Job ID 78399 Job Title Field Research Assistant - FHS Psychiatry Regular/Temporary Temporary Location St. Joseph's Hospital Open Date 2026/08/28 Job Type Casual Close Date 2026/09/06 Employee Group Interim Favorite Job Department Psychiatry Full/Part Time Part-Time Salary Grade/Band Temp 2 Salary Range $17.60 - $24.60 (hourly) Job Code INT062 Existing Vacancy Yes - Newly Created Position Contract Duration 3.9 Months Target Number of Openings 1 Hours per Week 10

Posting Details

Schedule: Variable hours

Education Level: Completed or Enrolled in Post-secondary (in a related field: Psychology, Neuroscience, Social Work, Public Health, Health Research Methodology, Global Health)

Career Level: 6 months related experience

Hourly Rate: $17.60 – $24.60

Location: Ron Joyce Children's Health Centre

325 Wellington St. N

Youth Wellness Centre

38 James St. S

Anticipated Start Date: September 2026

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.

How To Apply To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a solid commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ .

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

- Human Resources Service Centre at (phone hidden) ext. 222-HR (22247), or
- Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
- School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews.

If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.

📌 Field Research Assistant - FHS Psychiatry (Canada)
🏢 McMaster University
📍 Canada