Junior Research Associate

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal applicants will be given priority consideration based on minimum qualifications, or a combination of experience, skills, and abilities before external applicants are considered.

This position has an initial appointment of 2 years.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus Edmonton.

The junior research associate will be engaged in research activities of the Health Technology and Policy Unit (HTPU). The HTPU undertakes research aimed at creating knowledge to support fair, evidence informed decision making around the introduction and use of health technologies in the publicly funded health care system. It also conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) and health evidence reviews (HERs) for Alberta Health.

HER uses evaluative methods from the social and applied sciences, including clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, modelling and qualitative techniques to systematically examine the clinical, economic, social, legal, ethical and overall system implications of health technologies. Given its broad scope, the position requires proficiency in systematic review and scoping review methods; basic quantitative techniques; and qualitative approaches to collecting and analyzing data. Strong communication skills are needed, since the position must interact with many different stakeholder communities.

While this position will primarily be involved in the HER activities of the unit, they will have the opportunity to be engaged in other research related to methods for assessing technologies throughout their lifecycle and determining the broader social value of personalized medicines and technologies for rare diseases as part of the other grants held by members of the portfolio. Therefore, activities in which the research associate will be involved in include planning, developing, conducting, implementing and disseminating research in the form of HTAs and other empirical work.

Since the HTPU is team-based, the research associate will work closely with all staff. However, because the team is small, they must be able to multi-task and work independently to ensure tasks assigned to them are completed effectively and efficiently. They will also interact with government representatives, senior members of the clinical community, other members of different stakeholder communities involved in project and research teams from other universities. The research associate will suggest appropriate methods for addressing specific policy questions for government and other research questions identified through academic work of the HTPU. Specific activities include:

• Undertake systematic reviews of health evidence
• Undertake scoping reviews
• Conduct analyses of administrative data
• Liaise with members of various stakeholder communities
• Represent the HTPU at meetings and conferences
• Engage in other research activities of the HTPU

• Master's degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, health services research, or public health; PhD preferred
• Minimum 5 years of research experience in a post graduate research and education environment Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
• Publication track record in relevant area preferred
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative research skills
• Strong communication skills (both written and oral)
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Proficient in Microsoft Office {Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Excel)
• Proficient in Review Manager or other software for conducting systematic reviews and meta­ analyses
• Proficient in STATA, SPSS, or SAS
• Proficient in nVIVO
• Proficient in Reference Manager, Refworks, or other bibliographic database management software

Application Instructions

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This position offers a comprehensive benefits package with an annual salary range of $65,369 to $73,544.

The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed by Schedule E of the Collective Agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta.