Research Assistant

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

The Outside Play Lab, led by Dr. Mariana Brussoni in the Department of Paediatrics, is dedicated to studying and promoting children's outdoor play and learning. Our research examines the effects of outdoor play on children, the influence of adults (parents, caregivers, educators, and others) on children's play opportunities, and the design of outdoor environments (play spaces, neighbourhoods) to support outdoor play, as well as policies to promote it. We are currently conducting a number of research projects and are seeking a research assistant to work closely with our research manager and other research coordinators, providing hands-on support in coordinating and executing research activities. The successful candidate will be primarily involved in assisting with the coordination of research projects – more specifically by preparing ethics, supporting data collection/cleaning and analysis to support the completion of specific research projects. The successful candidate will also assist with some administrative tasks.

This position will be located at BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC.

Organizational Status
The RA will report directly to the research manager, research coordinators, and the Principal Investigator (Dr. Brussoni), and will interact with other members of the research team.
Work Performed

As a research assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting our ongoing research projects. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting in coordinating and facilitating research projects

• Providing research support and facilitating daily research activities specific to research projects

• Participating in research project meetings, including preparing agendas and minutes

• Preparing ethics applications and amendments

• Ensuring timely notification of issues/problems to the research manager and coordinators

• Assisting with research tasks, such as preparing and formatting research documents, including correspondence, research communications and reports, slide presentations, infographics, fact sheets, technical reports, newsletters, posters, presentations, event programmes, and annual reports

• Participating in conducting data collection, entry, cleaning, and analysis

• Coordinating research event planning, including venue or room booking, attendee correspondence, preparing materials, room setup/takedown, taking minutes, etc.

• Supporting general office duties with minimal supervision, including photocopying, scanning, updating databases and lists

• Answering the lab's generic email account by responding to basic inquiries or forwarding emails to the appropriate team members

• Performing other related duties, as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors made could influence the ability of researchers and research staff to meet deadlines, as well as compromise the results of research projects, and therefore impact the credibility of the investigators, the research results, and the quality of the research program.
Supervision Received
The RA will work under the direct supervision of the research manager and coordinators and indirectly supervised by the PI.

Supervision Given
The Research Assistant will not be supervising others.
Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Health or Social Sciences strongly preferred with a minimum of two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills.

• Superior organizational and time management skills.

• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.

• Attentive to detail, with the ability to work quickly and accurately.

• Excellent computer skills and ability to learn and adapt to new and emerging software and systems.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel) and Word Press.

• Ability to perform data entry and cleaning in REDCap, Excel or a similar program.

• Exceptional interpersonal, communications, and organizational skills with attention to detail.

• Prior experience with research coordination and research administration.

• Prior experience with quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed-methods research will be an asset.

• Prior experience with ArcGIS or statistical software (SPSS, R, SAS or other) will be a great asset.

• Prior experience with survey tools (e.g., REDCap, Qualtrics) will be an asset.

• Ability to handle data in a strictly confidential manner.

• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.

• Ability to work with inter-institutional and/or interdisciplinary teams.

• A high degree of motivation, enthusiasm, and initiative.