Research Associate Full-time

The expected pay for this full-time position is $76,128 CAD per year.
This is a leave replacement for a fixed term duration with the possibility of extension.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

JOB SUMMARY
The Research Associate is responsible for conducting research, contributing to manuscript writing and grant development, providing advice and supervision to staff and trainees in the Appel-Cresswell lab, and supervising day-to-day operations of the Appel-Cresswell lab at the UBC Centre for Brain Health.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS
The UBC Division of Neurology is one of the largest divisions within the Department of Medicine, and spans many activities in clinical, research and educational spheres. The majority of these activities are conducted at Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, BC Children Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. It is nationally and internationally recognized for its clinical and research programs in multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders including dementias, motor neuronal disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. The Division of Neurology is consistently successful in obtaining peer reviewed grant funding from agencies in Canada and internationally. Divisional members make important contributions to both basic neuroscience and clinical neurological literature. Faculty members are actively involved in teaching and supervising all levels of students and trainees from undergraduate to postgraduate students, clinical and research fellows. The Residency Training Program in Neurology is the one of the largest in the country.

The Research Associate reports directly to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell. The incumbent liaises with staff and trainees in the Appel-Cresswell lab, the Borgland Family Brain and Tissue DNA Bank at the UBC Centre for Brain Health, and collaborating labs at UBC and beyond. The Research Associate supports, trains and provides functional
direction to Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate students as well as other staff working in the lab.

WORK PERFORMED

• Establish, implement and lead clinical research projects, including lifestyle interventions, biomarker studies, and data registries for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
• Create project plans, including milestones and financial projections; monitors progress to ensure that project priorities and timelines are met.
• Direct the generation and analysis of research data, and coordinate presentation of complex data in meetings, conferences and publications.
• Liaise with collaborators and donors to report on the project.
• Collaborate with other team members to write grants.
• Advise staff and trainees on research techniques, design and standard operating procedures.
• Train undergraduate and graduate students in performing data analysis and provide direction with associated tasks.
• Adhere to lab standards for documentation, data storage, inventory management.
• Performs other responsibilities, as required.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR/JUDGEMENT
The incumbent may have access to confidential data. The quality of work performed will determine the success of future projects and funding. Exercising poor judgement and lack of appropriate consultation with research team members and supervisors can adversely affect the viability and validity of research projects or programs, and may compromise the UBC Division’s and Department’s ability to secure grant-based funding for future research projects.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The Research Associate reports directly to the Principal Investigator Dr. Appel-Cresswell.

SUPERVISION GIVEN
The incumbent will provide supervision and mentorship to staff and trainees on specifi c techniques, procedures and processes.

QUALIFICATIONS
The following qualifications, skills and knowledge, are required:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Biomedicine or Clinical Research is required.
• At least 5 years’ experience in analysis of high-dimensional biological data (e.g. genomics, metagenomics) and qualitative data (e.g. survey results)
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize work, multi-task, schedule and meet deadlines.
• Good skills and knowledge of neurodegenerative disorders, clinical trial design, troubleshooting and data analysis.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Effective oral and written communications, with the ability to compose clear and grammatically correct science documents.
• Ability to take initiative, anticipate emerging issues and recommend actions to mitigate problems.

Tagged as: Life Sciences