Research Assistant

Outside In Lab; Halifax; Remote; Part time

Job summary

An innovative opportunity awaits in the realm of health equity and social determinants of health! Join a dynamic research team focused on co-designing a community-informed approach to social prescribing in Nova Scotia. This part-time role as an Assistant Professor in Physiotherapy will involve collecting and analyzing data, engaging with community partners, and contributing to impactful research that addresses pressing health challenges. If you are passionate about improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations and possess strong analytical and project management skills, this position is perfect for you. Embrace the chance to make a difference in healthcare while working in a collaborative environment that values creativity and community engagement.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Remote work option

12% benefits (CPP, EI, vacation)

Qualifications

• Experience in data collection, analysis, and synthesis is essential.
• Strong project management skills and ability to work with diverse partners.

Responsibilities

• Support the research team in data collection and analysis.
• Prepare communications materials for various audiences.

Skills

Data collection and analysis

Project management

Fluent in English

Fluent in French

Understanding of health promotion

Commitment to health equity

Education

Master's degree in relevant field

Tools

NVivo

Job description

Direct message the job poster from Outside In Lab

Assistant Professor | Physiotherapy | Health Equity

Overview and objectives

Social determinants of health (SDHs) are social factors that affect health and include social isolation, housing, and food security. Social prescribing, the act of prescribing community and social services to address unmet SDH-related challenges, may be an effective and equitable way to improve health and well-being. Social prescription interventions have demonstrated significant benefits including improved health status, well-being, and healthier behaviours, especially for vulnerable populations. While the popularity of social prescribing is quickly growing in Nova Scotia and Canada, it is not routine practice in many healthcare institutions across Nova Scotia and there is a significant lack of research on the health impact of social prescribing. A social prescribing approach may be especially useful in Nova Scotia which is facing increasing SDH challenges such as rising rates of poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness.

The purpose of this project is to co-design a provincial, community-informed approach to social prescribing in primary care that includes workflow, implementation, and evaluation plans. This will be done using a combination of evidence review and synthesis, semi-structured interviews, partner and community engagement activities, and an iterative co-design approach that centres the voices of people with lived experience. Importantly, this work will align with the previous work of social prescribing researchers in Nova Scotia and Canada. The approach designed during this project will inform future implementation and evaluation of a social prescribing approach in Nova Scotia Primary Care. This project is supported by a Research Nova Scotia grant.

Activities and responsibilities

The research assistant will support the research team to:

1. Collect and analyze interview data: Schedule interviews with community partners and lead interviews as needed. Review and edit transcripts of interviews. Analyze interview data with NVivo.
2. Edit Research Ethics Board (REB) Application: Edit and submit amendments as needed.
3. Prepare events: Schedule and plan logistics for two engagement events with community partners. Assist with preparing background materials and agenda as needed.
4. Analyze survey data: Perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis to understand and summarize survey feedback from community members.
5. Co-design meeting support: Schedule and attend co-design team meetings, prepare meeting materials as needed, take notes during meetings, prepare meeting minutes and send to partners. Keep track of meeting actions and completion.
6. Mobilize knowledge: Prepare and deliver communications materials and activities for community, professional, and scientific audiences.
7. Publications: Assist with writing manuscripts for publication to peer-reviewed journals as needed (receive authorship for contributions).
8. Plan next stages: Support planning grant preparation to facilitate implementation and evaluation of social prescribing approach that is designed.

Other tasks and responsibilities

Meet regularly with Master’s student and Principal Investigator.

Skills, experience, and qualifications

• Experience with data collection, analysis, and synthesis
• Capacity and willingness to work with a range of academic, community, healthcare and public health partners
• Excellent time and project management skills
• Ability to communicate fluently in English
• Ability to communicate fluently in French is an asset
• Self-motivation, organizational skill, reliability, creativity
• Understanding of health promotion and social determinants of health
• Commitment to health equity, cultural safety, respect and community engagement

Details of position

One part-time position is available at a 0.5 FTE (20 hours per week). This is a 2-year position (April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2027). Compensation is set at $28/hr plus 12% benefits (CPP, EI, vacation). This position can be done remotely, however, ability to attend some events in person is preferred.

If interested

Send CV and cover letter demonstrating your experience, skills, and/or interests as it relates to this position to Ellen McGarity-Shipley (Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University; [e-mail]) by February 28, 2025.

Seniority level

Entry level

Employment type

Part-time

Job function

Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

Industries

Higher Education