Technical /Research Support I

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.

ABOUT US

About Us
The Faculty of Health Sciences is a large, diverse, and comprehensive unit, comprised of seven Schools (Nursing, Kinesiology, Health Studies, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Brescia Food and Nutritional Sciences), 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).
The Family Studies and Human Development Program at the Faculty of Health of Sciences at Western explores human development across our lifespan – from birth through adulthood. We explore individual health, well-being and relationships through a biological, cognitive and psychosocial lens. Part of our mandate is to understand areas that may challenge individuals and families such as homelessness, discrimination, immigration, and we aim to learn how to promote resilience to address these challenges.
Description The Youth Sexual Health and HIV Prevention in Middle Eastern and North African Communities in Canada (YSMENA) is an innovative, strength-focused, resilience-based, and youth-driven research program aimed at promoting sexual health and well-being and reducing HIV vulnerabilities and sexual health disparities among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) youth, including youth with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. YSMENA is the first community- based research program in Canada to center the voices of diaspora MENA youth and explore experiences and perceptions of discrimination, racism, and health and well-being and address gaps in health services.
Study Title, Goals and Objectives: Culturally Responsive Sexual Health and Wellbeing Programming for Transgender Middle Eastern and North African Newcomer Young Adults in Ontario: Community-Based Participatory Research through Arts-Based Approaches (YSMENA Trans Photovoice Study). YSMENA Trans Photovoice Study is a new project under the umbrella of the YSMENA program. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the study uses arts-based, community-based participatory research approaches aimed at: 1)¿examining barriers and facilitators in achieving positive sexual and mental health among¿trans, non-binary and gender-nonconforming MENA newcomers in Ontario; ¿2) developing culturally responsive services that will address the needs of MENA newcomer young adults; and 3) engaging with the participants and community service providers in strengthening capacity for knowledge mobilization.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Community College Diploma in a related field OR University bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of focus with 1 year of experience in a related field

SKILLS, ABILITIES & EXPERTISE:

• Excellent organizational, facilitation and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to deliver timeline sensitive project outcomes
• Proven ability to work in a collaborative and fast paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, sound judgment, discretion, and tact
• Ability to maintain a positive, outgoing attitude with genuine interest in participants
• Personable and courteous in working relationships with colleagues, participants and research team
• Passion to work hard with a propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence
• Ability to support a range of activities with a demonstrated ability to understand and resolve issues
• Reliable with the consistent ability to work weekends and/or evenings, based on project needs
• Competency with MS Office suite of programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) § Knowledge and/or experience on issues faced by the project’s target communities (racial and sexual and gender minority youth, and economically marginalized young adults)
• Knowledge of the effects of marginalization on health and strategies to promote health equity
• Experience in community-based research § Proven commitment to social justice and anti-oppression

The Research Support Staff will work under the guidance of the study research team: Principal Investigator, Dr. Roula Hawa (Western University), Principal Knowledge User, Praney Anand (Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention), Co-Principal Investigators, Dr. Trevor Hart (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Dr. Sarah Flicker (York University), and Co-Investigator, Christian Hui (Toronto Metropolitan University).
In addition, the Research Support Staff will work as part of a team comprised of another Research Support staff member and under the guidance of a Research Associate. This is a part-time job (7 hrs/week), with an hourly rate of: $25/hr, for 52 weeks.There is a requirement of one (1) dedicated day/week for the project, with an expectation of flexibility in some weeks for meeting required hours to meet study deliverables. Some evenings and weekend work will be required to meet project deliverables.
Main project deliverables are carried out/conducted on-site at the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention Office in downtown Toronto.

The Research Support Staff will:

• Report directly to: the Principal Investigator, Dr. Roula Hawa for job deliverables and project content issues.
• Report to Dr. Roula Hawa for all administrative, financial, and human resources issues.

Report to the study research team and the Research Associate on project implementation, progress, outcomes, and evaluation issues.
The Research Support Staff will be responsible for delivering listed tasks, including but not limited to: