Research Associate

at  Western University

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.
Researchers from the School of Occupational Therapy are currently seeking a research assistant for a study titled ‘Initiating a Participatory Action Research (PAR) process with South Asian Older Immigrants’. The aim of this research is to create and mobilize a collective of South Asian older immigrants to set research priorities relevant to community participation and to explore the successes and challenges of using PAR with older immigrants.

ABOUT US

Western’s School of Occupational Therapy believes in the transformative power of occupation. Through a commitment to social justice, social inclusion, and health and wellbeing, faculty members and students engage in teaching, research and learning that creates positive change locally, nationally and internationally. Teaching and research in the School of Occupational Therapy is enhanced through a network of international and interprofessional collaborations that broadens the understanding of occupation and motivates students impact the world at individual and societal levels.

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:

• Currently enrolled in a Doctoral program at the University of Western Ontario
• Experience in/courses in qualitative research
• Familiar with gerontology research literature
• Excellent communication, organization and project management skills
• Located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or available to be present in GTA as needed
• Experience facilitating groups and/or conducting participant interviews
• Background in occupational therapy, gerontology, sociology
• Fluency in a South Asian language(s) (e.g., Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, etc.)
• Likely to continue to be a graduate student at Western for 2-3 more years
• 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.

• Conduct a scoping review of the available literature.
• Co-facilitate participant group discussions (2 hours x 6 meetings in total).
• Conduct participant interviews and securely manage data
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners
• Contribute to data analysis
• Create knowledge mobilization materials and participate in knowledge mobilization activities

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:

• Currently enrolled in a Doctoral program at the University of Western Ontario
• Experience in/courses in qualitative research
• Familiar with gerontology research literature
• Excellent communication, organization and project management skills
• Located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or available to be present in GTA as needed
• Experience facilitating groups and/or conducting participant interviews
• Background in occupational therapy, gerontology, sociology
• Fluency in a South Asian language(s) (e.g., Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, etc.)
• Likely to continue to be a graduate student at Western for 2-3 more years
• 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