Research Assistant I
The Division of General Surgery at Unity Health is hiring a Research Assistant 1 (RA1) to start July 20, 2026. The successful applicant will support a highly academic group of 15 surgeons in research and scholarship across Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Oncology , using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
The role follows a hybrid schedule of three days in person at Unity Health and two days virtual , with office space provided.
RA1 will provide organizational, administrative, and research support across projects, including participant screening and consent, survey and interview data collection, data processing and quality control, study procedure support, sample/material labeling and shipping, and assistance with grants, funding documentation, and partner liaison. The role includes autonomy in participant interactions, day - to - day guidance to students and junior researchers, and introductory data analysis and reporting tasks.
Research may occur in clinical or community settings, so duties may vary by project.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Due to variable nature of position, this list is to be used as a guide only.
Research Duties (60% of work time)
The RA1 supports and assists the research activities needed for each project.
Non-Laboratory Research Tasks
- Collect, compile, transcribe, verify, quality check, maintain, archive, and enter study-related data; prepare basic statistics, abstracts, reports, and documentation.
- Support study administration, including reimbursement forms, REB applications and reviews, contract submission forms, and communication with internal and external partners for data collection.
- Process, clean, code, interpret, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data using project-specific programs as needed.
- Assist with manuscripts, reports, abstracts, conference materials, one-page summaries, EndNote files, and manuscript preparation.
- Conduct literature searches and data mining, provide relevant articles to the PI or research team, and coordinate feedback from multiple partners on proposals, manuscripts, and dissemination tools, including authorship tracking.
Recruitment and Coordination of Study Participants
- Act as the on-site study contact at participating community or healthcare organizations and coordinate with study teams, staff, and participants.
- Recruit, screen, obtain required documentation, schedule interviews/appointments, arrange follow-ups, and maintain accurate participant records, including eligibility, recruitment, samples, follow-up, test results, and progress.
- Collect study data through online surveys, phone calls, interviews, and participant assessments, including relevant clinical information such as medical history, vitals, and medication lists.
- Provide participant feedback, support, coaching, referrals to health or medical resources as needed, and nursing-related participant care where required.
- Follow strict participant-interaction protocols; prepare reimbursement forms, payment requisitions, and participant compensation under study team/PI direction; travel to participant sites as required.
Administrative Duties (40% of work time)
- Prepare correspondence, reports, invoices, abstracts, forms, slides, study reports, and meeting/conference materials; support internal and external grant applications with Anne Sorvari, Division Research Lead.
- Coordinate communications with team members, external partners, stakeholders, and research end users, including updates, newsletters, and mass emails.
- Maintain research administration systems, including databases, manuscript logs, REB/CTO submissions, study registrations, conflict of interest forms, meetings, office duties, and Division social media updates.
- May train, onboard, mentor, and provide day-to-day guidance to research assistants, students, and trainees, including support with data collection, scheduling, resources, and integration into the team.
- May support research team operations, including contracts, finances, HR, budgets, education, reporting deadlines, supplies, office space, and other team resources.
- Support Division Head on Division related Initiatives (fundraising initiatives, attending division meetings, program development, administrative support, developing research reports
Qualifications:
- Undergraduate Degree and 1 year of relevant experience, OR demonstrable equivalent combination of specialized education and experience.
- TCPS CORE 2 is preferred (Completed within first 2 weeks of hire)
- Health Canada Division 5 is preferred (Completed within first 2 weeks of hire)
- Good clinical practice certificate is an asset (Completed within first 2 weeks of hire)
- Responsible Conduct of Research is an asset
- GIS (Geographic information System) certificate is an asset
- Demonstrated knowledge of medical and scientific terminology.
- Social media skills are an asset.
- Demonstrated understanding of mental health concepts and counseling is an asset.
- Knowledge of research ethics, confidentiality, and documentation standards.
- Comfortable working with data sets an asset.
- Previous experience working at Unity Health is an asset
- Strong computer skills, particularly database, spreadsheet, and word processing.
- PowerPoint skills: able to develop slide decks that help create interest/visual appeal in presentations is an asset.
- Experience with a reference manager (i.e. EndNote, Mendeley, etc.) is preferred.
- Statistical knowledge and analysis, Windows access, advance excel training is an asset
- Statistical programming skills (E.g., Stata, R/R Studio, SPSS, SAS, etc.) are an asset.
Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.
