Research Assistant (SRI) - Family Navigation Project - Regular Full-time 2024-9463

Start Date: July 2024

Location: 365 Bloor Street E, Toronto (Hybrid)

Family Navigation Project

The Family Navigation Project (FNP) at Sunnybrook is a non-profit program designed to provide expert navigation of the mental health and addiction service system for youth and their families residing in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). FNP is a free service offered through phone and email that uses a combination of clinical and lived experience to support youth and their families on their care pathway. FNP is strongly committed to equitable hiring practices and building a team that reflects the full spectrum of diverse communities we partner with. Sunnybrook Research Institute is strongly committed to inclusion and diversity within our community and we welcome and encourage applications from Black, Indigenous and people of colour, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, people with disabilities, and those who live at the intersection of equity-deserving communities.

Role Summary:

Sunnybrook Research Institute is seeking a Research Assistant (RA) with the Family Navigation Project to support the day-to-day research operations of our flagship projects, including a study supporting youth from equity deserving communities (EDC) experiencing mental health and addiction issues. This position reports to the Scientist and is a Regular Full-Time opportunity.

Note: This position includes the SRI benefit plan.  

Position Responsibilities:

The Research Assistant will conduct key tasks including, but not limited to:

• Support all phases of the research process, including development of Research Ethics Board applications, literature reviews (systematic/narrative/scoping reviews), data analyses, participant recruitment and compensation
• Create, organize, and maintain study logs and documentation
• Collection, management, and organization of data
• Conduct qualitative analysis using software (e.g. MAXQDA)
• Conduct quantitative data analyses using SPSS  and/or R software
• Maintain references using software (e.g. End Note, Mendeley or related applications)
• Support submission of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Develop presentations, visuals, reports, research papers, and publications based on research results and contribute to the presentation of research results at seminars, scientific conferences, and related settings
• Liaise with research collaborators, research team members, Research Ethics Board staff, granting agencies, contracts and finance staff, and/or regulatory bodies
• Engage stakeholders (e.g., FNP staff, FNP’s Community Advisory Councils, Sunnybrook Staff, and Equity Deserving and other communities to ensure relevant and informed implementation process)
• Develop targets, collect key demographic metrics to understand clientele, and evaluate the experience of clients from EDC against researched best practices in mental healthcare
• Support strategic outreach initiatives through community research and database development to understand our catchment areas
• Ensure the voice of lived experience is integrated and evident in all stages of the research process and its outcomes
• Support other program initiatives as necessary

Qualifications/Skills:

• A minimum Bachelor’s level degree in a relevant field (i.e. Psychology, Life Sciences, or other); research stream Master’s degree is an asset
• At least one year of related research work
• Strong qualitative research skills (e.g. grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography), qualitative analysis (e.g. thematic analysis, content analysis), and quantitative research skills (e.g. community surveys, focus groups, experimental designs)
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding the needs of and/or previous experience working with Equity Deserving Communities is considered an asset
• Knowledge and experience in youth engagement in mental health services and research is highly preferred
• Previous experience in family and/or youth mental health and addiction services research is preferred
• Highly self-directed with excellent organizational and time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills including oral, written, and presentations
• Ability to work in a team environment and understand the importance of independent work in addition to asking for direction
• Clear understanding of protecting participant privacy and confidentiality within research studies and in clinical settings
• Strong data management and analytical skills; competency using analytic software (experience with SPSS/R, NVivo, MAXQDA, or related applications is an asset)
• MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) proficiency

Qualified Applicants please submit a Cover Letter along with your Resume/CV.

How To Apply:

If you are interested and qualified for this position, please email your cover letter and CV to roula.markoulakis@sunnybrook.ca. Please quote “Research Assistant – Family Navigation Project” in the subject line. Note: To be properly considered for a position, both the job title and department to which you are applying, must appear in the subject line of your email.

Your interest in this opportunity is appreciated. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Successful candidates, as a condition of job offer, will be required to provide recent references.

Sunnybrook Research Institute is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate this in your cover letter.

Sunnybrook Research Institute is strongly committed to inclusion and diversity within its community and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: visible minorities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Please be advised that in order to be eligible for employment at Sunnybrook, all new hires must have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada (e.g., two doses of a two-dose vaccine series, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine series); AND have received the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days ago. Medical exemptions or any other kind of requested exemption based upon the Hospital’s obligations pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code will be considered on a case-by-case basis.