Research Assistant

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

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks.

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
The Vision of the BC Brain Wellness Program is Brain Wellness, Beyond All Boundaries.

We are leveraging the collective power of clinical care, lifestyle programs, education, and research to design a comprehensive and integrated approach to brain wellness for people with chronic brain conditions, care partners and healthy agers.

The BC Brain Wellness Program is an interactive effort to establish clinically relevant lifestyle approaches to complement medical treatment in the clinics at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. By combining clinical care with interventions that support healthier lifestyles, the BC Brain Wellness Program team hopes to improve and sustain quality of life for people living with brain disorders and their care partners, as well as to offer healthy agers the opportunity to enhance their wellness and engage in preventative lifestyle measures.

The position is for a contract program research assistant (~15 hours per week). The program research assistant will work on various research projects of the BC Brain Wellness Program. The individual will assist in designing, modifying, implementing, and overseeing the research studies, including the development of protocols, quality control initiatives, and supervision of instructors and other research team members. The individual must be knowledgeable and mindful of the research enterprise ongoing. The individual will coordinate multiple research study cohorts running simultaneously. They must ensure: 1) patient confidentiality and safety; 2) Clinical data reliability and quality. The individual will use their knowledge from exercise physiology perspective to analyse the collected data to interpret findings and provide recommendations.
Organizational Status
The individual will work closely in a multidisciplinary team environment, and have access to electronic medical records. They will work with the exercise team lead and Program Manager.
Work Performed
Assist in the implementation of research protocols related to exercise science. This includes participant recruitment, obtaining informed consent, and conducting research study visits (e.g., focus groups, surveys).

• Provide assessment and personalized kinesiology services for participants, ensuring adherence to research protocols.
• Assist in the collection, analysis, and maintenance of research data.
• Assist in the interpretation of research findings to provide insights and recommendations.
• Assist in the planning and delivery of exercise program intervention.
• Track the progress of exercise program and provide recommendations for personalized modification of exercise intervention.
• Assist in report and application writing.
• Participate in the execution of strategic initiatives; includes organizing seminars, events, meetings, tracking metrics and milestones.
• Other related tasks assigned by the program manager.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Poor decisions/errors in judgment may compromise the BWP, breech the trust and confidentiality of research participants, and may result in financial loss to the PI, the Centres, and the University. Even simple typographical mistakes may result in distress to stakeholders and be damaging to the program and the reputation of the team and Director. They may influence the ability of the PI to meet critical deadlines and affect funding applications and ongoing program obligations.
Supervision Received
The individual will work closely with staff, clinical investigators, clinicians, and multidisciplinary staff as well as students at the BC Brain Wellness Program. Overall supervision will be provided by the Program Manager and Team Lead in Exercise Programs and Education.
Supervision Given
The individual may be responsible for the supervision of instructors, assistants, and volunteers involved in the exercise research programs.
Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years 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

- An undergraduate or graduate degree in kinesiology, exercise science, physical therapy, or health science

- Registered and insured Kinesiologist or Clinical Exercise Physiologist.
- Must be able to work approximately 15 hours/week
- Previous experience in teaching group or individual exercise classes is preferred
- Previous experience in a clinical setting preferred
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent organization and time management skills
- High level of accuracy, precision, and attention to detail
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Experience working with scheduling software (e.g., Jane) is preferred.