Research Assistant I (TPT 0.2 FTE)

The Royal Mental Health Centre; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health care center in Canada seeks a Research Assistant I to provide support for a formative evaluation of their Life Goals Program for bipolar disorder. Responsibilities include conducting qualitative interviews, data management, and assisting with the preparation of presentations and publications. Candidates should have an undergraduate degree and preferably six months of experience in a clinical research setting. Bilingual skills in French and English are an asset. Competitive compensation offered.

Benefits

Equal opportunity employer

Accommodation for disabilities available

Qualifications

• Minimum six months experience in a clinical research environment is preferable.
• Ability to follow data collection and management guidelines.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for formative evaluation of Life Goals Program.
• Conduct qualitative interviews and focus groups with patients.
• Organize, edit, and draft correspondence for presentations and publications.

Skills

Organizational skills

Bilingual (French and English)

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Computer skills

Education

Undergraduate degree in progress or completed

Tools

Statistical software

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Research Assistant I (RA) provides research support under the direct supervision of the Supervisor/Principal Investigator. The RA will provide support to complete a formative evaluation of the Life Goals Program for patients with bipolar disorder at the Royal. The evaluation will involve qualitative interviews and focus groups with patients to understand what they found helpful, barriers to benefiting or attending, and solutions for enhancing the program. The study also involves administering self-report questionnaires and looking at administrative data (# of hospital visits) to examine preliminary outcomes.

Major Responsibilities:

• Abides by established IMHR policies, procedures and objectives, as well as quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control requirements, for all aspects of field and laboratory operations.
• Contact research participants to obtain consent, schedule assessments or interviews, and coordinate research or clinical activities.
• Obtain clinical data on research participants (e.g., collecting, scoring, and summarizing self-report questionnaires related to symptom severity, functioning, etc.).
• Conduct individual interviews with research participants and facilitate or co-facilitate focus groups.
• May be responsible for conducting chart reviews.
• Prepares detailed notes of all interactions with participants and transfers data to appropriate system.
• Enters and verifies data collected, using databases and protocols set up by supervisors.
• Must ensure quality of data through collection and analysis periods.
• Ability to independently organize data.
• Assists in the modification and maintenance of electronic and paper data management systems.
• Assists with qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• May liaise with research collaborators, research team members, Research Ethics Board staff, IMHR grants and finance staff, study sponsors and/or regulatory bodies.
• Assists researchers to ensure compliance with scientific review and research ethics processes; completes relevant application forms and obtains required signatures.

Grant, Manuscript, Abstract and Presentation Preparation (24%):

• Assists in preparation of materials for presentation, publications or grants.
• Organizes, edits, and drafts correspondence to publishers, grantors, contractors, and professional accreditation bodies.
• Assists in drafting grant applications, abstracts, manuscripts, journal presentations, journal articles, letters to the editor, reports and research protocols.
• Ensures that the necessary agency or publisher specifications are met, that all necessary authorizations and signatures have been obtained and that strict deadlines are met.
• Assists researchers with literature searches of various literature databases using established search criteria or by developing appropriate search criteria.
• Maintains a database of bibliographic references using appropriate software.

May manage researchers grant cost centres and coordinate financial activity (1%):

• Records, monitors and signs for financial transactions, as authorized (e.g., participant reimbursement).
• Assists researcher(s) and staff members in developing budgets and budget justifications consistent with grantor/contractor eligibility requirements and IMHR policies; liaises with IMHR Administration as necessary.

Other

• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in progress or completed.
• Minimum six months experience in a clinical research environment is preferable.
• Bilingual (French and English) is an asset.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Skilled in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Ability to communicate and interact competently and professionally at all levels within a broad and complex clinical research environment.
• Basic knowledge of research principles, methodology and procedures.
• Basic knowledge of ICH Good Clinical Practices and relevant regulations, legislation and guidelines applicable to the clinical research field.
• Ability to follow data collection and management guidelines.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision and within a multidisciplinary team.
• Meticulous, detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including research related and statistical software.

Program Information

• All applicants must provide a recent resume and a cover letter in one file that clearly indicates that they meet the required qualifications.
• The onboarding process will include a police record check for work with vulnerable populations and providing proof of immunizations.
• The Royal is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, accommodation due to a disability is available throughout the recruitment process.
• **IMHR sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in a career with us; however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted**

As one of Canada’s foremost mental health care and academic health science centers, The Royal has a clear purpose: to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. This is at the core of everything we do, and it is driven by the passion, focus and dedication of our employees. Every day, the work that we do transforms the lives of people with mental illness through specialized mental healthcare, advocacy, research and education.