Research Assistant - School of Earth, Environment & Society

Regular/Temporary

Temporary

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

2026/11/05

Job Type

Limited Term (=>6months)

Close Date

2026/11/12

Employee Group

Unifor Unit 1, Staff

Favorite Job

Department

Full/Part Time

Part-Time

Job Code

JD0592

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Backfilling as Existing

Contract Duration

4.7 Months

Target Number of Openings

1

10

Schedule

Hours of work are anticipated to be 2 hours per day, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Monday to Friday.

Education Level

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study.

Career Level

Requires 2 years of relevant experience.

Job Description #

UJD010

Anticipated Fill Date

Mid November

Job Description

Unit / Project Description

The Research Assistant will support research activities within the School of Earth, Environment & Society (SEES) under the supervision of Dr. Allison Williams. The position contributes to research and administration focused on caregiving, carer-employees, caregiver-friendly workplaces, and interventions designed to support caregivers. The RA will support ongoing research activities associated with externally funded projects, including the SSHRC Partnership Grant “The Care Economy, Aging and Policy: A Partnership Approach”, research program. Activities involve participant recruitment and engagement, research administration, data analysis, knowledge mobilization, manuscript development, and coordination with research team members and community partners.

Responsible for organizing and administering one or more research projects within required deadlines under the direction of a Principal Investigator or project leader.

Purpose and Key Functions

- Oversee the collection, entry, verification, management, analysis, and reporting of data.
- Use statistical software to analyze data and interpret results.
- Design and maintain databases, data collection forms, error checking methods and related programs for productive collection, analysis, and reporting.




- Modify and reconfigure databases to ensure the optimal storage of data and minimize data entry complexities.
- Troubleshoot moderately complex computer problems.
- Write data management and operations documentation for the project.
- Liaise between the project centre and remote project sites and personnel.
- Conduct structured project participant interviews.
- Ensure that the relevant research methodology is applied and all research material is handled in accordance with established protocols, policies, and procedures.
- Participate in the development of promotional strategies and related materials to encourage participation and support for research projects.
- Develop presentations and present information and training sessions to project personnel and project participants.
- Conduct literature searches.
- Oversee the extraction and compilation of data required for reports and disseminate data to research groups and collaborating partners.
- Implement and maintain the research project budget. Create financial projections and make adjustments to the research project budget throughout the fiscal year.
- Exercise appropriate budget controls, monitor, and reconcile accounts.
- Write, update, and archive data management and quality assurance conventions.

Supervision

- No formal supervision of others is required.

Requirements

- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study.
- Requires 2 years of relevant experience.

Assets

- Experience or demonstrated interest in caregiving, health, workplace, social science, or community-based research would be considered an asset.
- Additional assets include experience with qualitative research and data analysis; reviewing and synthesizing research literature and qualitative data; academic and manuscript writing; participant recruitment and correspondence; preparing research presentations and knowledge mobilization materials; and working collaboratively with academic researchers, community organizations, and research participants.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple research activities with a degree of independence are also considered assets.

📌 Research Assistant (Canada)
🏢 McMaster University
📍 Canada