Research Assistant /Technician 3

Job Category
Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Title
Research Assistant /Technician 3

Department
Liu-Ambrose Laboratory tendersglobal.net Department of Physical Therapy tendersglobal.net Faculty of Medicine

Posting End Date
January 23, 2024

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

Job End Date
Jul 24, 2024

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 primary focus of the Research Coordinator is to provide critical support to Professor Teresa Liu-Ambrose’s Aging, Mobility, and Cognition (AMC) Lab. With Professor Liu-Ambrose, the Coordinator will plan and execute all research activities, ensure project milestones and timelines are achieved, assist in grant applications, ensure quality data acquisition and management, assist in data analysis and manuscript preparations, lead ethics applications and management, and contribute to financial management, in the AMC Lab.  The AMC Lab functions under the umbrella of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, and the Department of Physical Therapy.

This will involve developing systems and procedures that will ensure optimum usage of both the Department and Centre’s resources and in decision-making situations involving the coordination of research activities.

Organizational Status
The coordinator will be working under the direct supervision of Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose and will report to Dr. Liu-Ambrose on a daily basis.
Work Performed

Duties below are all under the supervision of Teresa Liu-Ambrose

• Act as the contact person for the AMC Lab and address all queries made to the AMC Lab

• Coordinates randomized controlled trials and cohort studies with efficiency and quality, including development of Standard of Procedures (SOPs). Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring adherence to protocols. This includes the completion of scheduled observations and checklist, documenting any deviations, and reporting them back to the Director.

• Monitor all adverse events reported in the different studies, document them, and have them reviewed by each study’s data and safety monitoring committees.

• Create and manage confidential data research files; will be responsible for accuracy/validity of data entered as well as proper storage of physical files

• Prepare (calculating, cleaning, quality checks, organization) data ready for statistical analyses and publication

  • Oversees day to day budget use and invoice payments; maximize use of resources and ensures expenditures adhere to institutional guidelines

  • Assist with pcard reconciliations

  • Coordinates time lines on deadline driven research projects and ensure they are met

  • Coordinates training & project teams for specific projects

  • Recruit eligible older adults with diverse chronic conditions and comorbidities for studies related to the promotion of healthy aging. This includes giving information sessions in the Greater Vancouver community

  • Data collection for various research projects, and acquire new skills to facilitate data collection

  • Liaises with research participants to develop and maintain relationships

  • Liaises with community partners and organizations to develop and maintain relationships for the purpose of participant recruitment and knowledge translation

  • Creating and managing analytical data research files using specialized programs such as REDCap

  • Responsible for data integrity, daily storage, and use among research team members

  • Archiving of databases as well as archiving hard copies of consent forms and data files

  • Interviews on behalf of the AMC research program for student volunteers and other personnel and provides recommendations to Professor Liu-Ambrose

  • Supervises and trains other Research Assistants and maintain positive relationships

  • Supervises collection of data & measurement team to ensure data quality

  • Supervises and trains volunteers, part time, and contractual research staff for specific tasks

  • Contribute to the monitoring and tracking the performance of staff and volunteers, and provides recommendations to Professor Liu-Ambrose when requested

  • Assures lab safety & ensures safety procedures are followed

  • Perform literature searches and synthesis on specific topics when requested

  • Prepare, submit, and manage ethics applications, and obtain informed consent according to best practice

  • Assists administrative tasks associated with grant submissions, including acquisition of institutional signatures, CV preparation, (institutional, NIH, Canadian Common CV, etc.), securing letters of support, as well as ongoing communication with co-investigators

  • Develops brochures and materials required for research, including seminars and conferences

  • Promotes the AMC Lab by maintaining and updating website and social media accounts, as well as organizing public talks

  • Increase AMC Lab’s collaborations by organizing research symposiums when requested by Professor Liu-Ambrose

  • Will onboard new members to the Lab and ensure all training and certificates are acquired

  • Performs other related duties as assigned

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Inappropriate judgement and noncompliance to standard protocols would greatly compromise the quality of research studies and related data acquisition and the reporting of research outcomes.

Inappropriate judgement and noncompliance to standard protocols also could compromise the safety and wellbeing of the participants.

Inappropriate judgement and noncompliance to standard protocols would compromise research success and affect the credibility of the Principal Investigator and the research program.

Poor financial decisions would affect the ability of the Unit to manage its resources effectively that would result in research projects being delayed or cancelled altogether.
Supervision Received

Works independently in consultation with the Director of the research program and Research Coordinator on a regular basis.

Supervision Given

Responsible for training and supervising volunteers, WorkLearn, measurement staff, exchange students, and research assistants.

Responsible for contributing to ensuring a safe environment for research participants during the delivery of behaviour interventions (e.g., exercise classes) and during assessments.

Working Conditions

Office environment with current computer equipment. Will require regular communications via videoconferencing to organize studies.  Will be interacting directly with older adults with diverse chronic conditions, disabilities, and comorbidities on a daily basis. Will be working within a team composed of undergraduate students, graduate students, WorkLearn, volunteers, and research assistants. Will be required to make home visits on occasion for recruitment or data collection. Will be required to travel between UBC and VGH – sites of the AMC research program.

Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three 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

Education & Experience:    

Candidate must have a university degree in a relevant discipline plus a minimum of two year experience of related experience in a university clinical research laboratory. Strong preference will be given to those with experience in neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, mobility, exercise prescription, databasing and/or randomized controlled trials.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities                                             

Knowledge of age-related changes in physical and cognitive abilities

Knowledge of conditions such as chronic stroke, mild cognitive impairment, and different types of dementias

Excellent attention to detail and accuracy

Excellent aptitude for data management and organization

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Excellent organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple tasks

Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment

Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with older adults from various socioeconomic/education backgrounds as well as physical and cognitive abilities

Demonstrate ability to receive and respond to critical feedback for the sake of improving job performance

Discretion, tact and confidentiality

Technical proficiency using various word processing software, spreadsheet programs, presentation software, data bases and Internet

Knowledge user of REDCap, MS Teams, and Microsoft Office

Basic skills in statistics and literature search and synthesis

Strong Preference: Knowledge of R, basic coding skills

Prefer: Strong understanding of physiological and cognitive responses to exercise, especially in older adults