Classification & Regular Hours

Hours per Week: 35

Salary Grade: R3

The base salary will be $76,490 - $109,190 per annum. Starting salary will be aligned with the successful candidate’s experience, skills, and demonstrated qualifications.

Please note, this is a 2-year temporary full-time contract opportunity that is wholly grant funded. This contract includes a comprehensive benefits package.

About Western

Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

About Us

The Department of Geography & Environment’s Human Environments Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) is an interdisciplinary research and training group that specializes in the production, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination, and mobilization of evidence to support effective policies, programs and professional practice aimed at creating healthy and vibrant communities. The HEAL mission is to develop and connect highly skilled researchers to create, share, and mobilize knowledge for healthy, thriving communities. The HEAL specializes in community-based participatory research and applications of GIS for urban planning, health geography and public health, with a particular emphasis on child and youth health.

Responsibilities

The Research Scientist will provide guidance and consultation related to a variety of research functions within the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) in the Department of Geography and Environment. The Research Scientist will facilitate research productivity by participating fully in all stages of research study design and implementation and providing related guidance as well as best approaches for project development, implementation, and evaluation. The Research Scientist will oversee research operations on one or more selected research projects, foster research collaborations, and provide guidance and supervision to staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and/or post-doctoral fellows, to solve research problems or issues that arise. The Research Scientist will set research goals and objectives for their sections of ongoing research projects, carry out or oversee original research, help develop new research initiatives, prepare grant applications, and publish findings. The Research Scientist will exercise a high degree of independence and leadership within the lab,



serving as a key resource for research excellence, scientific innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, supported by the Lab Director/Principal Investigator (Gilliland) and other key staff/faculty members of the HEAL.

Qualifications

Education:

- Completion of PhD in Geography, Health Sciences, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, or a relevant discipline relevant discipline

Experience:
- 5 years’ experience implementing qualitative and quantitative methodologies
- 5 years’ experience conducting research involving children, youth, and other vulnerable populations, including diverse communities and settings
- Experience leading and contributing to interdisciplinary research projects integrating geospatial, health, environmental, and population-level data to address complex public health and healthy community research questions
- Experience administrating and managing large-scale research datasets and developing research data infrastructure, including geospatial databases, digital research platforms, and analytical workflows
- Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating technology-enabled research initiatives, including mobile health applications, location-based data collection systems, and web-based research platforms
- Working experience in a related academic research environment managing projects, students and staff
- Experience presenting research at conferences, symposiums, and workshops
- Experience liaising with community partners
- 3-4 years’ relevant postdoctoral training preferred
- Previous research experience related to child and youth health, particularly related to physical activity, healthy eating, substance use, and mental wellbeing preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Knowledge and experience with the Canadian health research system, including CIHR grants procedures/policies and TCPS-2 (2022)
- Knowledge of the scientific literature on health behaviour
- Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Familiarity with project management methodologies
- In-depth knowledge of the regulations and guidelines governing research in an academic environment
- In-depth knowledge of best practices for reviewing and writing grant proposals
- In-depth knowledge of enterprise geospatial infrastructure, including GIS portals, spatial databases, server environments, and web-based geospatial services, to support large-scale collaborative research programs




- In-depth knowledge of techniques for updating, managing and extracting data from a research database
- In-depth knowledge of methods for research design, implementation, and analysis
- Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives, improve outcomes and support work beyond one's own unit
- Cross-cultural competency with an ability to interact and work effectively with people from different cultures and backgrounds
- Well-developed public speaking skills to engage individuals and audiences inside and outside the University
- Ability to work in a manner that models best practices in confidentiality standards
- Ability to provide solutions and ideas for improvement by using imaginative approaches where constructive thinking and innovation are required
- Attention to detail with an ability to retrieve, analyze and synthesize sizable amounts of data, while ensuring that information is accurate and comprehensive
- Ability and willingness to stay abreast of technological developments
- Advanced skills in software and applications used to produce and analyze research outcomes
- A desire to grow and advance skills, which is demonstrated by attending conferences, workshops and other qualified developmental opportunities to enhance performance
- Ability to remain highly motivated, resilient, innovative, and collaborative when faced with challenges
- Ability to work within a flexible schedule to accommodate the University’s events and activities
- Ability to provide guidance to assist others in solving complex problems
- Ability to interpret and identify key results or patterns in complex research data, and succinctly summarize findings
- Ability to evaluate issues, recognize potential problems and take action to proactively resolve issues
- Project management skills to manage projects from conception to completion within tightly prescribed timelines

Western Values Diversity

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression. Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone (phone hidden).

Please Note:

This position is an existing vacancy. This position is fully in-person, on-site. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.

📌 Research Scientist (London)
🏢 Western University
📍 London