Research Assistant
About Queen’s University
Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.
We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.
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Job Summary
Reporting to the Principal Investigators (PIs), the Research Assistant will perform a diverse array of duties in support of coordinating research projects affiliated with the Respiratory Investigation Unit and associated Integrative Cardiopulmonary Physiology Laboratory within the Departments of Medicine and Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen’s University. These will mainly include working to support research participant recruitment, enrollment, scheduling, and follow-up. It will also include assisting in performing pulmonary function and exercise testing in a safe, confidential, and ethical manner as well as include, but not be limited to, assisting with research ethics board submissions, performing data compilation and organization, and carrying-out basic administrative functions like procurement, maintaining inventory and stores, and helping maintain research accounts. This position will require good competence working with Microsoft Office software and the ability and willingness to learn select lab-specific open-source software solutions as well as navigate various website platforms to complete required duties. The position will also include, but not be limited to, assisting manuscript and grant preparation under the supervision of the PI and with the collaboration of other team research trainees and staff.
Job Description

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in life sciences or similar program and / or two-year post-secondary program in a relevant field with relevant experience in a clinical research or clinical trials environment preferred.
• Master of Science (MSc) or other graduate or professional training or certifications in a related field, like exercise physiology, physiotherapy, nursing, respiratory therapy, kinesiology, etc. is an asset.
• Previous experience (2 to 3 years) in a related field is required.
• Experience in clinical exercise physiology or cardiopulmonary physiology research or research in a relevant field is an asset.
• Experience in clinical trials or clinical physiologic research setting is an asset.
• Knowledge and experience performing pulmonary function testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, or working with tools or techniques evaluating cardiopulmonary function is an asset, or the willingness and ability to be onboarded and learn such techniques.
• Knowledge and experience with TRAQ Researcher Portal, Queen’s Research Ethics Boards, Queen’s procurement (acQuire), Queen’s FAST.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience alongside the motivation to learn.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

• Respects diversity and actively promotes inclusion in the workplace.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills.
• Effective analytical, technical, and practical problem-solving skills to help resolve administrative and technical issues and make appropriate recommendations.
• Strong initiative and ability to work both independently and as part of a diverse team.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and make accommodations.
• Attention to detail, organizational and time-management skills, ability to focus while under pressure and with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines while maintaining productivity on multiple parallel deliverables.
• Strong ability to adhere to research procedures and SOPs, maintain strict confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Office and computer skills including knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, database, and publisher software (Microsoft Office). Ability to learn new software packages as required.

SKILLS

• Attention To Detail
• Collaboration
• Communications
• Time Management

• Contacting research participants, scheduling research visits to the lab and following-up research participants (by phone/email/mail) between visits.
• Consenting patients for participation in research (including clinical trials) and obtaining written informed consent.
• Assisting in the conduct of research studies, this includes but is not limited to data collection functions (baseline demographics, phone calls, interviews, pulmonary function testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and signing out of wearable devices like heart rate trackers, sleep devices etc.), set-up and calibration of equipment, tear-down and clean-up.
• Assist in the coordination of research students (e.g., assisting with compensation and other associated paperwork and administration) who report directly to the PI.
• Assist PI and co-investigators with research ethics board submissions.
• May assist with budgeting (for grant applications) and basic financial transactions such as submitting cheque requisitions, participant reimbursement forms, reconciling accounts, preparing deposits, and monitoring expenditures for the PI.
• Utilize and refine computer databases (Excel, MS ACCESS). Perform basic data processing, including data entry (REDcap).
• Help maintain laboratory and research unit website and social media for participant recruitment and outreach initiatives as required.
• Perform basic administrative services, such as prepare lab meeting schedules, word processing, faxing, copying, scanning and filing in accordance with best practices for participant-inclusive research.
• Provide telephone and email support for research inquiries from participants in a tactful and professional manner.
• Install new software as directed (e.g. ADOBE, Python).
• May assist with preparing human biological samples (e.g. blood or urine) for transport and storage.
• Experience assisting with budgeting for grant applications and performing basic financial tasks such as processing reimbursements, reconciling accounts, preparing deposits, and monitoring expenditures is considered an asset. Undertake other activities, as delegated by the PI, in support of the Research Projects.