Research Associate

Academic

Job Category

Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title

Research Associate

Department

Cresswell Laboratory | Centre for Brain Health | Faculty of Medicine (Silke Cresswell)

Posting End Date

November 16, 2025

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

Job End Date

April 30, 2026

This offer is conditional upon successful completion of a Criminal Record Check.

The expected pay for this position is $3,800/month.

Job Description

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 Vision of the BC Brain Wellness Program is Brain Wellness, Beyond All Boundaries.

We are leveraging the collective power of clinical care, lifestyle programs, education, and research to design a comprehensive and integrated approach to brain wellness for people with chronic brain conditions, care partners and healthy agers.

The BC Brain Wellness Program (BCBWP) is an interactive effort to establish clinically relevant lifestyle approaches to complement medical treatment in the clinics at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for

Brain Health (DMCBH). By combining clinical care with interventions that support healthier lifestyles, the BC Brain Wellness Program team hopes to improve and sustain quality of life for people living with brain disorders and their care partners, as well as to offer healthy agers the opportunity to enhance their wellness and engage in preventative lifestyle measures.

The BC Brain Wellness Program brings together the DMCBH, the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Clinic at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health. Expertise is drawn from many fields including the School of Music, Physiotherapy, Kinesiology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Neurosciences, Nutrition as well as several community partners.

The Research Associate role will contribute to the translation of research into practice, directly impacting the lives of people living with chronic brain conditions with a main focus on Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis, as well as people living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury (ABI). This is an opportunity to contribute directly to the translation of innovative research into real-world impact. The successful candidate will play a central role in bridging research and community engagement, supporting the dissemination of pioneering programs in exercise, nutrition, and art-based therapeutics for individuals with various chronic neurological conditions. Evidence informed practice and staying up to date with current evidence around the role of lifestyle-based approaches and their impact on brain health is key component of this role. The individual must be knowledgeable and mindful of the research enterprise ongoing. They must ensure: 1) patient confidentiality and safety; 2) Clinical data reliability and quality.

Organizational Status

The BCBWP is seeking a part-time (0.5FTE) Research Associate/ Knowledge Translation Specialist to join the team. The individual will work closely with the Program Co-Directors and the multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and research staff at the DMCBH to contribute to our current programs. They will report to Program Co-Directors.

Work Performed

• Support research initiatives within the BCBWP through establishing, implementing, and leading research projects.

• Develop and implement a Knowledge Translation (KT) plan for current and future research findings. Create evidence-based educational and translational materials.

• Engage in strategic outreach, mapping of organizations, networking, and partnership-building to strengthen the program's research and community impact. Connect with stakeholder and community groups to develop research criteria and engage in the program's outcome measures.

• Design and coordinate feasibility studies on exercise programs and outcome measurement tools. Create project plans, including milestones and financial projections. Monitor progress to ensure that project priorities and timelines are met.
• Support industry partner research opportunities, including research coordination and regulatory compliance.
• Direct the generation and analysis of research data, and coordinate presentation of complex data in meetings, conferences, and publications.
• Liaise with collaborators and donors to report on the project.
• Collaborate with other team members to write grants.
• Advise staff and students on research techniques, design, standard operating procedures, data analysis, and provide direction with associated tasks.
• Other related tasks as needed.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Poor decisions/errors in judgment may compromise the BCBWP, breech the trust and confidentiality of research participants, and may result in financial loss to the PI, the Centres, and the University. Even simple typographical mistakes may result in distress to stakeholders and be damaging to the program and the reputation of the team and Co-Directors. They may influence the ability of the PI to meet critical deadlines and affect funding applications and ongoing program obligations.

Supervision Received

The individual will work closely with staff, clinical investigators, clinicians, and multidisciplinary staff at the BC Brain Wellness Program. Overall supervision will be provided by the Program Co-Directors. However, the candidate must be fully competent and independent in their abilities to work independently.

Supervision Given

The individual may provide guidance, feedback, and support to BCBWP team members involved in research programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

An ideal candidate will have a PhD in a science related field or MD with a minimum ten years of related research and teaching experience, demonstrating independent project leadership. Expertise in clinical study design and ethics approval. Proven ability to design, execute, and oversee complex, multi-faceted research projects, demonstrate leadership and mentorship and works collaboratively. Strong communication and grant-writing skills, with a history of contributions to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities to meet research milestones, and the flexibility to adjust to changing work plans, schedules and deadlines. Ability to compose simple, clear, concise business letters. Ability to exercise tact and discretion with others in the obtaining and giving of information. Excellent interpersonal skills are required to foster interprofessional collaboration opportunities. The applicant must be sensitive to the issues faced by individuals living with neurological disease and be able to communicate compassionately with patient participants. The need for accuracy in reporting and attention to detail cannot be overstated. Organizational skills are important, including the ability to prioritize workload, scheduling, and record keeping. We require a self-motivated team member with passion and enthusiasm for improving clinical care with the ability to work well in a team environment as well as be proactive at work, with evidence of ongoing continuing education. The desire to make a positive difference in the lives of participants and their families is essential. The applicant must enjoy working as part of a large multidisciplinary team. However, they will also have the ability to work independently once they have demonstrated the ability to show initiative. After a probationary period, they will be expected to step up and take an active role in project planning and support. Working between the public and University presents some communication challenges. Hence, the applicant must be adept in written and verbal English. Computer skills are of crucial importance: Word Processing, Internet, and database experience is required.

The expected pay for this position is $3,800/month for a 0.5FTE position.