Project Description:
The Field Research Assistant (RA) will support the BELONG Study , a qualitative research project examining how Black adolescents in Hamilton engage in the design and improvement of mental health programs. The study responds to urgent local and national priorities in youth mental health, recognizing that Black adolescents face disproportionate barriers to care, including stigma, racism, cultural incongruence, and exclusion from decision-making.
The project is led through the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University , in partnership with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences . Grounded in community-engaged and equity-focused research, the study aims to generate practical, youth-informed recommendations to support more inclusive, culturally responsive mental health services.
Working within a research program focused on adolescent mental health equity, youth engagement, and culturally responsive service design. The RA will collaborate with clinical teams at the Youth Wellness Centre (YWC) and Ron Joyce Children's Health Centre (RJCHC) , as well as community organizations serving Black youth.
The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting in-person and/or telephone interviews with youth, mental health providers and policymakers; supporting qualitative data collection and analysis; and contributing to knowledge translation activities. This role will help identify barriers to care, elevate youth perspectives, and inform the redesign of mental health services within Hamilton's mental health system.
This position is ideal for applicants interested in:
- Youth mental health
- Health equity and anti-racism
- Qualitative research
- Community-engaged scholarship
- Implementation science (CFIR-guided)
The successful candidate will contribute to a project that produces youth-led recommendations, informs service improvement and strengthens partnerships across Hamilton's mental health system.
Job Summary:
Responsible for conducting in-person and/or telephone interviews with study participants in the community to collect data for an established research project.
Accountabilities:
- Explain the research study, following prescribed scripts, to potential participants and obtain informed consent.
- Ensure forms and records have been thoroughly and properly completed.
- Schedule interviews and/or focus groups with participants.
- Conduct structured interviews with study participants using prescribed scripts and form
Collect data and enter into standard data collection forms.
Qualifications:
Education: Completed or currently enrolled in a relevant post-secondary program.
Experience: 6 months of relevant experience
Assets:
- Qualitative research skills: familiarity with semi ‑ structured interviewing, focus groups, or thematic analysis.
Experience coding transcripts or organizing qualitative data.
Trauma ‑ informed engagement: ability to interact sensitively with youth discussing mental health or lived experiences.
Youth ‑ friendly communication: comfort working with adolescents from diverse backgrounds.
Community ‑ based experience: prior involvement with marginalized or racialized youth populations.
REDCap familiarity: experience managing participant information in secure research platforms.
Cultural humility: awareness of systemic inequities affecting Black youth in Hamilton.
Organizational skills: ability to coordinate interviews, manage schedules, and maintain accurate records
Additional Information:
Minimum 6 months of relevant experience , such as: conducting qualitative interviews or focus groups; working with youth or marginalized communities; assisting with research projects, data collection, or transcription
- Work will occur across community and clinical settings, including the Youth Wellness Centre and Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre .
Some evening or weekend availability may be required to accommodate youth participants’ schedules.
Training in trauma ‑ informed interviewing, CFIR ‑ aligned data collection, and secure data handling will be provided.
The role involves collaboration with clinicians, community partners, and youth ‑ serving organizations, and requires professionalism, reliability, and respect for confidentiality.
This position offers an opportunity to contribute to an equity ‑ driven research program within the Department of Psychiatry at McMaster University.
