BCAAN Research Assistant

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Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

Posting End Date

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

Job 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.

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

This is a part-time research assistant position. The successful candidate will support research and quality improvement work at the BC Autism Assessment Network (BCAAN).

Organizational Status

The research assistant will work collaboratively with the Sunny Hill research coordinator and BCAAN project manager, under the supervision of the principal investigator and the medical director of the BC Autism Assessment Network. The research assistant will work at the BC Autism Assessment Network at Sunny Hill, BC Children’s Hospital.

Work Performed

The research assistant will be involved in research and quality improvement projects, including and not limited to collecting patient and family feedback, collecting clinician feedback, and collating, summarizing, and presenting data to the team.

Responsibilities

• Maintain project data and records in an organized manner.

• Keep team members up to date with regular meetings and email updates.

• Collaborate with our patient and family engagement team.

• Communicate and collaborate with other provincial sites.

• Organize and coordinate team meetings.

• Maintain meeting and project team notes and action plans.

• Maintain and help update project charters for QI work.

• Collect, analyse, and present outcomes of QI projects.

• Support team in drafting and editing project manuscripts, publications, and presentations.

• Conduct literature searches to support research and QI work.

• Attend related conferences and meetings, of which occasional travel outside of city may be required

• Report regularly on study and project activities and concerns to the principal investigator and other personnel as appropriate.

• Demonstrate communication and general behavior which facilitates positive attitudes toward participation in clinical research, quality improvement, and patient and family engagement.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The research assistant must exercise a considerable amount of judgment, responsibility, and initiative in determining work procedures. The research assistant is required to conduct all activities in an ethical manner. Patient confidentiality must be respected. The research assistant must also have a strong commitment to cultural safety, anti-oppressive, and neurodiversity affirming practices. Project findings and patient and family engagement work will influence the direction of future projects; therefore, errors could impact and jeopardize partnerships with patient partners, clinical and research collaborators, and affect clinical improvements.

Supervision Received

The research assistant will receive supervision and direction from the principal investigator and BCAAN medical director. The research assistant will receive detailed instructions on new duties and will thereafter work independently and seek support as needed. The research assistant will be expected to problem solve on a continual basis.

Supervision Given

The research assistant may, along with supervision and guidance from the principal investigator, distribute work assignments to one or two research staff, trainees, or volunteers.

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

Assets

• Completion of a university degree.

• Experience in a clinical setting.

• Experience working with patients and caregivers in research.

• Knowledge of neurodiversity affirming practices.

• Strong communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Ability to organize ideas and information, and to communicate them in both one on one, team, and large group settings.

• Analytical and evidence-based decision-making skills.

• Ability to prioritize and work effectively meet deadlines.

• Ability to exercise initiative.

• Lived experience with neurodevelopmental disabilities.