Research Associate

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement , this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and annual salary range of $58,210 to $80,050. This position has an approximate appointment of one year.

Location: This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person and work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta 

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Department/Faculty Summary

Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) is a research program in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. TREC is a pan-Canadian and international longitudinal health services and knowledge translation program of applied research. It is multi-disciplinary with approximately 30 researchers from 8 universities and 20 core decision makers; it is functions in an integrated KT or partnered model. We have long standing relationships with stakeholders, end users, policy makers, and our citizen advisory group. TREC maintains a cohort of 94 nursing homes and has a world-class database that has been running continuously for 17 years. Additional information about the TREC research program is available at the following URL: https://trecresearch.ca/ .

TREC is a complex research program which holds 18 active grants from national and provincial granting agencies and provincial government which total over $8 million. The program currently employs 28 staff, Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Associates, Research Assistants and trainees.

Position Summary

The Research Associate is responsible for (scientific and operational) data oversight from the point where data collection is complete through to access of processed data by members of the research team and production of research outputs. The Research Associate will assist with other aspects of management of the project as required.

This position will focus on the Alberta Workforce Resilience Study and support the ongoing TREC Measurement System (TMS). The TREC Measurement System (TMS) is an observational study in which data are collected across ~90 facilities from several thousand providers. TMS surveys are collected at approximately 18-month intervals, while data from residents is collected in annual and quarterly (RAI-MDS 2.0) assessments routinely captured in the nursing homes. The upcoming Alberta Workforce Resilience Study is an expanded wave of the longitudinal TMS observational study. It will run through 2025 and include an expanded cohort of LTC homes in Alberta.

Survey data are captured in a variety of ways, the majority using structured face to face or virtual interviews with care aides, unit managers and facility administrators/directors of care and using online surveys with regulated providers (nurses, allied professionals, medical directors). Results are fed back to all levels at specified intervals and in a variety of formats (e.g., short information sessions with posters, provincial/regional policy summits, newsletters, etc.). A large contingent of interviewers are used to complete the structured personal interviews.

Duties

• Work with the Project Coordinator to develop, monitor, maintain and update detailed project timelines and deliverables, ensuring targets are achieved
• Prepare and ensure adherence to standard operating procedures for TMS
• Develop and oversee data quality assurance processes with an emphasis on the data audit and feedback functions - Trouble-shoot and problem-solve data collection issues as they arise
• Together with the lead investigator and data manager ensure timely and appropriate data cleaning, reconciliation, storage and analysis
• Establish and maintain meta-data protocols
• Develop and manage relationships with investigators, data unit staff, trainees and knowledge users specific to dissemination
• Identify, prioritize, schedule, complete and deliver feedback analyses and reports in a timely manner and appropriate format including developing a feedback program for end-users at all levels and for regional and ministry stakeholders and publications and posters for scientific meetings.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD required in a Health Sciences discipline
• 5-7 years' experience in senior scientific and administrative work on research projects
• Experience with mixed methods of research (i.e., survey, interview, formative and summative evaluation, etc.)
• Experience working with large databases/sets, as well as, data analysis and interpretation experience is an asset
• Demonstrated superior project planning and management skills
• Demonstrated superior communications and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated superior written communication abilities, e.g., reports, briefings, manuscripts, grants
• Excellent organizational and time-management skillswith 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Skill and experience with qualitative analysis is a definite asset

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.