Research Assistant, Oral Cancer Prevention Research Project

at  University of Saskatchewan

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The research assistant will have the chance to work closely with professionals in oral health, rural healthcare, and public health policy. This role is ideal for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge of community health research, with a specific focus on oral cancer prevention and rural healthcare challenges.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Collaborate with team members to support data collection and analysis for the community-based needs assessment on OPL and OSCC prevalence.
• Assist in building and maintaining a professional health network for early diagnosis and referral of oral lesions in rural areas.
• Contribute to the creation of training and screening tools for local healthcare providers in rural Saskatchewan.
• Support the documentation of research activities and outcomes, ensuring effective team collaboration through well-organized data management processes.
• Assist in preparing research reports, presentations, and manuscripts for academic dissemination.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including contributing to stakeholder engagement with local health authorities and professionals.

EDUCATION

Qualified applicants should be enrolled in or possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in public health, community health, or related disciplines such as epidemiology, health policy, or healthcare administration. A combination of education and relevant experience may also be considered.

EXPERIENCE

Applicants should demonstrate an interest in health disparities, rural healthcare, and cancer prevention. Experience with health data analysis, survey design, or community health initiatives will be highly valued. Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, SPSS, SAS) and knowledge of health-related data management are also beneficial. Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and contributing to health-related publications is an asset.

SKILLS

• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Basic to intermediate writing skills, with the ability to assist in drafting reports and academic papers.
• Proficiency in data management and health-related research, including the ability to assist in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects.

The College of Dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan invites applications for a position as a research assistant to support a project aimed at “Preventing Oral Cancer by Building an Efficient Professional Network and Providing Early Diagnosis in Rural and Remote Areas of Saskatchewan.” The project’s primary goals include assessing the prevalence of oral potentially malignant lesions (OPL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), building a network of health professionals in rural areas, and developing screening resources for early diagnosis and management of these conditions.