Research Assistant

This competition is restricted to internal applicants of the University of Alberta. Please indicate your internal status using the “Advertisement” drop down menu when applying.

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA). 

This position has an end date of one year plus a day from the date of hire and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page .

Location: This is a remote work-from-home role.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Department/Faculty Summary

The College of Natural and Applied Sciences  (CNAS) spans the entire range of scientific teaching and research, from pure and fundamental discovery that advances our understanding of the world around us to the direct application of science and technology that transforms and improves lives and sustains the environment. CNAS is home to over 14,000 undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students through the Faculties of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences; Engineering; and Science. This position falls under the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, and will be supervised by Assistant Adjunct Professor, Dr. Richard. Oster.

Position Summary

The Research Assistants’ primary purpose is to assist with the collection and analysis of qualitative data for an ongoing study of experiences of Indigenous participants in a food incentive randomized controlled trail to address food insecurity and dietary and health inequities.

Duties

Healthy Food Rx is a province-wide collaborative randomized controlled trial to examine the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of a health food incentive program among urban adults with type 2 diabetes in Alberta who are experiencing food insecurity and persistent hyperglycemia. A subgroup of Indigenous participants are included in the trial, and the research is being guided by an Indigenous Advisory Board. Via qualitative research, this project seeks to give voice to Indigenous participants in the Healthy Food Rx trail and further explore their experiences of the intervention and their perceptions of its impact on their health and wellbeing.

The Research Assistant will work with the investigators to plan the study (e.g. develop interview questions, update ethics), recruit participants, collect and analyze qualitative data, and write up results. Qualitative interviews will be conducted via Zoom and in-person with physical distancing and masks. Oversight will be provided by the study’s Principal Investigator.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, nutrition or related field
• Minimum 1 year of experience in public health nutrition working with marginalized groups and/or Indigenous Peoples
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Able to lead a research study with little supervision
• Must work well in a team setting
• Must have a valid driver’s license and a vehicle to travel to conduct interviews
• Graduate-level training and experience conducting qualitative research in community settings, including conducting semi-structured interviews and analyzing qualitative data
• Knowledge of social determinants of health, food insecurity and racial/ethnic dietary and health inequities is essential
• Experience in developing applications for ethics approval
• Experience in conducting literature reviews and in writing peer-reviewed journals article for publication

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical knowledge in a specialized field
• Skilled technical work of moderate complexity
• Demonstrates strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills
• Works independently in performance of day-to-day activities
• Has strong collaboration and team working skills

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.