Faculty of Nursing
Competition No. - A102343190
Closing Date - Will remain open until filled.
This position has an expected end date of one year from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed here. The annual salary range for the Research Associate is $58,210 to $80,050, this will be based on experience, education and skills. The skill level for the Research Associate is Senior Level(C) - the position requires an expert level of related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.
The Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) research program is a complex of inter-connected research projects, pilot projects, a network study, and a training program for highly qualified personnel that has been running since 2007. A new 2 year program began in 2018 across three provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba) with close relationships in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. TREC is comprised of four main inter-related projects; the TREC Measurement System (TMS), Safer Care for Older Persons (in residential) Environments (SCOPE), Improving Nursing Home Care through Feedback on PerfoRMance Data (INFORM), and an end-of-life project as part of the pan-Canadian SALTY (Seniors Adding Life to Years) study. TREC engages care providers in more than 90 long term care (nursing home) facilities in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba in a longitudinal project on work environment and staff work life. The TREC team entails over 60 members including investigators, trainees and different stakeholders (i.e. policy makers, knowledge users, citizens) across Canada, the US, and Sweden.
The Research Associate will report directly to the TREC Scientific Director (SD) and provide support in a variety of research and revenue-generating activities with a significant focus on utilizing the longitudinal TMS data, publishing manuscripts and supporting interventions studies and the transformation of tested intervention packages to system useable interventions.
Duties:
Project related work
Develop and pre-test a process and products to make TREC interventions and technologies available for decision makers
Advance TREC's research on organizational context in order to bring the measurement tools closer to readiness for routine use by end users
Assist with data collection and analysis; this includes doing observations during the studies, monitor the data collection steps done by investigators, collect the data, enter the data into the secure data environment, analyze the data, draft reports to the research team etc.
Facilitate project data collection with vulnerable populations; e.g. interviewing, analyze the data, provide the data back as a narrative, etc.
Supervision
Support the preparation and implementation of TREC’s summer student program; prepare projects for the students; assist with recruiting and interviewing potential students; coach and supervise summer students during the summer student program
Supervise undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows throughout the academic year; provide mentorship; prepare sessions on different topics such as methods and data analysis
Funding and grant writing
Support the preparation of TREC funding applications; e.g. perform targeted literature reviews for planned TREC funding applications, plan and develop research aims and objectives for funding applications in close collaboration with TREC researchers; write grants
Support other revenue-generating activities at the local/provincial/national level, e.g. draft funding applications for health authorities or provincial governments
Scientific outputs
Prepare publications
prepare materials for scientific and stakeholder meetings
Overall support of the research program
Plan research activities and provide research design for new/proposed research initiatives
Assist with carrying out identified research aims and plans
Develop materials to support TREC research and operations where required, e.g. draft trainee recruitment posters, draft technical reports, government reports, etc.
Organization of and participation in TREC meetings
Prepare correspondence, briefing notes, reports and other documentation as required
Develop strategies for presenting key results that are appropriate to different stakeholders at all levels (e.g., researchers, trainees, front line staff, senior decision makers)
Prepare technical and dissemination reports for funders
Attend meetings with the Scientific Director and Co-Investigators and participate in planning collaborative research projects as requested
Perform other research and administrative duties as required
Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have excellent organizational, time management and communications skills (written and oral). The ideal candidate will have a high level of interpersonal skills and advanced organization, decision making, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Candidate must bring a positive and constructive approach to the position. A proven ability to work in a fast paced team environment and meet tight deadlines will ensure success in this position. Familiarity with University policies and procedures and previous work/supervisory experience in an academic/clinical research setting would also be an asset.
Essential requirements:
A PhD in a Health or Social Sciences discipline is required and essential for this position
3-5 years’ experience in senior scientific work on research projects
Experience with mixed research methods (i.e., survey, interview, formative and summative evaluation, etc.)
Experience working with large databases/sets, as well as, with narrative data essential
Demonstrated superior project planning and coordination skills
Demonstrated superior communication and interpersonal skills
Flexibility and adaptability
Demonstrated superior written communication abilities, e.g., reports, briefings, manuscripts, grants
Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to adapt to competing timelines and change
Accuracy and attention to detail
Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
Excellent initiative and ability to work with limited supervision
Must have superior skills in MS Office suite of programs, including Excel.
Experience with statistical analysis using one or more of SAS, SPSS, STATA
Skill and experience with qualitative analysis
Experience with research in long-term care settings is an asset
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.
How to Apply
Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.
The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.