Research Assistant at University of Alberta, Edmonton

AI Summary

This Research Assistant position at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, supports a national project focused on integrating the Black Health Primer into family medicine education. Key duties include coordinating virtual focus groups, managing qualitative data, and assisting with thematic analysis. Top requirements include a Master’s degree in a relevant health or social science field, lived experience of Black identity, and proficiency in qualitative research methods.

About the Project and Role

The University of Alberta is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to join a critical national project aimed at addressing systemic gaps in Canadian family medicine training. This important initiative, led by a dedicated faculty, focuses on integrating the Black Health Primer (BHP) into medical education to combat anti-Black racism and its impact on healthcare. The project utilizes a developmental evaluation approach to tailor training for the family medicine context, ensuring that future medical professionals are equipped with the foundational knowledge to unlearn and disrupt anti-Black racism in patient care. This 12-month term position offers the flexibility of in-person work at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, or remote participation, as many project components are conducted through virtual platforms. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation and evaluation of this vital research, contributing significantly to health equity across Canada.

Key Responsibilities and Qualifications

As a Research Assistant on this significant project, your responsibilities will include coordinating and facilitating virtual focus groups, managing qualitative data through transcription and de-identification, and overseeing member checking for accuracy. You will assist in rigorous thematic analysis using the Braun & Clarke (2006) framework and support the rollout of the 6–8 hour Black Health Primer online course and subsequent faculty training sessions. Further data support will involve assisting with anonymous evaluative surveys using RedCap and managing follow-up data collection one-year post-implementation. Finally, you will contribute to drafting the final report, highlighting lessons learned for distribution to other family medicine departments. The University of Alberta requires candidates to possess a Master’s degree or above in a relevant field such as Public Health, Sociology, Education, or Health Sciences. Crucially, applicants must have lived experience of Black identity, as the project is anchored in Critical Race Theory and directly addresses the lived experiences of Black patients. Strong understanding of anti-Black racism in the Canadian healthcare context, proficiency in qualitative research methods, and experience with virtual platforms like Zoom and secure data tools such as RedCap are essential. The role demands comfort in discussing and analyzing sensitive topics related to structural racism and systemic inequities, while ensuring all participant data remains private and confidential.