Casual (Student Hourly) Research Assistant, OCEC, Evidence Synthesis and Data Analysis

Description

The Department of Community Health Sciences in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Research Assistant. This Fixed-term, Student Hourly position is for approximately 2 months, with the possibility of extension. This casual role will work ~20 hours per week (0.57 FTE).

In 2023, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) invested $125 million in University of Calgary's One Child Every Child: A Transformational Child Health Research Initiative. This ground-breaking initiative will transform child health research in Canada, promote Indigenous-led knowledge creation and self-determination, and drive discovery and innovation. It will bring together researchers, community partners, health-care providers, equity deserving groups, educators, trainees, stakeholders and Indigenous communities to build the foundation for global excellence and leadership in research to enable every child and community to thrive. 

Reporting to the Co-Director, Transdisciplinary Training, this role will primarily involve a scoping review of the data extracted from the included studies, completing the methodological quality assessment, all data cleaning and analysis, table and figure visualizations, manuscript preparation and submission. The successful candidate will work closely with the Co-Directors to produce a high-quality, publishable review. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate closely with experienced researchers and develop advanced skills in systematic reviews, data analysis, and academic writing. Successful candidates will gain exposure to the evidence synthesis process, with the potential for co-authorship in a high-impact publication. 

One Child Every Child is a Parallel Paths project that has Indigenous and non-Indigenous Paths.  All members of the program will perform training on work with Indigenous people, communities and data. Experience with Indigenous community-based work is an asset for members of the OCEC research team. 

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Methodological expertise to ensure the completion of a rigorous systematic scoping review, including protocol design, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and data management.
• Search for grey literature by reviewing the references of included studies, to identify any additional relevant sources of data.
• Lead the data extraction/verification process, ensuring consistency and accuracy across studies. Perform a 10% check on the data extraction spreadsheet to ensure data quality and consistency.
• Assist in assessing the quality of included studies (e.g., using appropriate tools or checklists for risk of bias). Perform a 10% check on the quality assessment to ensure consistent application of criteria and accuracy across all studies. Document and report quality assessment findings, ensuring transparency.
• Synthesize and analyze the extracted data, using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approaches, such as thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, narrative synthesis, employing software tools (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, NVIVO).
• Ensure adherence to established guidelines (e.g., PRISMA-ScR), maintain detailed documentation of all stages of the review, including methodology decisions, data extraction, and synthesis techniques.
• Collaborate with the research team to interpret findings and ensure alignment with the research objectives.
• Prepare tables, figures, and other visual elements to summarize findings and effectively communicate results.
• Contribute to the writing and preparation of the manuscript for peer-reviewed publication, ensuring clarity, quality, coherence, and adherence to journal submission guidelines.
• Engage in any necessary follow-up or updates to the scoping review, including reviewing any new studies or revising the manuscript.
• Support other administrative or research-related tasks as needed.
• Work closely with the research team to ensure that the review is progressing as planned and that any challenges are addressed promptly.
• Participate in regular team meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps.
• Communicate effectively with team members as necessary.
• Assist in the preparation of dissemination materials (e.g., presentations, summaries) for local OCEC meetings and scientific conferences.
• Ensure that the review process adheres to ethical standards, including proper citation practices and respect for the integrity of the evidence. 

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Currently pursuing a Master¿s or PhD program in a relevant field (e.g., community health sciences, medicine, psychology, nursing, epidemiology, or a related discipline).
• Student Employees must be registered in one (1) University of Calgary course or more, or registered as a Graduate Student at the University of Calgary.
• Demonstrated expertise in systematic review and scoping review methodologies, including the ability to independently design protocols, extract data, synthesize, and report results using rigorous, transparent methods.
• Strong familiarity with systematic review software (e.g., Covidence, EndNote), skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), advanced internet skills, and data management tools.
• Previous experience in academic writing and manuscript preparation for peer-reviewed journals is highly desirable.
• Exceptional written and oral communication abilities, with strong interpersonal skills and a professional demeanor, enabling effective collaboration within a team setting.
• Strong ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines associated with the iterative nature of a scoping review, while maintaining high-quality work output. Proven track record of collaborating effectively with interdisciplinary teams, researchers, and partners. 

Application Deadline:  April 21, 2025

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/ Advisor Job Family, Phase 1.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.