Research Assistant, Full Time, UBC Hospital Site - Vancouver, BC, Canada

Job Category

Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile

Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 2

Job Family Group

Staff - Non Union

Department

Wood Laboratory | BC Centre for Substance Use | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range

$4,597.80 - $5,469.59 CAD Monthly

Job End Date

November 30, 2027

Posting End Date

November 29, 2026

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

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 Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) invites applications for two Research Assistants to join the CRISM British Columbia Team (https://www.bccsu.ca/about-crism-bc/). CRISM is a national research network dedicated to generating, translating, and mobilizing evidence to improve the health and well-being of people who use substances and to strengthen substance use policy, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and health systems in Canada.

The successful candidate will support a portfolio of systematic review activities addressing priority questions related to substance use, clinical care, treatment, harm reduction, prevention, public health, and health services. The work will involve the identification, screening, appraisal, extraction, organization, and synthesis of evidence from published research studies.

The position will involve working closely with CRISM investigators and research team members to support systematic reviews conducted using established methodological approaches. Depending on the project, the successful candidate may contribute to reviews intended to inform clinical practice, clinical guidelines, practice recommendations, and other evidence-based guidance documents.

The successful candidate will be expected to work carefully and systematically, apply established review protocols and eligibility criteria, maintain accurate documentation, and communicate effectively with members of the research team. The position may involve working across multiple systematic review projects and research questions.

Organizational Status
The British Columbia CRISM Node is housed at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and is comprised of a network of research scientists, service providers, policy makers, community leaders, and people with lived experience of substance use disorder. The BCCSU is the provincial resource for evidence-based information and treatment guidance in the field of addiction and is affiliated with UBC and Providence Health Care. The BCCSU advances evidence-based policy for positive and public policy change, reducing stigma, and supporting patients and their families. The BCCSU is committed to conducting and translating leading-edge research into improved addiction care across British Columbia and beyond.

Work Performed
The successful candidate will support systematic review and evidence synthesis activities, including:

• Conducting and supporting literature searches to identify published research relevant to systematic review questions
• Screening titles and abstracts and reviewing full-text articles against established eligibility criteria
• Documenting inclusion and exclusion decisions and identifying studies requiring further discussion or adjudication
• Extracting data from published research studies using standardized extraction forms and protocols including study design, populations, interventions or exposures, comparators, outcomes, results, study setting, funding sources, conflicts of interest, and other relevant study characteristics
• Supporting quality appraisal and risk-of-bias assessment using established methodological tools appropriate to the research question and study design
• Supporting the organization, management, and quality assurance of systematic review data including maintaining study screening records, data-extraction files, evidence tables, and other review documentation
• Identifying and documenting discrepancies or issues in published research that may affect interpretation of findings
• Supporting the assessment and documentation of potential spin or misleading reporting in published research, where relevant to the systematic review
• Supporting the development and refinement of systematic review protocols and related documentation
• Supporting registration of systematic review protocols on registries such as PROSPERO, where appropriate
• Supporting the synthesis and presentation of findings, including preparation of evidence tables and summaries of study characteristics and results
• Contributing to the preparation of manuscripts and other scholarly outputs arising from systematic review activities
• Summarizing relevant author conflict-of-interest disclosures, funding sources, committee involvement, and other study or guideline characteristics where required by the review
• Participating in research team meetings and discussions related to systematic review methodology and findings
• Communicating progress, methodological questions, discrepancies, and challenges to the project lead
• Performing other systematic review and evidence-synthesis activities as required by the research program

Research Environment

The successful candidate will work within an interdisciplinary research environment involving CRISM investigators and collaborators with expertise in substance use, clinical research, public health, epidemiology, health services research, evidence synthesis, guideline development, and knowledge translation.

The position provides an opportunity to contribute to research that moves from identifying and evaluating the available evidence to synthesizing findings that can inform clinical practice and health-system decision-making.

