Research Assistant

Unit Summary

Reporting to the Research Coordinator and Site Principal Investigator (PI: Dr. Melissa Kimber), the position will support a 3-5-year research study in youth and adolescents with mental health multimorbidity. This project aims to provide a deeper understanding of the trajectories of youth seeking mental health care as they navigate key transition points in their development. This goal will be achieved by including sampling from a diverse range of clinical services in Ontario and Alberta, standardized data collection and deep phenotyping of select clinical cohorts of youth (aged 11-25 years) and will support modular clinical trials.

Position Summary

• Support Research Coordinator to oversee the operation and management of research projects.
• Adhere to Good Clinical Practice and incorporate GCP requirements in all stages of research projects from start up to close up.
• Adhere to regulatory and local requirements (i.e. annual safety reports, periodic safety reports).
• Adhere to timelines and milestones.
• Provide support to all collaborators (sites/countries) on a regular basis through communication.
• Liaise with internal and external collaborators involved with research projects, to develop study agreements, complete regulatory/ethics submissions, and process payments for sites and other collaborators.
• Compile, review, and file essential documents
• Help with training and orientation of study sites and staff.
• Help develop Manual of Operations and other study support tools, reports, and trackers.
• Help create and test data reports, databases, audit case report forms (CRFs), and related programs
• Help coordinate the process of transferring prepared study data to the study sponsor
• Respond to data-related questions and query from internal and external partners
• Coordinate logistics, review requirements, and confirm accuracy for the shipping and collection of materials and supplies for the main study as well as for sub-studies.
• Prepare for meetings and teleconferences
• Implement all study related amendments requested by the Site Principal Investigator
• Respond to daily inquiries and facilitate communications on behalf of the central site.
• Help with publications and other study related documentations.
• Perform activities related to major protocol deviations
• Creation of data collection forms.
• Regular communication with external parties
• Help provide training to staff
• Help provide training to external study staff
• Attend regular meetings prepare minutes and lines of actions.
• Primarily responsible for scheduling human participant interviews, recruiting and screening research participants, leading the informed consent process and administering structured diagnostic interviews, clinical scales, and cognitive testing.
• The Research Assistant will also assist with scheduling other procedural visits and will accompany participants to these visits.
• The Research Assistant will support a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork, and complies with all applicable HHS policies, as well as all regulatory and legislative requirements.
• This position requires evening and weekend shifts and is primarily located at the Offord Centre for Child Studies (293 Wellington Street North, Hamilton, Ontario), with travel between sites, as required.

Schedule Work Hours

Temporary full-time hours (37.5 hours/week).

This position is temporary until March 2027.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study (psychology or neuroscience, social work).
• Requires 1 year of relevant clinical or research experience with youth, young adults and/or families with mental health challenges.
• Previous experience in administration of neuropsychological assessments (e.g., Wechsler), structured diagnostic interviews (e.g., KSADS-5, SCID-5), and clinical rating scales is required.
• Proficiency with word processing, PowerPoint and database software packages is required.
• Demonstrated communications skills (both oral and written) are required as is the ability to explain complex issues in plain language.
• The successful candidate will have excellent attention to detail, the ability to exercise initiative and good judgment, and be able to meet deadlines while working independently with minimal supervision.
• Candidates will also have demonstrated ability to maintain large databases and use electronic data capture methods (e.g. REDCap) and will have literature review and synthesis skills.

Assets:

• Clinical Trial experience.
• GCP, TCPS2 training.
• Previous experience with neuroimaging (e.g. MRI, EEG) and handling specimens (e.g. blood, urine) is an asset.
• Bilingualism (French/English) and/or proficiency in a second language would be an asset.

Hamilton Health Sciences fosters a culture of patient and staff safety, whereby all employees are guided by our Mission, Vision, Values, and Values Based Code of Conduct. Hamilton Health Sciences is a teaching hospital and all staff and physicians are expected to support students and other learners.

To be considered for this opportunity applicants must apply during the posting period. All internal and external applicants may ONLY apply via the Careers website. This job posting is for an existing vacancy.

Hamilton Health Sciences is an equal opportunity employer and we will accommodate any needs under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities, if requested. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application processes, please contact Human Resources at 905-521-2100, Ext. 46947 for assistance. If the applicant requires a specific accommodation because of a disability during an interview, the applicant will need to advise the hiring manager when scheduling the interview and the appropriate accommodations can be made.

This competition is open to all qualified applicants, however, qualified internal applicants will be considered first. Past performance will be considered as part of the selection process. If you are a previous employee of Hamilton Health Sciences, please note: the circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment. Proficiency in both Official Languages, French and English, is considered an asset.