Research Assistants - School of Public Health

Competition 1410

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta in the past 18 months will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

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

This position has an end date of March 31, 2025.

This competition will be used to hire two positions.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus Edmonton.

Working at 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 FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Health Technology and Policy Unit

The Health Technology and Policy Unit within the School of Public Health undertakes policy-driven research projects through funding agreements with the Government of Alberta, Health Canada, CIHR and other agencies. Projects typically address policy questions that governments face. Projects are time-limited and utilize a variety of research methods. These include environmental and jurisdictional scans; scoping and systematic reviews; meta-analyses; interviews and focus groups; administrative data analyses; citizens juries; and economic evaluations. Outputs of projects include reports to commissioning bodies, manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications, and presentations at conferences.

Position 

The positions of Research Assistant will support the work of the Director of the Unit, Dr. Tania Stafinski, and the Project Manager, Mr. Clinton Ekaeze. The successful candidates will become part of a diverse, talented team. Activities include recruiting subjects for interviews, collecting data from questionnaires and qualitative interviews, recording data in shared databases, drafting ethics applications and assisting with report writing and manuscript preparation. These activities are all a part of a Heath Canada funded study on "Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID): Descriptions of and Experience with Models Across Canada".

Duties 

• Screen, recruit, and enrol family members and caregivers of individuals seeking MAiD
• Respond to questions and concerns from participants
• Troubleshoot issues as they arise via telephone or Zoom
• Ensure that informed consent is obtained appropriately
• Assist with submissions to institutional ethics boards
• Conduct qualitative interviews
• Analyze data obtained through the interviews
• Synthesize information and prepare comparative tables

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline
• Prior experience with qualitative data collection and analysis
• Strong written and verbal communication, inter-personal and organizational skills
• Knowledgeable about ethics review processes
• Experience in health policy research and methods

Preferred Qualifications 

• A master's degree is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated skills in qualitative research methods
• Ability to function individually and in a team environment
• Excellent time management skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work successfully with a diverse group of people
• Experience dealing with sensitive or controversial topics
• Demonstrated strength in analytical skills, and ability to manage multiple tasks

Application Instructions:

Please click "Apply" and submit the following documents:

• A resume and cover letter as one PDF document, under "Resume & Cover Letter"
• A list of publications, under "Publications"