Job Description

Research Assistant, Urban Public Health NetworkPrimary PurposeThe and the invite applications for a position as a student research assistant to support the 3-year Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) funded project entitled, \xe2\x80\x9cMultilevel estimation of the relative impacts of social determinants on income-related health inequalities in urban Canada: Toward a new Canadian Social Determinants Urban Laboratory.\xe2\x80\x9d The primary responsibilities of the student research assistant will be to support a multidisciplinary and cross-national team, first, to create a suite of programs, algorithms, and data components which will compile the Laboratory from existing Statistics Canada and Canadian Institute for Health Information in Statistics Canada\'s Research Data Centres. Then to use this new tool to operationalize the WHO\'s social determinant of health framework, and model and measure the impacts of social drivers of health on urban populations in Canada.Nature of WorkThe successful applicant will have the opportunity to work alongside health system clinicians and analysts to mobilize Canada\'s leading health administrative data and advanced statistical methods to actively inform public debate and real-time decision-making in Saskatchewan and Canada. The student research assistant will work with research team members to develop and deploy a suite of area-level (primarily at the health region level) and individual-level health system indicators to quantify system-level access and quality of care. This will involve an iterative process of identifying and assessing health system indicators that are available at the sub-provincial level and across urban centers in Canada and validating them with microdata in Statistics Canada\'s Research Data Centres (RDC). They will review the international literature to identify whether comparable indicators have been identified in other OECD countries. They will also support the team in exploring avenues for measuring retrospective local area-level public health system policy variables. This may include document analysis and coding. The databases that will be used to complete the project may include the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), the Canadian Vital Death Statistics Database (CVSD), the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) and the Canadian Census of Population.They will do so in close collaboration with project principal investigators, co-investigators and staff. This includes working within the RDC lab during regular business hours. The student research assistant will report to the Co-principal-investigators on the project, Dr. Thilina Bandara, Assistant Professor with the School of Public Health, and Dr. Charles Plante, Research Scientist with the Research Department of the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The student research assistant may also support stakeholder engagement with external research partners, like the health authorities, and leading national data stewards, like the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Statistics Canada, and coordinate with granting agencies as needed.The study is a joint project between the Research Group of the Urban Public Health Network and the Research Department of the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The UPHN is a network of Medical Officers of Health who oversee public health in Canada\'s leading urban centres. Representing 21 cities across the country, the network\'s members are responsible for overseeing the population health of more than half of Canadians. The Saskatchewan Health Authority is an Academic Healthcare Organization that aims to provide safe, effective and innovative care through evidence-based practice, training and research. The Research Department is responsible for advancing and mobilizing health research and research capacity within the organization. RDCs promote and facilitate research that uses Statistics Canada microdata within secure facilities on university campuses across Canada and is managed by Statistics Canada.The work will be carried out on university systems and on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The initial contract is for one year but is renewable for up to two years.Professional developmentThe student research assistant will have the opportunity to work with public health leaders and analysts from the largest health systems in Canada as they strive to improve population health and influence health systems toward more upstream thinking, health promotion actions, and positive health outcomes. The position is ideal for candidates interested in pursuing a career in applied public health and/or public health research.Accountabilities

• Work with project team members to plan and implement data management and analysis activities in support of the study protocol in the RDC.
• Collaboratively ensure the smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of data management and analysis activities and reporting (including effective implementation of automation when applicable).
• Effectively document all data management and analysis activities and outcomes in ways that support collaboration between team members (e.g. use of RMarkdown Notebooks).
• Implement data tabulation and visualization of results and support their integration with study reporting and dissemination.
• Develop and maintain records of data management and analysis activities inside and outside of the RDC, and prepare periodic and ad hoc progress reports for the team.
• Orally present progress reports to the wider research team at routine stand-up and planning meetings.
• Support writing and wider reporting of study outcomes and results (including drafting of papers for peer-reviewed publication).
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned, including support for other programs related to UPHN and this study.

EducationQualified applicants should be working on or possess a Master\'s or equivalent in public health, community health, or a related discipline (e.g. epidemiology, sociology of health, health policy and/or administration, health informatics, implementation science or health economics).LicensesNo licenses are required. However, already having RDC clearance will help to expedite onboarding.ExperienceBased on the , we are seeking a student with an interest in, and ideally experience in, the analysis and evaluation of public and population health and health-related policies and programs; survey design and methods; analysis of data, evidence and critical thinking; and mobilization of knowledge translation activities. Prior experience working with big data and leading statistical software, including, but not limited to, Stata, R, and/or SAS, and/or working in secure research environments, like Statistics Canada\'s Research Data Centres (RDC), will be an enormous asset. Statistical modelling, data tabulation, and data visualization experience will also be valued. Past experience working as part of a large multidisciplinary research team and familiarity and experience with the academic publishing process are also assets.SkillsQuantitative reasoning skills and attention to detail are essential to this role. Intermediate writing skills, curiosity, and the desire to learn, experiment and innovate are also important. Intermediate knowledge of data management concepts and principles is also vital.ApplicationPlease attach a cover letter, CV, and an example of code you have written for statistical analysis (e.g. an R script, SAS program, or Stata do-file). We will begin reviewing applications as soon as possible.ContactInquiries about this posting can be directed to Joanna Procyshen,If the successful candidate is a graduate student, this position will be inscope of PSAC-Grad Students and those provisions will apply\xe2\x80\x9dDepartment: Community Health and Epidemiology
Status: Term 1 year with the possibility of extension
Employment Group: Research Positions - Non-union
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 0.25 - 0.45
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $0.00 - 0.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 5
Posted Date: 5/27/2024
Closing Date: 6/3/2024
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask\'s Alternative Workspace Guidelines
The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan\'s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the M\xc3\xa9tis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and M\xc3\xa9tis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.

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