Research Assistant Technician

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

Job Description

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

We are seeking a motivated and highly organized Research Assistant to support clinical research focused on improving health care delivery for patients with breast cancer seeking breast reconstruction. Our research program aims to identify and address barriers to timely, equitable, patient-centred access to breast reconstruction and to develop and evaluate innovative approaches to improve the delivery of reconstructive care.

The Research Assistant will work as part of a multidisciplinary team involving plastic surgeons, other health care professionals, researchers, trainees, and patient partners. Projects may examine patient referral pathways, access to reconstruction, wait times, health care utilization, patient outcomes, and the implementation of new models of care and health technologies.

Organizational Status

The UBC Faculty of Medicine Department of Surgery educates students at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels, and pursues research to make innovative advancements in knowledge and practice to improve health. The Department consists of more than 600 physicians, surgeons, scientists and educators and

over 70 administrative, research and technical staff in nine divisions distributed across British Columbia. Specialty training programs are offered in Cardiac Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery. The Department is also home to the Branch for International Surgical Care (BISC).

The incumbent reports to the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Kathryn Isaac. This position receives general guidance from the research coordinator and PI. The TRA 1 Interacts closely with the Principal Investigator, tech support or other resources for completing the project.

Work Performed

- Assist with the development, coordination, and implementation of clinical research studies related to breast

cancer and breast reconstruction.

- Conduct medical chart reviews and extract relevant clinical, demographic, treatment, and outcome data from electronic medical records.

- Support the creation and maintenance of research databases, including data entry, data cleaning, quality assurance, and documentation.

- Assist with studies evaluating access to breast reconstruction, referral pathways, wait times, health care utilization, and patient outcomes.

- Support recruitment and coordination of research participants, where applicable, including communication with patients and clinical teams.

- Assist with patient surveys, interviews, and other patient-reported outcome data collection.

- Work with clinical teams to understand and map existing breast cancer and breast reconstruction care pathways and identify opportunities to improve health care delivery.

- Assist with research ethics applications, amendments, renewals, and study documentation.

- Conduct literature reviews and synthesize evidence related to breast reconstruction, health services research, patient access, and models of care.

- Participate in quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis, depending on experience and project requirements.

- Contribute to the preparation of abstracts, posters, presentations, manuscripts, reports, and grant applications.

- Attend research team meetings and collaborate with investigators, research staff, students, clinicians, and patient partners.

- Maintain confidentiality and ensure research activities are conducted in accordance with institutional research ethics and privacy requirements.

- Support other research activities as required by the Principal Investigator and research team.

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 judgment 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 Division of General Surgery and the Department of Surgery’s ability to secure grantbased

funding for future research projects.

Supervision Received

The incumbent reports to the PI, Dr. Kathryn Isaac.

Supervision Given

None

Minimum Qualifications

- Undergraduate degree completed or in progress in a relevant field such as health sciences, life sciences, public health, epidemiology, psychology, or a related discipline.

- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

- Demonstrated interest in clinical research, health care delivery, cancer care, surgery, or patient outcomes.

- Ability to handle confidential patient and research information appropriately.

- Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

- Previous experience in clinical, health services, or outcomes research.

- Experience with medical chart review and clinical data abstraction.

- Familiarity with REDCap or other research database platforms.

- Experience with qualitative research, patient interviews, or survey-based research.

- Familiarity with research ethics applications and clinical research processes.

- Knowledge of breast cancer care or breast reconstruction is an asset but is not required.