Research Assistant I
Research Program Description
The Department of Anesthesia Research conducts clinical, health services, and implementation research in anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, and pain medicine, with a focus on patient-centred outcomes, pragmatic study design, and health system impact. Research activities include single- and multi-centre observational studies, investigator-initiated trials, and collaborations with national and international partners. The successful candidate will primarily work within the PINNACLE Research Program, a collaborative clinical research program supporting investigator-initiated studies across perioperative medicine, anesthesia, pain medicine, and health services research. The program conducts prospective cohort studies, pragmatic clinical trials, implementation studies, and secondary analyses using quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Research Assistants work across clinics, offices, and research sites, including hospital-based and community settings.
Position Summary
The Research Assistant I (RA I) provides essential research, organizational, and administrative support to ongoing clinical and health services research projects. Under the direction of the Principal Investigators and senior research staff, the Research Assistant I assists with participant recruitment and follow-up, data collection, data entry and quality control, study documentation, research ethics activities, and day-to-day study operations. This entry-level position provides an excellent opportunity to develop practical clinical research skills within a large academic research program and offers opportunities for progression to Research Assistant II and Research Coordinator roles.
This position will principally involve in-person work on site at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Research Duties (approximately 60% of work time)
- Collect, transcribe, organize, quality check, and enter study data.
- Compile and maintain research databases and study documentation.
- Support participant recruitment, eligibility screening, informed consent, and follow-up activities under supervision.
- Administer questionnaires and conduct structured interviews by telephone or in person following study protocols.
- Schedule participant visits and study assessments.
- Maintain accurate participant records, including recruitment logs and follow-up documentation.
- Perform literature searches using academic databases and summarize findings.
- Assist with manuscript preparation, literature reviews, and research reports.
- Liaise with hospital departments and collaborating research sites to support study operations.
- Support collection and coordination of feedback from collaborators on manuscripts and study documents.
- Collect biological samples (where applicable) and coordinate specimen processing and shipment according to study procedures.
- Travel to participant or collaborating sites as required.
Administrative Duties (approximately 60% of work time)
- Prepare correspondence, reports, forms, and other documentation to support research activities.
- Support internal and external communications, including study updates and stakeholder correspondence.
- Organize meetings, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and meeting materials.
- Maintain calendars and assist with scheduling requests.
- Support database management and study tracking activities.
- Assist with preparation of Research Ethics Board (REB) submissions, amendments and renewals under supervision.
- Maintain investigator CVs, conflict of interest forms, and study documentation.
- Assist with preparation of slides, posters, and meeting materials.
- Perform general office and administrative duties related to research operations.
- Support literature management using reference management software.
- Assist with knowledge translation activities, including website or social media updates where appropriate.
Performs cross functional and other duties as assigned and/or requested.
- All staff are expected to carry out their assigned duties and responsibilities in a manner which prioritizes patient and employee safety, and confidentiality.
- Strict compliance with patient/employee confidentiality practices and policies.
- Strict compliance with patient/employee safety practices and standards.
- Appropriate identification, reporting and response to patient/employee confidentiality breaches in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Appropriate identification, reporting and response to patient/employee safety risks and incidents/events in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Qualifications
Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Preferred qualifications
- Previous experience working or volunteering in a clinical, healthcare, or applied research environment is preferred.
- Experience interacting with research participants or patients is an asset.
- Experience with participant recruitment, informed consent, surveys, or interviews is an asset.
- Experience with data collection, data entry, and quality control is an asset.
- Exposure to Research Ethics Board (REB) processes is an asset.
- Awareness of social determinants of health and sensitivity to working with diverse populations is preferred.
Required certifications
- GCP certification (to be completed within the first 2 weeks of hire).
- Health Canada Division 5 training (to be completed within the first 2 weeks of hire, if applicable).
- TCPS 2 CORE certification preferred (to be completed within the first 2 weeks of hire).
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training is an asset.
Skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
- Experience with REDCap, Qualtrics, EndNote or similar software is an asset.
- Exposure to statistical or qualitative software (e.g., R, SPSS, Stata, NVivo) is an asset.
Ability to learn new research software and procedures efficiently.
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Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.
