Staff - Non Union
Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants
Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 2
Research Assistant/Technician 2
Samuel Laboratory | Department of Paediatrics | Faculty of Medicine
$4,463.88 - $5,310.28 CAD Monthly
August 3, 2026
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks
Job End Date
July 31, 2027
Note: Only the Full Time Compensation Range is displayed on the job posting details advertised on the UBC Career sites.
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 Assistant/Technician 2 supports the day-to-day delivery of clinical research studies in the Samuel Lab, including studies involving children and youth with kidney disease and healthy control participants. The position assists with participant identification, recruitment and consent; schedules and sets up study visits and biospecimen collections; enters, verifies and maintains research data; and supports the tracking, handling and shipment of research samples. The incumbent works across multiple studies and collaborates with investigators, research staff, clinical teams, laboratory and biobank personnel, participants and families to ensure activities are completed in accordance with approved protocols, standard operating procedures, research ethics requirements and institutional policies.
Organizational Status
The position is located within the Samuel Lab in the UBC Department of Pediatrics and works in a clinical research environment at BC Children’s Hospital and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. The Research Assistant/Technician 2 reports to the Research Program Manager and receives study-specific direction from the Principal Investigator and designated study staff. The incumbent works collaboratively with research coordinators and assistants, investigators, clinicians, nurses, outpatient laboratory and biobank staff, trainees, collaborating laboratories and research teams at participating sites.
Work Performed
Participant and Study Coordination
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Reviews clinic schedules, study databases and other approved sources to help identify potentially eligible participants in accordance with study screening procedures.
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Approaches and recruits potential participants and families only as authorized by the approved research ethics application and under the direction of the study team.
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Explains study procedures using approved materials and, once appropriately trained and delegated, obtains and documents informed consent and assent in accordance with the protocol, institutional policy and applicable regulations.
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Schedules study visits, confirms appointments, prepares visit materials and coordinates research activities with participants, families, clinical staff, laboratories and other service areas.
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Supports participants during study visits, administers approved questionnaires and collects study information using standardized procedures.
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Maintains professional, respectful and culturally sensitive communication with children, youth, families and members of the interdisciplinary care and research teams.
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Documents participant contacts, visit status, recruitment outcomes, protocol deviations and follow-up requirements in approved study records.
Biospecimen Collection and Laboratory Support
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Sets up study sample collections by preparing participant-specific kits, labels, requisitions, collection instructions and tracking documentation according to the protocol and collection schedule.
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Coordinates blood, urine, saliva and other approved biospecimen collections with clinical and laboratory personnel; confirms collection requirements, timing, volumes and processing arrangements.
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Supports the collection of non-invasive participant-provided specimens, such as urine or saliva, in accordance with approved study procedures. Blood collection and venipuncture are performed by qualified laboratory personnel and are not duties of this position.
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Receives, labels, processes, aliquots, stores and retrieves study samples according to established standard operating procedures and biosafety requirements, as assigned and once trained.
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Maintains accurate sample inventories and chain-of-custody records in approved paper and electronic systems, including OpenSpecimen or equivalent platforms.
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Coordinates packaging and shipment of research samples to collaborating laboratories in accordance with study requirements and applicable transport procedures.
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Monitors study and laboratory supplies, prepares collection materials, maintains organized storage areas and alerts the supervisor to anticipated shortages or equipment issues.
Data Collection and Management
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Collects and abstracts research data from approved sources, including participant interviews, questionnaires, clinical records, laboratory reports, paper forms and electronic health or research systems.
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Enters study data accurately and promptly into REDCap, Excel, OpenSpecimen and other approved databases using study-specific data entry conventions.
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Reviews data and study records for completeness, consistency and accuracy; resolves routine discrepancies and escalates missing, conflicting or clinically significant information to the appropriate study staff.
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Supports data quality activities, including source-document review, query resolution, duplicate checks, validation reports and preparation of records for monitoring, audit or long-term storage.
