The University of British Columbia Looking for Research Assistant /Technician at Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area Full Time

Job Category

Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile

Non Union Salaried – Research Assistant /Technician 1

Job Title

Research Assistant /Technician

Department

Liu-Ambrose Laboratory | Department of Physical Therapy | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range

$3,989.78 – $4,375.79 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

December 10, 2023

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

Job End Date

Jun 28, 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

To provide support to the Teresa Liu-Ambrose’s Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Neuroscience (AMC) Lab. Under the direct supervision of Teresa Liu-Ambrose, will provide ongoing administrative and research support for research activities related to healthy aging in the AMC Lab. The AMC Lab functions under the umbrella of the Department of Physical Therapy, the DM Centre for Brain Health, and the Centre for Hip Health & Mobility. The candidate will be primarily responsible for participant recruitment, schedules, data collection, data tracking, data entry, and data checking under the direct supervision of Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose and will report to Research Coordinator on a daily basis. Other research facilitation activities are described below.

Organizational Status

Reports directly and daily to the Lab Research Coordinator and weekly to program Director (Teresa Liu-Ambrose)

Work Performed

• Recruit older participants with multiple co-morbidities, with a specific focus on those with mild cognitive impairment or mobility impairments; this may require making home visits using own car or third party vehicle such as Zipcar.
• Assist the Research Coordinator in coordination of studies. This includes scheduling of assessments with participants and research staff as well as scheduling of exercise classes and required staff to run them.
• Provide oversight to exercise protocols implemented across different studies being conducted in the Director’s research program, ensuring they are delivered according to protocol. 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.
• Monitoring and documentation of intervention adherence and providing regular updates to the Director.
• Assist in the delivery of exercise interventions when required (e.g., staffing shortages, illnesses).
• Create and manage confidential data research files; will be responsible for accuracy/validity of data entered as well timely download of e-files and proper storage of physical files
• Collect data according to protocol and enter data with minimal error with direct supervision from the Director using preset forms and databases.
• Make telephone calls to collect data; every effort must be made to ensure the timeliness of these phone calls and completeness of data collection.
• Liaises with research participants to develop relationships that is positive and informative
• Liaises and coordinates with the Research Coordinator, AMC research staff, graduate students, WorkLearns, and volunteers to complete tasks with efficiency and accuracy.
• Support to the activities of the AMC Laboratory by supervising and training undergraduate trainees, including WorkLearns, in basic tasks.
• Interview WorkLearns and volunteers, and in consultation with the Research Coordinator and Director, make decisions to hire.
• Assist the Director in activities relating to lab management, such as tracking inventory and supplies, organizing files, and CV updating.
• Run preset experiments or tasks as requested by the Director and Research Coordinator.
• May be required to assist Research Coordinator or Director with ethics applications, including amendments and annual renewals.
• May be required to assist Research Coordinator or Director with planning and booking of facilities for research seminars and conferences hosted by the Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Lab.

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 measurement staff/students for data collection purposes

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

Minimum Qualifications

High school graduation and a minimum one year 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 that focused on clinical research. Strong preference will be given to those with previous research experience in geriatrics, cognitive aging, and exercise prescription in older adults.

Candidate must have had direct work or volunteer experience with older adults with cognitive or physical impairment. Candidate must also have excellent written and oral communications skills, as well as organization skills. Strong preference will be given to those who have solid and demonstrated experience in mobility assessments, neuropsychological testing, and leading group activities in older adults.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge of age-related changes in physical and cognitive abilities

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

Must demonstrate excellent attention to detail and accuracy

Laboratory maintenance and development experience

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Excellent organizational skills including ability to manage multiple tasks

Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment

Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines

Discretion, tact and confidentiality

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

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

Knowledge user of REDCap, MS Teams, and Microsoft Office