Research Methods Specialist - Geriatric Mental Health Service Research

at  Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Job Description
The Geriatric Mental Health Services (GMHS) is dedicated to the provision of specialized, interprofessional assessment, treatment, consultation, and follow-up services to older persons with mental illness and addiction. GMHS has a strong research focus component, aiming primarily to enhance understanding of the variability of treatment responses in older persons. Enabling tailored approaches to care for this population with medication and other treatments. Such approaches can then enhance treatment efficacy and reduce adverse experiences in the care of late life mental health disorders.
In this position, you will assist the Principal Investigators, Research Operations Manager and program staff with a number of database and statistical responsibilities for the entire GMHS Research division. These include (but are not limited to): development of database structure, testing, operationalizing, and maintaining study databases and study tools using primarily the REDCap platform; pulling and cleaning data in preparation for data analyses; conducting basic analyses using statistical packages (e.g., SPSS, SAS, Matlab, R); and simple data interpretation. You will also be required to assist in developing and implementing database frameworks and evaluation tools, linking study databases with larger scale projects using existing CAMH data platforms (e.g. REDCap, XNAT, LabKey, Tableau), monitoring day-to-day data collection, ensuring data integrity and accuracy, and entering and quality assuring study data. You will coordinate consistent data capture (where possible) across research studies within and advise on strategic approaches for data consistency to maximize output of data collection.
In addition, you will help develop departmental SOPs as well as follow and update any existing departmental data SOPs. You will stay up-to-date with new database creation and linkage techniques available through CAMH, and will liaise with the CAMH Neuroinformatics and Biostatistics department.
You will support a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork, and complies with all applicable regulatory and legislative requirements. This position is located at the 1025 Queen Street West.

Job Requirements

• The successful candidate must have, an Honour’s Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Psychology, or a relevant field, combined with 5 years of relevant research or work experience.
• Experience providing data architecture or working with and coordinating large (multi-site) datasets is required.
• Strong knowledge of data models and data structures as well as electronic data capture tools, e.g. REDCap or similar is required. Experience with additional data capture and database architecture is an asset.
• Strong understanding of data management across the research lifecycle, including creation, processing, analysis, preservation, access, and reuse of research data is required.
• Strong understanding and experience with regulatory procedures and how they apply to data storage, management, research data use, and access is required.
• Experience creating and maintaining metadata and applying best practices to manage content is required.
• Experience working in an active research environment, ideally, including a combination of direct clinical research experience and experience in data management is required.
• Experience conducting basic analyses using statistical packages (SPSS, SAS, MATlab, R) and data interpretation is required.
• Experience of tracking and merging datasets to maximize outputs is an asset.
• Previous study monitoring and quality assurance experience is an asset.
• Experience processing and tracking longitudinal data is a strong asset.
• Experience working with medical imaging and clinical datasets is a strong asset.
• Prior research or service experience with individuals and/or families with mental illness and addiction is an asset.
• Excellent PC software skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Excel), internet search engines, and database software packages is required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (oral/written), and organizational skills are required; along with the ability to collaborate effectively with team members.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to exercise initiative and good judgment are required for this position. The successful candidate will have the ability to multi-task and produce high quality, accurate work in a fast-paced environment, while meeting program deadlines.
• Must be a self-motivated learner who enjoys working autonomously and liaising with other CAMH support Networks (e.g., the Neuroinformatics Department).
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• The position requires the ability to work effectively and efficiently in a variety of settings with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Bilingualism (French/English) and/or proficiency in a second language would be an asset.

Please refer the Job description for details