Research Associate I, Type 2 Diabetes

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

Job Description

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
New or Replacement: New
Site: Toronto General Hospital
Department: Epidemiologic and Applied Research Lab in Young‑Onset Diabetes (EARLY Diabetes)
Reports to: Principal Investigator
Hours: hours per week
Salary: $ to $ hourly
Shifts: Monday to Friday
Status: Temporary Full-Time
Closing Date: May 18, 2026

Position Summary

Under the supervision of Dr. Calvin Ke, the Principal Investigator and Director of the Epidemiologic and Applied Research Lab in Young-Onset Diabetes (EARLY Diabetes, ), the Research Associate will contribute to a portfolio of research projects focused on type 2 diabetes in young adults and ethnically diverse populations. This role is grounded in epidemiologic research and seeks a candidate who can bring rigour to study design, data collection, and analysis across a range of project types. The successful candidate will work on both population-level epidemiologic studies and mixed-methods projects, including surveys and community-based research, that together address health disparities and advance health equity. The ability to conduct quantitative data analysis and apply statistical methods is essential; experience with statistical modelling and coding is a strong asset and will be drawn upon across projects. This is a full-time, one-year hybrid or in-person position based at Toronto General Hospital, with the possibility of extension based on performance and available funding. Occasional travel to study sites and partner organizations within the Greater Toronto Area (, Mississauga) is expected. Candidates selected for interview may be required to complete a skills assessment.

Duties

• Contribute to epidemiologic and mixed-methods research projects focused on young-onset type 2 diabetes and ethnically diverse populations, spanning population-based analyses, surveys, and community-engaged studies.
• Develop and administer research instruments such as surveys, interview guides, and data collection protocols, in collaboration with academic and community partners.
• Conduct quantitative data analysis, including descriptive and inferential statistics, and apply statistical modelling where appropriate; proficiency in R, SAS, Stata, or a similar platform is expected.
• Manage all aspects of research ethics submissions, including initial applications, amendments, annual renewals, and ongoing communication with the Research Ethics Board.
• Support participant recruitment, informed consent processes, and data collection activities, including surveys and structured data collection within diverse and underserved communities.
• Synthesize and interpret findings for internal reports, academic publications, and presentations to clinical, policy, and community audiences.
• Contribute to knowledge translation and mobilization efforts, tailoring outputs for a range of stakeholders.
• Support grant applications, peer-reviewed manuscripts, literature reviews, and conference abstracts.
• Mentor students and research assistants in epidemiologic methods, data collection, and dissemination activities.
• Participate actively in lab meetings, strategic planning, and cross-project collaboration.

Qualifications

• Hold a or in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, or a related health science field; graduate-level training in epidemiology or population health is preferred.
• Possess 2+ years of research experience for holders or 5+ years for holders, including time in a relevant research or academic training environment.
• Strong work ethic and demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of concurrent projects efficiently and independently.
• Experience conducting applied epidemiologic or population health research, including study design, data collection, and quantitative analysis.
• Proficiency in quantitative data analysis and statistical methods (, regression modelling, survival analysis, descriptive epidemiology); experience with R, SAS, Stata, or equivalent is expected. Familiarity with advanced statistical modelling is a strong asset.
• Experience with mixed-methods research, including survey development, data collection protocols, and community-based or health equity research, is an asset.
• Familiarity with research ethics principles and guidelines (, TCPS-2), including experience managing ethics submissions, amendments, and renewals.
• Strong academic writing skills, including experience with grant writing, manuscript preparation, protocol development, and conference abstracts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with statistical software and data management tools is expected; experience with NVivo or similar qualitative platforms is an asset.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and engage with diverse community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to health equity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusive research practices.
• Multilingual proficiency is an asset, particularly in languages common across the Greater Toronto Area (, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog).
• Excellent problem-solving, communication (verbal and written), and organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work accurately in a fast-paced, multitasking environment.

Additional Information

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP )
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.