Research Assistant- Rehabilitation Innovations Part-time

Research Assistant

The Research Assistant will support the Research Coordinator in providing laboratory and clinical research assistance to a multidisciplinary research group under the guidance of the Principal Investigator. The lab's translational research program investigates how electrical stimulation and neuromodulation can modify the electrophysiological, biomechanical, and clinical outcomes of spinal cord neurological injury. This role will contribute to ongoing studies examining longitudinal exercise training interventions combined with neuromodulation to advance understanding of spinal circuitry and improve walking rehabilitation.

Working under the supervision of the Principal Investigator(s), the Research Assistant will help coordinate and execute study activities, including participant recruitment and follow-up, administration of questionnaires, and communication with patients as well as University and Alberta Health Services staff. The role also involves conducting chart reviews and supporting accurate study documentation and data collection. Success in this position requires strong interpersonal and organizational skills, along with an understanding of gait biomechanics, physiotherapy-based gait assessments in individuals with neurological injury or impairment (e.g., walking speed/endurance, balance, and spinal cord injury assessments), and foundational neuroscience related to spinal cord injury.

Responsibilities

Administrative Duties 20%

• Provide administrative and operational support to the Principal Investigator and Research Coordinator for research and clinical studies.
• Prepare, edit, and update Health Research Ethics Board submissions (new applications, renewals, amendments, and related documentation) in collaboration with the PI and research team.
• Provide administrative support for grant applications and program deliverables, including presentations, publications, reports, and other initiatives.
• Maintain program and study databases, including accurate data entry, secure data handling, and adherence to patient confidentiality and privacy requirements.
• Record, access, and transfer data from medical records (chart reviews) into electronic study databases in accordance with protocol and ethics requirements.
• Manage the Rehabilitation Innovations Core calendar, including scheduling study participants and coordinating activities (e.g., iSMART and ST Innovations tours, Talks and other events).
• Organize and maintain secure, accurate hardcopy and electronic study files (e.g., regulatory binders, consent documents, study logs), ensuring audit-ready documentation.
• Ensure accurate and timely record keeping (e.g., lab notebooks, study logs, Microsoft Word/Excel files) in alignment with study and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate orientation and ongoing development of junior research personnel (summer students, undergraduate/graduate students, and trainees), ensuring required training and compliance with ethics and protocol procedures.
• Collaborate with laboratory staff to maintain a safe, secure, and clean research environment by following laboratory policies and guidelines.
• Perform other administrative tasks as required to support program needs and study timelines.

Research Duties 80%

• Review, understand, and adhere to multiple research protocols, standard operating procedures, and safety guidelines.
• Support participant recruitment and study visits, including screening, informed consent, completion of case report forms, questionnaires, and safety reporting.
• Deliver or support daily exercise training sessions with participants with spinal cord injury as required by study protocols.
• Perform common electrophysiological assessments (e.g., motor evoked potentials, Hoffman reflexes) and support related data collection procedures.
• Assist with systematic reviews by screening research articles and extracting data according to established methods.
• Provide project coordination support across multiple studies, including assisting with project design and development, tracking milestones, and identifying issues for discussion with the research team.
• Conduct data analysis and interpretation across relevant data types and prepare summaries for team review.
• Present study updates and data at regular laboratory meetings and contribute to preparing figures/tables and results for publications.
• Train and support other lab members on research procedures and use of specialized equipment when required.
• Perform other research-related activities as assigned to support study objectives and timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience or related field
• Experience with patient interaction and administration of questionnaires, dealing with patients living with disabilities, responding to study-related questions
• Experience in data management
• Experience working with electrophysiology data analysis, preferably through MATLAB
• Experience with administering electrical stimulation
• Experience with troubleshooting equipment failure during data collection
• Familiar with retrieving patient information from patient charts
• Intermediate level competency with MS Office (Word and Excel) and Adobe
• Excellent organizational, analytical and communication (written and verbal) skills
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks, timelines and a flexible work schedule
• Ability to work efficiently and in a professional and ethical manner
• Ability to work independently as well as with others on an interdisciplinary team