While this position welcomes applications from the public, please note that preference will be given to current employees at the University of Alberta. Please indicate your internal status using the "Advertisement" drop down menu when applying.

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement, this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and annual salary range of

$58,938-$81,051. This position has an approximate appointment of 24 months.

Location

Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

This role is in-person.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for the Department/Faculty

Established in 2005, The Health Technology and Policy Unit is an applied research unit located within the School of Public Health. The HTPU undertakes research aimed at creating knowledge to support fair, evidence informed decision making around the introduction and use of health technologies, services and programs in the publicly funded health care system. It also conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) and evidence reviews for Alberta Health. HTA uses evaluative methods from the social and applied sciences, including clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, modelling and qualitative techniques to systematically examine the clinical, economic, social, legal, ethical and overall system implications of health technologies.

Position

This position will be engaged in research activities of the Health Technology and Policy Unit (HTPU). Given its broad scope, the position requires proficiency in systematic review and scoping review methods; basic quantitative techniques; and qualitative approaches to collecting and analyzing data. Strong communication skills are needed, since the position must interact with many different stakeholder communities. While this position will primarily be involved in the HTA activities of the unit, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to be engaged in other research related to methods for assessing technologies throughout their lifecycle and determining the broader social value of personalized medicines and technologies for rare diseases as part of the other grants held by members of the portfolio. Therefore, activities in which the research associate will be involved in include planning, developing, conducting, implementing and disseminating research in the form of HTAs and other empirical work.

Duties

Since the HTPP is team-based, the research associate will work closely with all staff. However, because the team is small, (s)he must be able to multi-task and work independently to ensure tasks assigned to her/him are completed effectively and efficiently. He/she will also interact with government representatives, senior members of the clinical community, other members of different stakeholder communities involved in project and research teams from other universities. The research associate will suggest appropriate methods for addressing specific policy questions for government and other research questions identified through academic work of the HTPP. Specific activities include:

1. Undertake systematic reviews of health evidence

• Identify, select and extract data from relevant scholarly studies
• Apply critical appraisal methods to the quality assessment of studies
• Conduct quantitative analyses using meta-analytic techniques
• Synthesize qualitative data through narrative reviews
• Draft reports suitable for policy development
• Prepare scientific manuscripts based on the findings

2. Undertake scoping reviews

• Identify, select, chart and synthesize information
• Consult with stakeholders
• Draft reports suitable for policy development
• Prepare scientific manuscripts based on the findings

3. Conduct analyses of administrative data

• Manage large administrative data sets
• Undertake statistical analyses to identify health service utilization patterns across different patients populations and assess variations in outcomes following different interventions

4. Liaise with members of various stakeholder communities

• Identify key stakeholders for each project
• Coordinate and participate in the collection of information from each stakeholder community, which may include interviews, focus groups, and surveys
• Undertake analyses of qualitative and quantitative information collected

5. Represent the HTPP at meetings and conference

• Attend meetings of government-appointed expert committees
• Provide methodological advice and guidance during such meetings
• Make presentations to government and Alberta Health Services
• Present findings at academic conferences
• Help organize and teach methods workshops

6. Engage in other research activities of the HTPP

• Participate in the design and implementation of protocol for research related to innovative methods for assessing the value of new health technologies for small populations, including personalized medicines
• Participate in the development and writing of grant proposals to funding agencies

Minimum Qualifications

• MSc in epidemiology, biostatistics, health services research, or public health
• Minimum 3 years research experience in a post graduate research and education environment
• Publication track record in relevant area preferred
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative research skills
• Strong communication skills (both written and oral)
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Proficient in Microsoft Office {Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Excel)
• Proficient in Review Manager or other software for conducting systematic reviews and meta analyses
• Proficient in STATA, SPSS, or SAS
• Proficient in nVIVO

How to Apply