Some systematic reviews will focus on evaluating clinical interventions, treatments, models of care, harm reduction approaches, or other interventions relevant to people who use substances. Other reviews may address questions related to prevalence, risk factors, health outcomes, implementation, service delivery, or policy.

The successful candidate may therefore contribute to projects using a range of research designs and methodologies, including randomized and non-randomized intervention studies, observational studies, qualitative research, mixed-methods research, and other forms of published evidence.

Where systematic reviews are undertaken to support guideline or guidance development, the candidate may also contribute to the preparation and organization of evidence for expert and clinical committees. This may include preparing evidence tables, summarizing the characteristics and findings of included studies, organizing committee materials, and supporting the documentation of the evidence underlying recommendations.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position exercises professional judgment and initiative in the conduct of systematic review activities. Errors made could influence the ability of researchers to interpret data correctly, delay the timely completion of work, and thus compromise the results of research projects. This would impact the credibility of the PI and other research team investigators.

Supervision Received
The Research Assistant will receive primary direction from the Program Manager.

Supervision Given
Not applicable

Minimum Qualifications
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.

• 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
• Demonstrated experience or aptitude for conducting literature searches and/or screening published research
• Demonstrated experience or aptitude for reviewing abstracts and full-text articles against established eligibility criteria
• Demonstrated experience or aptitude for extracting data from published research studies
• Strong attention to detail and ability to consistently and accurately apply established protocols and procedures
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to work independently and meet established timelines
• Strong written communication skills and ability to accurately summarize research findings
• Ability to work collaboratively with researchers and other members of a multidisciplinary research team

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, rapid reviews, or other forms of evidence synthesis
• Critical appraisal and risk-of-bias assessment
• Quantitative or qualitative research methods
• Clinical research or evaluation of clinical interventions
• Substance use, mental health, public health, health services, or related research
• Evidence synthesis related to clinical practice or health-system decision-making
• Clinical guideline or guidance development
• Assessment of reporting bias, selective reporting, or spin in published research
• Use of reference-management software such as EndNote or similar platforms
• Development or registration of systematic review protocols, including experience with PROSPERO
• Preparation of evidence tables and evidence summaries
• Manuscript preparation and scientific writing
• Knowledge translation or mobilization of research findings to clinical, policy, or community audiences

Communications and Collaboration

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to research quality and methodological rigor
• Ability to accurately and consistently apply systematic review methods
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to summarize complex research findings clearly and accurately
• Ability to identify and communicate methodological questions, uncertainties, and discrepancies to senior research team members
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary research team
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Professional and respectful communication with researchers and research team members
• Commitment to transparent, rigorous, and reproducible research practices

 Questions about this position may be directed to Shirley Wong (CRISM BC Senior Project Manager, [email protected]). UBC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment and encourages applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the BC Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Apply now

Job Category: Faculty Non Bargaining
Job Family Group: Academic
Department: Wood Laboratory Division of Social Medicine| Department of Medicine | Faculty of Medicine (Evan Wood (On Leave)) | UBC
Job End Date: November 30, 2027
Posting End Date: November 26, 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
Please note this is a one (1) year term position. However, there is a possibility of extension. The expected pay range for this position is $60,000 - $75,000 per year.

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.

The full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow will work under Dr. Evan Wood’s supervision. Dr. Wood is a Principal Investigator with the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) (https://www.bccsu.ca/about-crism-bc/). CRISM is a national research network dedicated to generating, translating, and mobilizing evidence to improve the health and well-being of people who use substances and to strengthen substance use policy, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and health systems in Canada.

One to two positions are available depending on the calibre of applicants. The successful candidate(s) will join a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment involving researchers, clinicians, health-system partners, community organizations, policymakers, and people with lived and living experience of substance use. The Fellow(s) will contribute to research that addresses priority questions in substance use and substance use-related health, with a particular focus on evaluating clinical and community-based interventions and translating research evidence into clinical practice, guidelines, and guidance documents.

The research program encompasses both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Depending on the Fellow's expertise and the needs of the research program, projects may involve epidemiological and population health research, clinical research, health services and health systems research, intervention evaluation, implementation science, qualitative and mixed-methods research, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation. Experience with systematic review activities and/or guideline activities is an asset.

The Fellow will have opportunities to contribute to the development, implementation, evaluation, and interpretation of research designed to understand what interventions work, for whom, under what circumstances, and how interventions can be effectively implemented in real-world clinical and community settings. Research findings will be used to inform evidence-based clinical practice, policy, clinical guidelines, practice recommendations, and guidance documents for health professionals, health systems, community organizations, and people with lived and living experience of substance use.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will support critical research objectives, including:

• Designing, conducting, and analyzing quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-methods research addressing priority questions in substance use and substance use-related health
• Evaluating the effectiveness, implementation, acceptability, feasibility, equity, and sustainability of clinical and community-based interventions
• Integrating findings from quantitative and qualitative research to develop a comprehensive understanding of intervention outcomes and implementation
• Translating research findings into evidence summaries, clinical recommendations, guidelines, guidance documents, policy products, and other knowledge translation outputs
• Developing and leading peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, reports, and other research products
• Contributing to evidence reviews, evidence syntheses, and the development and updating of clinical guidance
• Supporting the development of research proposals, grant applications, and funding strategies
• Working collaboratively with clinicians, researchers, health-system partners, community organizations, policymakers, and people with lived and living experience of substance use

Position Responsibilities

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to a portfolio of interdisciplinary research projects and may be responsible for:

• Developing research questions and study protocols related to substance use, clinical care, harm reduction, treatment, prevention, and health services
• Designing and conducting quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research
• Developing and applying appropriate quantitative analytical approaches, including epidemiological, biostatistical, longitudinal, and/or causal methods
• Designing, conducting, and analyzing qualitative research, including interviews, focus groups, observations, document analysis, and other qualitative approaches, as appropriate
• Integrating quantitative and qualitative findings to evaluate interventions and inform clinical and health-system decision-making
• Evaluating clinical and community-based interventions, including their effectiveness, safety, acceptability, feasibility, reach, equity, implementation, and sustainability
• Working with clinical and health-system partners to identify research questions and ensure that research findings address important real-world clinical and service-delivery needs
• Conducting literature reviews, systematic reviews, rapid reviews, evidence syntheses, and other forms of evidence assessment as appropriate
• Assessing the quality, strength, applicability, and limitations of available evidence to support clinical and policy recommendations
• Contributing to the development, review, and updating of clinical guidelines, practice recommendations, and guidance documents
• Translating complex research findings into accessible and actionable recommendations for clinicians, health-system leaders, policymakers, community organizations, and people with lived and living experience
• Leading or co-leading peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations
• Preparing research reports, evidence summaries, policy briefs, clinical guidance materials, and knowledge translation products
• Contributing to grant applications and research funding proposals
• Participating in research team meetings, seminars, conferences, working groups, and other scholarly activities
• Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with researchers, clinicians, community organizations, health-system partners, policymakers, and people with lived and living experience
• Mentoring and supervising research assistants, graduate students, and other trainees, as appropriate
• Supporting knowledge mobilization activities and dissemination of research findings to academic and non-academic audiences
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of CRISM's national and regional research collaborations
• Supporting other research activities required by the program

Research Environment

CRISM provides a unique interdisciplinary and collaborative environment for conducting research that bridges research, clinical practice, community-based care, health systems, and policy. The successful candidate will have opportunities to work across disciplines and settings and to engage with investigators and partners working in areas such as substance use treatment, harm reduction, mental health, infectious diseases, pain, overdose prevention, health services, public health, Indigenous health, implementation science, and health policy.

A particular strength of the research environment is the opportunity to move research findings beyond academic publication and into clinical and health-system practice. Fellows will have opportunities to contribute to projects in which evidence is generated through clinical and population research, synthesized and critically appraised, and ultimately translated into recommendations intended to support clinical decision-making and improve care.

The position therefore provides an opportunity for a researcher interested not only in generating evidence, but also in understanding how evidence can be evaluated, synthesized, interpreted, and translated into meaningful changes in clinical practice and health-system delivery.

The Fellow will be supervised by Evan Wood and will be based within the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use in Vancouver, BC, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples.

The successful candidate will work closely with CRISM investigators and collaborators across Canada and will have opportunities to contribute to multidisciplinary research projects, develop an independent research program, publish in peer-reviewed journals, present findings at scientific and community forums, contribute to clinical guidance and guideline development, and develop skills in research leadership, knowledge mobilization, and research funding.

Required Qualifications

• A PhD in epidemiology, public health, health services research, medicine, nursing, psychology, social sciences, population health, or a related discipline
• Demonstrated research experience in substance use, mental health, public health, clinical research, health services, health policy, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience designing, conducting, and analyzing research studies
• Demonstrated experience with quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research
• Experience conducting or contributing to clinical research and/or evaluation of clinical interventions
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop research questions, conduct analyses, interpret research findings, and communicate results
• A strong record of peer-reviewed publication appropriate to career stage
• Strong scientific writing and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Substance use research, including research involving people with lived and living experience of substance use
• Clinical trials, pragmatic trials, observational studies, or other forms of clinical research
• Evaluation of clinical, health-system, community-based, or public health interventions
• Epidemiology, biostatistics, longitudinal analysis, causal inference, or other quantitative methods
• Qualitative research methods, including interviews, focus groups, ethnography, thematic analysis, or qualitative evidence synthesis
• Mixed-methods research
• Implementation science and evaluation
• Health services and health systems research
• Systematic reviews, rapid reviews, evidence synthesis, or guideline development
• Development or evaluation of clinical practice guidelines, clinical guidance, or practice recommendations
• Knowledge translation or knowledge mobilization
• Experience translating research findings into recommendations for clinicians, health systems, policymakers, or community organizations
• Experience with large, longitudinal, administrative, clinical, or survey datasets
• Proficiency with relevant analytical software such as R, Stata, SAS, SPSS, Python, NVivo, or equivalent tools
• Experience developing grant applications and research funding proposals
• Community-engaged, patient-oriented, participatory, or Indigenous research approaches
• Experience working collaboratively with clinicians, health-system partners, policymakers, community organizations, and/or people with lived and living experience

Communications and Collaboration

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and proven ability to work within an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to synthesize and critically interpret evidence from diverse research methodologies with an emphasis on critical appraisal and systematic review
• Ability to translate scientific findings into clear, clinically relevant recommendations and knowledge products
• Excellent organizational and project-management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively to multidisciplinary teams
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with clinical, academic, community, and policy partners
• Commitment to respectful, inclusive, equity-oriented, and meaningful engagement with people with lived and living experience of substance use

Career Development and Training Opportunities

This position will provide the successful candidate with opportunities to develop expertise across the full research-to-practice continuum, including:

• Clinical and health services research
• Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research
• Intervention evaluation and implementation science
• Evidence synthesis and critical appraisal
• Clinical guideline and guidance development
• Research partnership development
• Scientific writing and publication
• Grant development and research funding
• Mentorship and development of an independent research program

The Fellow will be encouraged to develop a research portfolio that supports progression toward an independent research career in substance use, clinical research, health services, public health, or a related field. Applying to the Micheal Smith Foundation, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research or other peer-reviewed post-doctoral funders is encouraged.

Candidates are encouraged to describe their experience with clinical research, intervention evaluation, quantitative and/or qualitative methods, evidence synthesis, clinical guideline development, knowledge translation, and collaborative research. Questions about this position may be directed to Shirley Wong (CRISM BC Senior Project Manager, [email protected]).

UBC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment and encourages applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the BC Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. Candidates of any nationality are encouraged to apply.

Apply now