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Maintains screening, enrolment, consent, visit, sample, shipment and study activity logs, ensuring that records are current and appropriately filed.
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Protects participant confidentiality and handles identifiable and coded research information in accordance with ethics approvals, privacy requirements and institutional policies.
Qualitative Research Support
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Supports qualitative research activities, including scheduling and preparing for interviews, focus groups and other participant-engagement sessions.
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Once trained and delegated, conducts or assists with semi-structured interviews and focus groups using approved interview guides and study procedures.
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Takes field notes and supports secure audio-recording, transcription, transcript review, de-identification and organization of qualitative research data.
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Assists with coding and categorizing qualitative data using established codebooks and qualitative analysis software, such as NVivo, under the direction of the study investigator or qualitative research lead.
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Maintains reflexive notes and contributes to team discussions regarding emerging themes, data quality and interpretation while accurately distinguishing participant perspectives from researcher observations.
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Supports the preparation of qualitative summaries, tables and other materials for team review, presentations, reports and manuscripts.
Research Administration and Team Support
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Assists with the preparation and maintenance of study binders, manuals, source documents, consent materials, standard operating procedures and other study documentation.
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Supports submissions to the Research Ethics Board by assembling documents and tracking approved versions, renewals, amendments and reportable events under the direction of senior study staff.
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Participates in study start-up, training, team meetings and quality-improvement activities, and communicates operational issues or risks promptly to the Research Program Manager or Principal Investigator.
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Liaises with participating sites and collaborators to support routine data, documentation, supply and sample-coordination activities.
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Performs other related duties consistent with the classification and the operational needs of the research program.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
The incumbent performs routine and moderately complex research tasks using established protocols and procedures and is expected to recognize when guidance is required. Errors in participant identification, consent documentation, data entry, sample labelling, collection setup, processing, storage or shipment could compromise participant privacy or safety, result in the loss of irreplaceable research samples or data, create protocol deviations, delay study activities, affect the validity of research findings, or place ethics approval and funding at risk. The incumbent must exercise tact and sound judgement when interacting with participants and families and must promptly report errors, unexpected events and matters outside established procedures.
Supervision Received
The Research Program Manager provides day-to-day supervision and establishes priorities in consultation with the Principal Investigator. Study-specific procedures are provided through written protocols, standard operating procedures, training and verbal direction. Work is reviewed more closely while new duties are learned. Once trained, the incumbent is expected to carry out assigned routine activities independently, organize competing priorities and seek guidance for non-routine situations, protocol questions, safety concerns or decisions outside the scope of the role.
Supervision Given
None. The incumbent may demonstrate established procedures and provide routine orientation or technical guidance to students, trainees or new team members, but does not have formal supervisory responsibility.
Minimum Qualifications
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High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
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Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
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Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
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Post-secondary education in health sciences, life sciences, psychology or a related discipline preferred.
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Experience supporting clinical or health research, preferably in a pediatric, hospital or academic research environment.
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Experience interacting with research participants and families; experience with recruitment and informed consent is an asset.
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Experience with research data entry, chart abstraction and database maintenance. Experience with REDCap, OpenSpecimen or similar clinical research systems is an asset.
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Experience supporting qualitative research, including interviews or focus groups, transcription, de-identification, coding or thematic analysis, is an asset.
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Familiarity with qualitative data analysis software, such as NVivo, and the ability to apply an established codebook consistently are assets.
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Experience preparing biospecimen collection kits and coordinating, processing, tracking, storing or shipping biological samples is an asset.
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Knowledge of research ethics, privacy, informed consent, Good Clinical Practice and biosafety principles is preferred. Relevant institutional training must be completed before undertaking assigned duties.
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Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to maintain accurate, complete and confidential records.
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Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact calmly, respectfully and professionally with children, youth, families and interdisciplinary teams.
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Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and work across multiple studies.
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Ability to work both independently within established procedures and collaboratively as part of a research and clinical team.
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Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
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Ability to work occasional early morning or after-hours study visits, where operationally required and scheduled in advance.
