Research Assistant

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile

Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3

Job Title

Research Assistant

Department

Fast Laboratory | BC Centre on Substance Use | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range

$4,704.05 - $5,547.24 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

August 6, 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

March 31, 2027

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

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

This appointment will work with Dr. Danya Fast (Assistant Professor in UBC’s Department of Medicine, Division of Social Medicine; Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute) on the Youth Overdose Prevention Research Cluster. Her ethnographic and qualitative program of research focuses on how contexts and patterns of substance use are influenced by the social and structural conditions in which youth live, particularly those who are highly marginalized. Data generated from the team’s research will inform ongoing efforts to deliver innovative substance use services to youth. The Research Assistant will contribute to a specific set of research tasks, as well as provide some administrative support to the team. Responsibilities include transcribing and accuracy checking qualitative interviews; contributing to the collection, coding, and analysis of data; conducting literature searches; contributing to the drafting of manuscripts and reports; and working with the Cluster’s advisory councils.

The Research Assistant will receive direction from Danya Fast (PI) and Cathy Chabot (Research Manager).

Organizational Status

Reports to the Danya Fast (PI) and Cathy Chabot (Research Manager). Works closely with other research staff on a regular basis.

Work Performed

• Conduct qualitative interviews with youth who use(d) substances, family members, and caregivers, and service providers.
• Accuracy check qualitative interviews.
• Code and analyze qualitative interviews.
• Liaise with members of the Cluster’s teen, young adult, and caregiver advisory councils, including helping to coordinate and attend meetings with council members.
• Liaise with academic and clinical members of the Cluster, including helping to coordinate and attend research team meetings.
• Assist in the payment of honoraria to research participants and advisory council members, ensuring that payment tracking records are accurate and up-to-date.
• Identify and collect relevant documents academic literature and policy documents, catalogue literature using the research team’s bibliographic database, and prepare literature reviews.
• Assist the research team in preparing research and community reports, manuscripts, and presentations for a variety of audiences.
• Identify suitable target journals for manuscripts under development.
• Assist with research ethics submissions.
• Assist with maintaining research-related documentation, including consent forms and data collection tools.
• Maintain data accuracy, security, and confidentiality in accordance with ethical and privacy protocols.
• Assist with updating the team’s website and social media accounts as needed.
• Copy edit and proofread project documents.
• Conduct other general research and administrative duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors made could influence the ability of researchers to interpret data correctly, delay the timely completion of work, and compromise the results of research projects. Such errors would impact the credibility of the PI and other research team investigators. The role requires careful attention to detail, confidentiality, and sound judgement in all aspects of the work.

Supervision Received

Receives primary direction from Danya Fast (PI) and Cathy Chabot (Research Manager), as well as occasional direction from the team’s Research Coordinators.

Supervision Given

The successful applicant will not be required to supervise staff or students.

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of youth sexual health issues, mental health, substance use, and gender theory is an asset.
• High degree of computer literacy (Microsoft Office, Endnote bibliographic database software, online academic search engines).
• Ability to learn new computer software functions independently is required.
• Experience with online literature searches and data entry required.
• Experience using QSR NVivo and coding qualitative data required.
• Experience using REDCap data management software preferred.
• Familiarity with (e.g., through course work; experience) qualitative and ethnographic methodologies and critical social theories.
• Be well-versed with young people’s health, substance use, and social issues.
• Familiarity with the areas of the youth mental health and criminal justice systems, and government care are assets.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including grammar, punctuation, and style are required
• Ability to identify and relate to concerns of others and to exercise good judgement when resolving difficulties.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated initiative and self-directed work habits.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to deal respectfully and effectively with a diversity of people.

Working Conditions

The Research Assistant will be required to work in-person at least three days per week the BC Centre on Substance Use’s field office or the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, but they will also be able to work remotely occasionally. A laptop will be provided, along with a workstation in a shared office when working on-site.