Research Assistant

About Queen's University

Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.

We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

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Disclaimer: As part of the application process at Queen's University, our recruitment system uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), as defined under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, to ask job-related questions and confirm eligibility for hire. All final hiring decisions are made using non-AI related processes.

Job Summary

Working under the direction of the Co-Principal Investigators (PI), and alongside a multi-disciplinary team of research collaborators, people with MS and graduate research follows, the Research Assistant will assist with the organization and management of research tasks for the CIHR-funded team grant called iBio2Div-MS. The incumbent will be responsible for managing routine logistical aspects of research activities at the Queen’s University site of the on-going iBio2Div-MS study, including organizing research team meetings and taking minutes, monitoring project time lines, preparing ethics renewals and amendments, updating study documentation, recruiting and screening study participants, consenting participants, collecting and managing data, and communicating with community partners and partners at data collection sites. The Research Assistant will enter data into SPSS and/or RedCap; conduct simple data checks and clean data files in preparation for statistical analysis; conduct and participate in qualitative data analysis; conduct literature reviews; and support knowledge translation efforts.

The schedule for this position may require the incumbent to work evenings or weekends according to the project needs.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Assist with the routine project activities, ensuring project deadlines are met, and providing guidance and support to the project team.
• Use ethics-approved protocols to identify and recruit study participants.
• Act as a contact for the recruitment and screening of study participants, and respond to participant queries and problems.
• Conduct baseline and follow-up data collection with participants.
• Set up data collection systems in RedCap, SPSS and/or NVivo in preparation for analysis by members of the research team.
• Contribute to data analyses.
• Conduct literature reviews as directed and present information in an appropriate form, including word processing, spreadsheet manipulation, and preparation of graphs or line drawings.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, publications and other scholarly and knowledge translation activities.
• Perform general administrative duties, such as organizing team meetings, distributing agendas, taking minutes, ordering supplies, liaising with community partners and arranging for study advertising printing. Undertake additional duties as assigned in support of the project.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• University degree in a health-related field; research-based Master’s degree is an asset.
• Background in public health, psychology or sociology, with knowledge and experience addressing health equity issues in community settings.
• Experience working on a distributed research team, and working with people from diverse backgrounds and chronic health conditions.
• Previous experience with Microsoft 365; knowledge of Zoom and Microsoft Teams features and their use is required.
• Previous experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis; knowledge of RedCap and NVivo is strongly preferred.
• Experience with research administration specific software and platforms (i.e., TRAQ, etc) is considered an asset.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Ability to read, write and speak languages other than English would be considered an asset.
• Interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to work collaboratively with people from a variety of settings and backgrounds, particularly people with multiple sclerosis and/or from diverse backgrounds who are negatively impacted by social determinants of health.
• Experience running on-line meetings using Zoom and its features (e.g., break-out rooms).
• Commitment to equity, inclusion and developing intercultural competence.
• Excellent organizational, planning and time management skills, adaptability and flexibility, with the ability to anticipate deadlines, and prioritize activities and tasks.
• Resourcefulness, meticulous attention to detail and proven ability to communicate data in a clear, concise, and accurate manner.
• Excellent computer skills and experience with computer software programs and portals for research administration.
• High degree of diplomacy, discretion, tact, maturity and judgement.

DECISION MAKING:
• Participate in decision-making about data analysis and presentation in order to meet the needs of the research project.
• Decide what to do when encountering an unexpected problem and when it is serious enough to contact supervisors.
• Make suggestions on presentation of results and coordination of activities.
• In consultation with the investigators, determine layout, content and formatting of documentation.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities.