Job Description

Job Category: Research & Research Support
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This competition is restricted to internal applicants of the University of Alberta. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.
This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).
This position has an end date of April 30, 2026.
Location - This role is in-person at North Campus Edmonton.
The Epidemiological Methods for Equity Research to Generate Evidence (EMERGE) in the School of Public Health utilizes social epidemiological methods to study social equity, population health, and health inequities. We identify social determinants at the individual and area-level and study their relationship with health outcomes, such as mental health conditions (e.g., depression and anxiety), chronic illness, and mortality. With funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research (SSHRC) we study social inequities such as income inequality, maldistributions
of power, and inequitable access to social goods and programs on population health and health equity. Findings from EMERGE projects provide new knowledge on identifying who is most likely to be at greatest risk for exposure to social inequities and thus more likely to be experience morbidity and mortality. Dr. Roman Pabayo is lead investigator of EMERGE.
The Research Assistant will support the project coordination and research activities of CIHR and SSHRC funded projects conducted by EMERGE. Primary duties include: coordinating and completing qualitative primary data collection from participants for the electoral systems funding project; conducting sophisticated quantitative analyses using data at the Statistics Canada Research Data Centre at the University of Alberta; and working collaboratively with the EMERGE team, research team, and partners, such as the Centre for Healthy Communities (CHC).
The Research Assistant will work closely with the EMERGE principal investigator, postdoctoral fellows, CHC staff, and trainees, and be part of a broader team working on this project. The successful candidate requires a robust understanding of social determinants of health, knowledge of Canada's electoral system, strong data analytical skills (primarily quantitative including but not limited to survival analysis and multilevel modelling), demonstratable communication skills, ability to identify and synthesize relevant evidence, capacity to write for different practitioner audiences, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team. The successful candidate will contribute to a positive, appreciative work environment.
Responsibilities:

• Help coordinate the focus groups in the electoral systems and population health and health equity project in Edmonton and Toronto. Key to this activity will include communicating with CHC staff, community groups, and members of target groups. Responsibilities will include but is not limited to: preparing the ethics application (as necessary), overseeing and coordinating data collection, conducting interviews, performing data preparation and data analysis (qualitative), and integrating findings into case profiles for practitioner audiences (see knowledge translation activities for additional details).
• Work collaboratively with the CHC team, project research team, EMERGE researchers and

trainees, and partners to achieve study objectives. * Conduct sophisticated data analyses using secondary data from the Statistics Canada Research Data Centre at the University of Alberta. Additional responsibilities related to these analyses include preparing the ethics application (as necessary) and drafting manuscripts for submission into a peer-reviewed journal.

• Prepare internal written reports and documentation and ensures timely submission to support research team's activities.
• Contribute to and/or develop other knowledge translation products (e.g., infosheets/infographics, presentations to partners or academic audiences, content for EMERGE website, etc.), ensuring the information is accurate and the language appropriate for the target audience.
• Present or co-present knowledge translation products in conferences, internal and external meetings, as needed.
• Identify barriers to successful knowledge translation and employ strategic problem-solving to circumvent them and revise objectives.
• Maintain project timelines to meet established milestones.
• Identify barriers to successfully meeting timelines and/or milestones and employ strategic problem-solving to raise suggestions for addressing them.
• Participate in meetings and/or liaise with EMERGE and CHC staff and trainees (e.g., Principal Investigator, Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Team and Trainees) to discuss deadlines, workplans, deliverables, and proposed solutions to identified barriers.
• Attend project meetings and actively contribute to discussions, as appropriate.
• Support the development of ethics application(s), as needed
• Update and maintain referencing database(s) and project files according to EMERGE's data and information management guidelines.
• Support EMERGE, research collaborator and CHC meetings (e.g., help with coordinating, take meeting minutes, preparing meeting summaries) as needed.
• Report formatting and copy editing, as necessary, to ensure all products/deliverables are error-free.
• Contribute to a positive, appreciative work environment.
• Represent EMERGE at internal and external meetings, as necessary.

Qualifications:
Undergraduate degree in Education, Public Health, Health Promotion, Physical Education, Social Sciences, or related fields; master's degree preferred.
The following skills/experience are necessary:

• Proficiency in MS Office applications;
• Demonstrated experience compiling and synthesizing evidence from multiple data sources

(qualitative and quantitative); * Demonstrated experience working with Stata, SAS, or R analytical software and conducting
sophisticated data analyses (such as survival analyses and multilevel modeling) using data from the Statistics Canada Data Centre. * Knowledge and/or experience working within Alberta public health/community groups or related organizations;

• Demonstrated experience analyzing literature and/or data with an equity and intersectionality lens;
• Writing high-quality reports and/or knowledge translation products related to (public) health and/or education;
• Synthesizing and interpreting research findings and translating for multiple audiences (i.e., general public, practitioners, academics);
• Understanding of the social determinants of health, social and health equity, socio-ecological framework, and knowledge translation approaches; and,
• Interest in social determinants of health, public health, and social epidemiology.
• Experience developing and publishing manuscripts in high-quality peer review journals in public health or a closely related field.

The following qualities are an asset:

• Referencing software (e.g., Refworks, EndNote, Mendeley);
• NVivo or other qualitative analysis software; and,
• Proficiency with G Suite (e.g., Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, etc.).

In addition to the above, the following qualities are essential:

• Strong academic writing and critical thinking skills;
• Strong lay writing skills;
• Attention to detail;
• Effective oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to work within time constraints;
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence;
• Flexibility in response to changes in the project environment; and,
• Proactive and willing to take initiative, as well as to follow directions.

Application Instructions
Click "Apply Now" to submit your resume and cover letter.
About Us:
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.
Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people - from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. .
At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.
All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms-physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of belonging and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.
The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Metis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.
L'Universite de l'Alberta s'engage a creer une communaute universitaire ou chaque personne se sent valorisee, ou les obstacles a la reussite sont elimines et ou des connexions enrichissantes peuvent se developper. Nous accueillons les demandes de toutes les personnes qualifiees. Nous encourageons les femmes; Premieres nations, Metis et Inuits; membres des groupes minoritaires visibles; personnes handicapees; personnes de toute orientation sexuelle ou identite et expression de genre; et toutes les personnes qui peuvent contribuer a la diversification des idees et a l'universite a postuler.
About the Team: The integrates research, graduate education, and community engagement to improve population health. Its interdisciplinary structure includes academic programs, centres, and research teams focused on tackling pressing public health issues locally and globally. The School is dedicated to creating knowledge, training public health professionals, and advancing evidence-informed policy and practice.

Skills Required