Research Assistant, CRU

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading institution in research seeks a Research Assistant to support various clinical trials. Responsibilities include data management, participant recruitment, and collaboration with research teams. Candidates should have a relevant degree and effective communication skills. This role offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic environment, contributing to significant research efforts.

Benefits

Equity, diversity and inclusion training

Potential for career development

Engagement in significant research projects

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of related experience or equivalent education.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives and commitment to inclusion.
• Knowledge of medical and clinical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Assist in recruitment and enrollment for clinical trials.
• Data collection, entry, and documentation of processes.
• Conduct participant screening and informed consent.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to work effectively under pressure

Demonstrated ability with computers

Experience with diverse populations

Critical thinking and analysis

Education

Completion of a relevant technical program or university degree

Tools

Centrifuge

Incubator

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

Staff - Non Union Job Category Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants Job Profile Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3 Job Title Research Assistant, CRU Department Clinical Research Unit | Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute | Faculty of Medicine Compensation Range $4,567.04 - $5,385.67 CAD Monthly Posting End Date September 30, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date October 5, 2026

This position is for a one-year term with possibility of an extension

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) Clinical Research Unit (CRU) assists VCH/UBC investigators to conduct human clinical trials of biomedical or health-related research that follows a pre-defined protocol. Trials can be industry funded, grant funded or investigator initiated. The CRU is operated by the VCHRI which is affiliated with the University of British Columbia. The Research Assistant can be assigned at multiple locations including but not limited to the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, UBC Hospital, and individual departments and divisions within VGH.

The VCHRI CRU is committed to the pursuit of excellence in clinical trial services and to promoting research at VCH by providing these services to investigators from all disciplines. The VCHRI CRU is also dedicated to developing a reputation as a site where quality industry sponsored, grant funded, and investigator initiated trials can be undertaken. All research in the VCHRI CRU is conducted with the highest standards of good clinical practice (GCP).

The successful candidate will join our Clinical Research Unit to assist with the recruitment and enrolment of ongoing industry, grant funded and Investigator-initiated clinical trials. The candidate will be working with confidential information and adhering to strict study protocols. Positions in this classification perform routine clinical and laboratory tasks and assist the VCHRI CRU to recruit participants, perform study visits, prepare materials for testing and other various tasks as required.

Organizational Status

This position reports directly to the Director, VCHRI CRU who will oversee and guide the research assistant in all research activities. The research assistant will interact with other members of the VCHRI CRU/research teams as well as other hospital groups & health care professionals including clinicians/researchers, coordinators, students, sponsors, auditors, volunteers, and study participants. The Research Assistant will work independently on a day-to-day basis while also collaborating as part of a team. They will work closely with and also take direction from the Research Facilitator.

Work Performed

• Provides clerical assistance, including answering phones, booking appointments, scheduling meetings, scheduling tests, and participant reimbursements.
• Assists with logistics and procedures for study participant visits, including but not limited to conducting informed consent, collecting vital signs, participant study follow-up calls; administering of study questionnaires and review medical charts for past medical history and current medications.
• Responsible for data collection, data entry, documentation of process, ongoing monitoring of data quality, and ensuring that data is accurately and timely entered into databases, completion of data queries.
• Assists with recruitment activities, development of recruitment materials, phone screening, pre-screening assessments, study communications with potential participants.
• Maintains research stock supplies, monitors/updates inventory. Logs and monitors the usage of services and supplies, ensuring accurate records are maintained for all clinical trial activities. This includes tracking inventory levels (such as lab kits), documenting requisitions, and coordinating with vendors to ensure availability of essential materials.
• Performs quality assurance monitoring of equipment and space.
• Performs clinical and laboratory clean up tasks. Assists in basic maintenance of research equipment, addressing equipment failures and maintaining/documenting yearly calibrations.
• Prepares sample collection kits for study visits, performs blood collection, centrifuges blood samples, aliquots plasma/ serum/urine and other simple laboratory processing tasks.
• Prepare documents, samples and other materials for proper handling and shipping, which includes scheduling couriers, ordering dry ice, and packaging samples.
• Operates a variety of equipment such as but not limited to centrifuges, incubators, and monitors fridges and freezers to ensure temperatures meet min/max requirements to comply with regulatory and/or study requirements.
• Assists with ethics submissions using UBC RISe (Research Information Systems). This may include assisting with the development or gathering of documents and relevant information required for the ethics submissions.
• Actively participates in team meetings, provide regular updates on research activities; establishes effective communication with all team members; ensures timely notification to the VCHRI CRU Director (and VCHRI CRU Research Facilitator as appropriate) of issues or problems.
• Works collaboratively with members of the VCH research community and VCHI CRU Team.
• Participates in departmental training programs (of the VCHRI CRU).
• Collaborate with other research team members within the VCHRI CRU and provide support when needed.
• Performs other research tasks as assigned and provides research support as directed by the VCHRI CRU Director and more senior team members.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The Research Assistant should understand that:

As a delegate of the qualified investigator, the Research Assistant warrants that his/her performance in the conduct of clinical trials and research projects will strictly conform to appropriate regulations: 1) maintaining professional behavior and respect for study participants and team members; 2) the UBC Clinical Research Ethics Board; 3) B.C. Privacy Act; 4) Health Canada, International Conference on Harmonization, Tri-Council Policy Statement, Good Clinical Practice; and 5) U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Lack of careful attention to regulatory guidelines and approvals can lead to suspension of further clinical research and/or funding for the investigator/physician as well as the hospital and University. Poor communication skills could jeopardize study participants’ participation and continuation in studies and could reflect badly on the research group and the University with sponsors and referring/community physicians. The VCHRI CRU Director relies on the research assistant to alert him/her to problems and unexpected events concerning study participants and trial conduct. These include but are not limited to: 1) Poor study enrolment; 2) failure to complete work according to deadlines, 3) unexpected or excessive workload or administrative hurdles; 4) additional or non-budgeted requests from sponsors; 5) recurrent problem or concerns raised by clinical staff. Clinical mistakes made by the Research Assistant could be life threatening to participants. Ensuring study participant safety includes: 1) accurately judging study eligibility 2) being prepared for any side effects (expected or unexpected) and 3) updating clinical skills and knowledge to meet the demands of clinical complexity. The Research Assistant will held accountable for failure to perform duties consistent with the above principles.

Supervision Received

Directly supervised by the VCHRI CRU Director, from oral/written instructions and to established procedures. Direction may also be provided by my senior team members as well. The Research Assistant must be able to complete the various study tasks independently.

Supervision Given

None.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or Graduation from a technical college or institute. Current Venipuncture certificate. Current CPR Certification (or willingness to obtain certification).
• Experience working with people in a health care, academic, and/or research environment with knowledge of medical, clinical and research terminology.
• Knowledge of International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) Regulations, Health Canada Div 5 and TCPS2 Certificate.
• Training in WHMIS, Chemical Safety, Biological Safety and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG).
• Ability to operate job related equipment - i.e. centrifuge, incubator, -80 freezers, etc.
• Demonstrated ability with computers and to effectively use MS Word, Excel, Power Point, spreadsheets, databases, and electronic communications at an intermediate level.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to exercise a high level of tact, discretion, sensitivity, and respect with a diversity of people.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, prioritize workload and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of efficiency, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to exercise initiative and maintain confidentiality.
• High motivation, initiative, and ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Ability to think critically, analyze, interpret data and respond in a broad range of activities with a high level of independence.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.
• Demonstrated initiative and the willingness to work closely with members of a research team to ensure problems are resolved quickly and appropriately.
• Experience with using UBC RISe (Research Information System) an asset, to assist with ethics submissions.