The Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest
has an exciting opportunity for a
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Level III
Position Number: 10094 and 10095
Position Type: Full Time (Up to 12 Months)
Shift Type: Day
Bi-Weekly Hours: 70 Hours
Location: Toronto
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: August 19, 2026
Internal Closing Date: August 26, 2026
About Us
The Centre for Clinical Research Trials is a multidisciplinary specialist unit, which has been set up to design, conduct, analyse and publish clinical trials and other studies. The Rotman Research Institute (RRI) is a premier interdisciplinary, international centre for the study of human brain function. Our core research themes are: Cognitive Neuroscience, Aging and Brain Health, Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases, Computational Modeling and Neuroinformatics. Our research focuses on cognitive brain functions (including memory, executive function, attention, perception, and language), both in normal aging and in the presence of diseases and conditions that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. The Rotman Research Institute supports behavioral, neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and neurocomputational studies with state-of-the-art facilities, including eye-tracking, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography laboratories and a research-dedicated Siemens 3 Tesla MRI in-house at Baycrest.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Administer standardized neurocognitive, functional, behavioral, and global outcome assessments in accordance with study protocols, sponsor requirements, and standardized administration guidelines.
- Conduct participant and study partner interviews to evaluate cognition, daily functioning, behavior, mood, and quality of life using validated assessment instruments.
- Maintain sponsor certification and inter-rater reliability by completing required training, calibration exercises, and re-certification activities.
- Ensure assessments are completed in a standardized, unbiased, and blinded manner to preserve study integrity.
- Accurately score, document, and enter assessment results into source documents and electronic data capture (EDC) systems within required timelines.
- Review assessment data for completeness, accuracy, and protocol compliance, and resolve data queries promptly.
- Collaborate with investigators, study coordinators, and other research staff to schedule study visits and ensure protocol-required assessments are completed on time.
- Monitor participants for signs of cognitive decline, emotional distress, suicidality, fatigue, or other safety concerns during assessments, and promptly report significant findings to the Principal Investigator or delegated study physician.
- Maintain participant confidentiality and ensure compliance with Good Clinical Practice (ICH E6 (R3)), Health Canada regulations, institutional policies, and research ethics requirements.
- Participate in site initiation visits, investigator meetings, sponsor training sessions, monitoring visits, audits, and regulatory inspections as required.
- Assist with maintaining essential study documentation, including rater certifications, training records, delegation logs, and study files.
- Contribute to quality assurance activities by following standard operating procedures (SOPs), participating in internal quality reviews, and implementing corrective actions when required.
- Provide education and support to participants and study partners regarding study procedures while maintaining objectivity and avoiding coaching during assessments.
- Maintain proficiency in sponsor-specific assessment platforms and electronic systems used for data collection and study management.
- Stay current with developments in neurocognitive assessment methodologies, Alzheimer's disease research, and clinical trial best practices.
- Perform other research-related duties as assigned in support of the Clinical Trials Unit.
Qualifications include but are not limited to:
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Psychology, Neuropsychology, Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Nursing, Social Work, or a related health science discipline.
- Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in Clinical Psychology or Neuropsychology is considered an asset.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2–5 years of experience administering standardized neurocognitive and functional assessments, preferably in clinical research or memory clinic settings.
- Experience working with older adults and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease, or other neurodegenerative disorders.
- Previous experience in industry-sponsored clinical trials is preferred.
Knowledge and Skills
- Demonstrated proficiency in administering and scoring standardized cognitive, functional, and neuropsychiatric assessments according to standardized administration guidelines.
- Experience with commonly used assessments, such as:
- Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog)
- Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)
- Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
- Clinical Global Impression (CGI), where applicable
- Other sponsor-required cognitive and functional outcome measures
- Excellent interviewing and communication skills with participants and study partners/caregivers.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain inter-rater reliability.
- Ability to recognize participant fatigue or distress and communicate concerns promptly to the Principal Investigator or study physician.
- Excellent organizational, documentation, and time-management skills.
Compensation:
At Baycrest, we take pride in ensuring our compensation structure is internally equitable and compliant with pay equity legislation. We believe compensation should be transparent, equitable, and reflective of your experience and growth. Our salary ranges are structured to support progression, from learning the role to demonstrating full proficiency.
For this position, the salary range is $51, 437 to $64, 296.
Your placement within the target hiring range will depend on your job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant education and experience, as well as considerations such as market conditions and internal equity. The starting salary will be determined using these factors to ensure fairness and consistency across the organization.
The Rotman Research Institute is committed to fostering a climate of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This commitment is central to, and mutually supportive of, our research excellence mandate. We welcome and respect the diversity of all members of our community, and we support an inclusive culture for our clients, families, research scientists, staff, and participants, trainees, volunteers, trustees, and partners. We welcome applications from Black individuals and other racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2SA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas within our community. We are committed to fair assessment of a candidate’s abilities, and consideration for diversity of thought, method, and experience, including non- traditional career paths.
