ongoing monitoring of data quality, and ensuring that data is accurately and timely entered into databases, completion of data queries.
• Assists with recruitment activities, development of recruitment materials, phone screening, pre-screening assessments, study communications with potential participants.
• Maintains research stock supplies, monitors/updates inventory. Logs and monitors the usage of services and supplies, ensuring accurate records are maintained for all clinical trial activities. This includes tracking inventory levels (such as lab kits), documenting requisitions, and coordinating with vendors to ensure availability of essential materials.
• Performs quality assurance monitoring of equipment and space.
• Performs clinical and laboratory clean up tasks. Assists in basic maintenance of research equipment, addressing equipment failures and maintaining/documenting yearly calibrations.
• Prepares sample collection kits for study visits, performs blood collection, centrifuges blood samples, aliquots plasma/ serum/urine and other simple laboratory processing tasks.
• Prepare documents, samples and other materials for proper handling and shipping, which includes scheduling couriers, ordering dry ice, and packaging samples.
• Operates a variety of equipment such as but not limited to centrifuges, incubators, and monitors fridges and freezers to ensure temperatures meet min/max requirements to comply with regulatory and/or study requirements.
• Assists with ethics submissions using UBC RISe (Research Information Systems). This may include assisting with the development or gathering of documents and relevant information required for the ethics submissions.
• Actively participates in team meetings, provide regular updates on research activities; establishes effective communication with all team members; ensures timely notification to the VCHRI CRU Director (and VCHRI CRU Research Facilitator as appropriate) of issues or problems
• Works collaboratively with members of the VCH research community and VCHI CRU Team.
• Participates in departmental training programs (of the VCHRI CRU)
• Collaborate with other research team members within the VCHRI CRU and provide support when needed.
• Performs other research tasks as assigned and provides research support as directed by the VCHRI CRU Director and more senior team members.

Benefits

• The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together? Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [email protected].

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree