ABOUT WESTERN

With an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities and one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses.

ABOUT US

Unit’s Mission:
Led by Professor Angela Roberts, our mission is to pioneer advancements in the detection, monitoring, and intervention of cognitive, communication, and language changes across the cognitive aging continuum from neurodegenerative brain diseases to exceptional cognitive aging, by integrating communication sciences, computer science, and speech-language pathology. Through our dedication to research excellence, community engagement, and the development of innovative healthcare solutions, the lab aims to lead the way in enhancing cognitive wellbeing, supporting families affected by dementia and other neurodegenerative brain diseases, and shaping the future of cognitive and communication health care.
Key Goals of the Unit:
This position will be central to our clinical trials program. The successful applicant will work primarily within our NIH-funded Communication Bridge clinical trials program which delivers speech-language pathology interventions to individuals with primary progressive aphasia and their families via a telemedicine service delivery model. The research program is complemented by an app-based home exercise program and integrates innovative technologies for evaluating outcomes within a life-space ‘mobility’ and communication participation framework.

Education:

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline; PhD in a relevant discipline preferre

Experience:

• 3 years’ working experience in a related academic research environmen

Skills, Abilities & Expertise:

• Demonstrated working knowledge of relevant scientific/research principles
• Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives, improve outcomes and support work beyond one’s own unit
• Communication skills to describe technical concepts effectively to both novice and sophisticated users, and to complete detailed analytics and reports
• Advanced skills in software and applications used to produce and analyze research outcomes
• Ability to provide solutions and ideas for improvement by using imaginative approaches where constructive thinking and innovation are require

The Research Associate will apply their expertise and knowledge to research projects, and carry out or oversee original and independent research under the general direction of a principle investigator. The incumbent may play a lead role in training staff, graduate students, undergraduate students and/or post-doctoral fellows, and in resolving issues that arise in the research environment. The incumbent will develop research and project plans, and design, build and run experiments. The Research Associate will evaluate and interpret experimental results, develop models or correlations, and prepare reports and other written material for presentations and/or submissions to various stakeholders as required.
Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline; PhD in a relevant discipline preferred

Experience:

• 3 years’ working experience in a related academic research environment

Skills, Abilities & Expertise:

• Demonstrated working knowledge of relevant scientific/research principles
• Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives, improve outcomes and support work beyond one’s own unit
• Communication skills to describe technical concepts effectively to both novice and sophisticated users, and to complete detailed analytics and reports
• Advanced skills in software and applications used to produce and analyze research outcomes

• Ability to provide solutions and ideas for improvement by using imaginative approaches where constructive thinking and innovation are required

• Detail-oriented with an ability to function and process information with high levels of accuracy- Familiarity with University research policies and practices

• Ability to adhere to legislated safety requirements and Western safety policies

• Commitment to ongoing professional development with a desire to take on new challenges
• Ability to multi-task and maintain an organized and effective personal work environment
• Ability to work in a fluid and evolving work environment with changing deadlines and priorities
• Ability to work independently and maintain direction and focus through proactive planning and organized approaches to work
• Proven ability and natural inclination to develop relationships by interacting with people in a professional, respectful and diplomatic manner
• Ability to work independently and effectively as a member of the team to achieve department goals
• Demonstrated ability to research/investigate issues and resolve problems