Research Assistant

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

This position has a term length of one year plus a day and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page .

This competition will be used to fill up to 3 positions.

Work environment: Travel might be expected in the future when there are no COVID-19 restrictions or concerns, in NWT or Nunavut, but for right now and very likely the next year, no travel is anticipated.

Start date: As soon as possible.

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 Indigenous and Global Health Research Group (IGHRG) led by Dr. Sangita Sharma, Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Professor in Indigenous and Global Health Research, in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta is currently seeking candidates for three Research Assistant positions. This position is part of Dr. Sharma’s research team and will work independently with supervision on a variety of projects. The IGHRG is a multi-disciplinary research group of 20+ staff, with approximately $18 million in funded projects brought to the University of Alberta since 2010. The team has experience working with over 22 populations in various countries worldwide. The team is focused on COVID-19, cancer and diabetes, community-based participatory research, epidemiology, health promotion, seniors’ health, maternal and youth research and program development, community –based interventions, and dietary assessment methodologies for Indigenous and ethnic minority populations. At present, the IGHRG is undertaking ten large projects that include looking at the anticipated and unanticipated consequences of COVID-19 and COVID-19 prevention strategies and COVID-19 vaccination and immunity with Arctic Indigenous communities.

In consultation with Dr. Sharma and the Executive Director (Dr. Fariba Kolahdooz), the Research Assistant will engage directly in research activities supporting the group’s multiple projects and, specifically, the recent work related to COVID-19. This position is a key component to the growth of the research group through the effective planning, preparation and submission of peer-reviewed grant proposals and applications and planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of projects and programs. Future travel to communities in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut is anticipated, though due to COVID-19, all travel is currently restricted for the foreseeable future. The overall and effective support of this dynamic research group is vital to its continued growth and success. Research Assistants are a foundational position required to achieve this goal.

Read more about the Indigenous & Global Health Research Group here: whyactnow.ca

Responsibilities

• Participate directly in research projects
• Eagerness to gain further understanding of relevant cultural, geographic, and community-specific aspects of community-based research projects
• Develops various education materials and presents to participants, virtually or in person
• Conducts project monitoring and feedback assistance to the Project Coordinator/Project Lead/Executive Director
• Uses judgement for problem solving of minor concerns or escalating bigger issues to the Project Coordinator/Project Lead/Executive Director
• Prepares training materials and conducts training sessions for staff (community research staff and IGHRG staff) for various research projects
• Conducts data collection by tracking and monitoring of questionnaires and evaluations with participants, following up with either participants or community members as required
• Conducts research project activities remotely, including virtual or telephone interviews
• Travel to participating communities and populations to cultivate working relationships with participants and community members (if COVID-19 restrictions allow for travel)
• Maintains an organized set of remote research activities, including digital voice recorders and interview guides
• Contributes to programming questionnaires into REDCap for data collection
• In collaboration with the research team, organizes and assists in the data transcription, organization, compilation, and preparation for analysis
• Communicates with on-site study team members as the follow-up to clarify questions or data entry issues, including regular check-ins with community research assistants during data collection
• Maintains and protects confidential research data, adhering to ethical conduct and privacy requirements at all times, including learning about and adhering to OCAP principles throughout all research project activities
• Assists with the preparation of knowledge translation dissemination products as directed including research posters, PowerPoint presentations, abstracts, and research reports
• Organizes and completes data cleaning, entry, tracking, and reporting
• Conducts literature searches on databases to provide research team members with background information on research projects and advancements in the project relevant fields
• Assists in the creation of PowerPoint presentations and posters for workshops and conferences
• Maintains security of all hardware and software to prevent possibilities of data loss or confidentiality breaches – follows University security policies to encrypt all data on electronic devices, such as laptops, desktops and USB drives, to prevent unauthorized access to private information
• Possible evening and weekend work required, and travel to communities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in public health, social sciences or health related field and additional education and/or experience in a related field is an asset
• Experience working in a health research environment
• Experience working with Indigenous populations and knowledge of cultural protocol
• Experience working with school aged youth
• Experience working/living in northern communities is an asset
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a variety of groups of people including youth and Indigenous communities
• Highly developed organizational skills and attention to detail
• Valid driver’s license

Completed applications must include the following:

• A one-page cover letter
• The candidate’s Curriculum Vitae
• Contact details for 3 professional referees

No interviews will be conducted in person; all will be done via telephone.

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.