Research Assistant

Competition 1920

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

This position has an end date of February 28, 2026 and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place 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 First Peoples 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 School of Public Health

The School of Public Health integrates the strengths of faculty, staff, adjuncts and instructors involved in research, graduate education and various initiatives to engage communities. It is a non-departmentalized faculty made up of several administrative and academic groups, including centres and research teams. Together, these groups work to fulfill the mission to create knowledge, educate public health professionals and to advance the public's health.

Position 

The position is divided equally between two research groups (17.5 hours per week per research group) within the School of Public Health: Climate Change and Global Health Research Group (CCGH) led by Dr. Sherilee Harper, and Human-Environment-Animal Transdisciplinary AMR Research Group (HEAT-AMR) led by Dr. Simon Otto. The Research Assistant (RA) will work within a team of faculty, government representatives, and students as it relates to environmental science, climatology, public health, One Health, medicine, social sciences, Indigenous ways of knowing, antimicrobial resistance and use, foodborne diseases, and food safety.

Duties 

Research Project and Team Administration:

• Use Excel, Access, STATA and/or R to manage and conduct descriptive statistics of scoping review and other study data
• Under the supervision of the CCGH and HEAT-AMR program leads, create content in the form of infographics and captions
• Under the supervision of the CCGH and HEAT-AMR program lead, maintain the respective CCGH and HEAT-AMR websites
• Assist students in creating and maintaining project schedules and timelines
• Schedule and chair meetings: lab meetings, staff meetings
• Book flights, accommodations, and related for travel of team members and non-UAlberta personnel
• Support creation and review of ethics applications for new research projects
• Support the development procedures for both research groups (e.g. ethics procedures, staff and student policies) under supervision of supervisors
• Reference checking and editing for papers using Mendeley, EndNote, or related
• Assist with scientific manuscript preparation, editing, formatting, and submission
• Coordinate logistics and train team of literature reviewers
• Use DistillerSR software to screen abstracts/titles and full-text articles; conduct data extraction; and resolve screening conflicts

Financial and Grant Administration:

• Prepare, monitor and track spending of different projects compared to planned budgets
• Facilitate the development of financial and scientific reports for funding institutions
• Monitor and process reimbursement claims for team members and non-UAlberta personnel within the CCGH and HEAT-AMR
• Support development of new grant applications
• Support trainee and team staff appointment/re-appointment tracking and process
• Manage purchase orders in SupplyNet for CCGH and HEAT-AMR

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, or related field
• At least one year of experience in public health, Indigenous health research, and climate change research
• At least one year of experience experience in antimicrobial resistance research

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in conducting literature reviews using systematic methods and/or food safety would be an asset
• Strong time management skills
• Organized and creative
• Ability to work under tight deadlines
• Collaborative and strong team-player
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, STATA, and Distiller software
• Familiarity with social media platforms (e.g. Twitter, Instagram)
• Ability to exercise independent judgment based on defined practices and policies
• Experience tracking budget expenses