Research Assistant/ Technician 3

University of British Columbia • Vancouver, BC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Research Assistant will play an active role to support team members and the conduct of research within the Reproductive Population Health Data Research Team led by Dr. Laura Schummers and located within the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This will largely focus on a CIHR-funded program of research examining impacts of policy and practice change on reproductive population health using quantitative methods from epidemiology and health policy and patient-oriented research methods to engage patients, policy and system leaders, and clinicians throughout the research. This includes studies on optimal pregnancy spacing, abortion safety and access, contraception access, early pregnancy loss, and methodological work to create conception cohorts using population-based administrative health data. The Research Assistant will contribute to supporting the team’s research activities including analysis of population-based health administrative data using appropriate statistical software, preparing analytic protocols, submission of grant applications, partner engagement, knowledge translation activities, support to the team for logistical aspects of manuscript writing and submission, and administrative assistance. The Research Assistant will work closely with the team members and relevant stakeholders and partners to support all aspects of the work of the team, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, the team research coordinator, statistician, research associate, coinvestigators, and research team partners (including patient partners, policymakers, and health system leaders). The Research Assistant will support Dr. Schummers and the team Research Coordinator on a range of activities, including protocol and budget development, literature reviews and use of bibliographic software, writing of progress reports and manuscripts, working on ethics applications, setting up surveys in REDCap/Qualtrics, record keeping, and assisting the Research Coordinator to ensure accurate financial reporting for all grant and research activities. This position requires a high level of independence, and interpersonal skills. The position also requires great attention to detail and basic knowledge of UBC administrative policies (or willingness to learn), and a willingness to adapt to changing procedures and policies.

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

• Bachelor’s degree required and Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (public health, epidemiology, health policy) preferred, or equivalent work experience in an academic, research or health care environment.
• Minimum of 2 years related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Critical understanding of issues related to health and health care analysis.
• Experience conducting literature searches and reviews.
• Training and experience in communications, website development, and/or graphic design.
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team.
• Excellent time-management skills and demonstrated ability to direct multiple projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Keen interest in reproductive health research, including abortion and contraception.
• Experience working within, collaborative environments.
• Computer experience and competency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Endnote.
• Knowledge of quantitative methods and qualitative data analysis e.g., SAS, R, Stata and geographic software (ArcGIS) will be an asset.
• Excellent command of the English language with a strong ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to compose correspondence using clear concise business English.
• Ability to communicate information in a way that is understandable to a broad audience.
• Ability to multi-task, set priorities, time-manage, and problem-solve.
• Ability to identify problems early and elevate issues as appropriate.
• High degree of thoroughness, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion.
• Ability to anticipate problems and issues and to plan.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate high level of initiative and self-directedness.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the PI and research team with study logistics.
• Coordinate and support meetings of investigators, staff, collaborators, partners, and/or trainees.
• Assist with preparation of research ethics applications, project budgets and expense tracking, and other supporting documents for research projects.
• Assist with financial and activity reporting to funding agencies for all grant activities.
• Assist with keeping the PI Canadian Common CV up to date.
• Assist with processing expenses in Workday for all personnel.
• Conduct literature reviews for study background materials; synthesize literature relevant to research projects; maintain & update reference library.
• Assist with drafting and reviewing/revising analytic plans for research studies, primarily using population-based health administrative data, including variable definitions based on coding systems such as ICD9 and ICD10 diagnostic codes, intervention codes, and billing codes.
• Assist with data requests to population-based data stewards (e.g., Population Data BC, Perinatal Services BC, ICES in Ontario, Health Data Network and related provincial data stewards from other collaborating provinces).
• Support team statistician to develop and implement statistical analysis plans for research studies.
• Assist with manuscript preparation for submission to peer-reviewed journals, including literature reviews, referencing, copy editing, drafting some sections.
• Assist with interpretation of findings using quantitative methods and various data types.
• Draft knowledge translation material, including abstracts, briefs, reports, infographics, and conference submissions and presentations.
• Assist with the writing, editing and submission of grant applications.
• Assist with the coordination and planning of the reproductive health patient advisory committee, including meeting committee members, assisting with program-wide and project-specific patient engagement activities, supporting patient and public partners as needed to engage in research meetings and pursue professional development activities.
• Assist undergraduate and graduate students with their research tasks.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, including clinicians, system partners, and patients/members of the public.
• Draft updates to the team website.
• Support administrative task completion.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Benefits

• UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential.
• Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada

What This Job Offers

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