Research Officer

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 63,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

MRI safety screening

Job summary

The Department of Psychological Clinical Science at the University of Toronto Scarborough is seeking a Research Officer to support MRI-based studies and day-to-day study operations. You will work with researchers, MRI staff, and partners to schedule participants, prepare consent forms, and collect surveys and data.

Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in psychology or neuroscience and at least two years coordinating human studies, with strong REDCap and MS Office skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, neuroscience, or related field.
• Minimum two years of related experience coordinating studies with human participants.
• Experience with mental health-related work and sensitive information handling.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, Outlook; advanced REDCap/database skills.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple activities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate participant engagement and longitudinal follow-up activities.
• Schedule study participants and prepare consent forms and surveys.
• Record, organize, and verify experimental data and results.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Communicate with principal investigator, MRI staff, and project partners.
• Escalate issues and provide orientation on study procedures as needed.
• Travel to St. George campus for MRI sessions; some Saturdays required.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Independent work

Discretion

Education

Bachelor's Degree in psychology, neuroscience, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Outlook

REDCap

Database management

Job description

Description

About us

The University of Toronto Scarborough is a place of energy, enthusiasm and passion. Our commitment to inclusive excellence attracts the brightest learners, scholars and employees from around the globe. Our success has been made possible by the opportunity given to us by Indigenous hosts to operate on their territory, and we cherish our continuing partnerships with these communities. The University of Toronto Scarborough is an exciting campus with unlimited potential. Join us on our journey.

The Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough is a vibrant, research and teaching intensive department. In addition to providing students with deep grounding in one or more disciplinary traditions, the Department also fosters research at all levels. Its commitment to socially engaged, leading edge research and direct engagement with its community is reflected not only through its curriculum but also in the creative and innovative projects undertaken by faculty and often providing research opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Working alongside faculty, a team of dedicated staff members provide administrative services and support the daily operation of a department that is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion to help create a truly rich and engaging student experience.

Your opportunity

The Department of Psychological Clinical Science is home to a world-class MA/PhD program in Clinical Psychology that integrates rigorous scientific research with clinical training. The Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, led by Dr. Anthony C. Ruocco, brings together clinical psychology and neuroscience to advance understanding of mental health, inform suicide prevention, and improve assessment and intervention. The research combines psychological assessment, cognitive testing, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain to investigate questions with meaningful implications for individuals, families, and communities.

As the Research Officer, you will play a key role in supporting the successful delivery of research studies by fostering and maintaining positive relationships with project partners such as research assistants, graduate students, MRI staff, and referral partners. You will provide general orientation on study procedures, and will support the consistency and effective study operations. You will monitor and track research activities, accurately record and organize experimental data and results, and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of research records.

Working closely with the Principal Investigator, you will support participant engagement and longitudinal follow-up activities, and coordinate daily study operations, including participant scheduling, preparation of consent forms, distribution and collection of surveys and questionnaires, and verification of financial transactions. In addition, you will exercise sound judgment in addressing routine issues, safeguarding sensitive and confidential information, and escalating concerns or matters requiring input or approval to the Principal Investigator. Strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a compassionate and sensitive approach will be essential in working with participants who will contribute to research focused on improving suicide prevention.

Your responsibilities will include

• Fostering positive relationships with project partners
• Tracking and monitoring research activities
• Informing Principal Investigator of concerns or setbacks
• Collecting experimental data, verifying results and passing on findings
• Recording and tabulating experiment results
• Scheduling study participants
• Disseminating and collecting research surveys and questionnaires
• Handling sensitive and/or confidential information

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field.
• Minimum two years of related experience supporting and coordinating studies involving human participants
• Experience working with people experiencing mental health challenges
• Experience coordinating and formatting research data into reports, maintaining accurate records within a database and conducting data quality checks
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of informed consent, participant confidentiality, and secure handling of sensitive research information
• Experience tracking study financial information and coordinating process for participant compensation
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook. Advanced proficiency with databases (i.e. REDCap) used to collect, track and compile research data, including participant registration, electronic consent forms, surveys and questionnaires, longitudinal data collection, participant study data and reporting.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple activities, manage competing deadlines, and maintain accuracy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, discretion, and a respectful, sensitive approach to working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, resolve routine problems, follow established protocols, and recognize when consultation or escalation is required
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, graduate students, research assistants, and clinical and imaging partners and provide general orientation with respect to study procedures
• Must be willing to travel and work on the St. George campus to support participants with their MRI scanning appointments. Will be required to work some Saturdays (approximately once per month).
• Applicants are expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

Assets (Nonessential)

• Experience preparing participants regarding safety screening prior to MRI scanning

To be successful in this role you will be

• Approachable
• Communicator
• Meticulous
• Organized
• Problem solver
• Resourceful
• Tactful

NOTE: This is a two (2) years TERM position.

Closing Date: 11/08/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Grant - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 07 -- $62,646 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $80,116. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching
Divisional HR Office Email: [e-mail]

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

Indigenous Substantiation Process

Indigenous Substantiation Process: The University of Toronto has implemented a process to substantiate Indigenous Membership/Citizenship/Enrolment for candidates who identify as Indigenous. For more information about this process, please refer to Indigenous Substantiation Website.

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