Research Associate

at  Western University

CLASSIFICATION & REGULAR HOURS

Hours per Week: 35
Salary Grade: R2
Please note, this is a wholly grant funded, temporary full-time contract opportunity with an expected end date of July 31, 2024.

ABOUT US

The Faculty of Health Sciences is a large, diverse, and comprehensive unit, comprised of six Schools (Nursing, Kinesiology, Health Studies, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Communication Sciences and Disorders), a large Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and four Research Centres. The Faculty has more than 3,200 undergraduate students and more than 800 graduate students (200 PhD students).

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Masters degree in a health related discipline
• PhD with postdoctoral experience in a relevant discipline is preferred

Experience:

• Working experience in a related academic research environment
• Experience with 3D gait biomechanics (motion capture and force plate technologies)
• Experience with MSK imaging modalities (MRI, x-ray)
• Experience with the use of wearable sensor technologies (IMU), including AI and machine learning applications
• Previous experience running randomized clinical trials among patients with knee conditions

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Familiarity with regulations and guidelines governing research ethics in an academic environment and with best practices for reviewing and writing grant proposals
• In depth knowledge with methods for research design, implementation, and analysis
• Familiarity with techniques for updating, managing and extracting data from a research database
• 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
• Ability to work in a manner that models best practices in confidentiality standards
• 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
• Ability to work within a flexible schedule to accommodate the University’s events and activities
• Results-oriented with the ability to motivate and coach employees to meet high performance standards, while working effectively as a member of the leadership team
• Proven ability and natural inclination to develop relationships by interacting with people in a professional, respectful and diplomatic manner
• Ability to interpret and identify key results from research and to succinctly summarize research findings
• Demonstrated working knowledge of relevant scientific/research principles
• Advanced skills in software and applications used to produce and analyze research outcomes

The Research Associate will apply their expertise and knowledge to research projects under the direction of a principal investigator, related to CIHR-funded studies in the Wolf Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory that investigate the clinical and biomechanical effects of interventions for musculoskeletal conditions. The Research Associate will carry out and oversee original and independent research to assist them in achieving their research outcomes. The Research Associate will 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 Research Associate will also support and operationalize new and innovative research opportunities as requested, develop research and project plans, and design, build and run experiments. In addition, 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.