Research Analyst Pharmacoepidemiology

In this research position, the Research Analyst will have two primary responsibilities.

The first is to provide research facilitation and analysis for ongoing and future projects. This will largely focus on projects funded by the Ministry of Health. Projects may include evaluation of different drug policies announced by PharmaCare, monitoring of prescribing habits, and assessing adverse effects in drugs. The Research Analyst will be developing, conducting and interpreting of the different research projects. These activities include, but not limited to, collaborating in identifying and planning research activities; assessing feasibility and reviewing background literature; analyzing data and interpreting findings; writing of research protocols, reports, and manuscripts; attending project meetings; and collaborating in identifying, planning, and executing knowledge translation activities. The Research Analyst is responsible for the quality of research and results for the different research projects.

The second key responsibility is to participate in studies conducted by the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES). The Research Analyst will contribute to planning the different studies; analyzing data and interpreting findings; and cooperate with other team members in other Canadian provinces.

The Research Analyst will make professional decisions and recommendations on all aspects of work, and will work with considerable latitude and independent thinking.

Organizational Status

The Research Analyst will report directly to Dr. Greg Carney, Chair of the Pharmacoepidemiology group (PEG) of the Therapeutics Initiative (TI).

Liaisons with:

- Dr. Colin Dormuth, Associate Professor, TI Co-Managing Director and BC Lead of CNODES

- Dr. Siyana Kurteva, Assistant Professor

- Clinicians, Executives, and staff of the TI

- CNODES team members

- Research project members

- Directors in the BC MoH concerned with TI projects and services.

- Data Access Services, BC MoH

- Ethics Review Boards of UBC

- UBC employees

- Professors, students, and researchers at UBC and other universities

Work Performed

Responsible for planning different research projects related to adverse effects of drug use and the effects of drug policy on health services utilization and health outcomes using very large administrative databases and chart data and assisting with CNODES cohort studies, as needed.

Duties include:

1. Research Planning. Writing research proposals; gathers, reviews, and synthesizes literature relevant to research projects; plans and conducts feasibility analysis and interpret findings; and develops and implements project work plans and timelines.

2. Research Analysis. Participates in research project designing; designs and develops methodology for data assembly, analysis, and presentation; uses statistical analysis packages (Frequent use: SAS, R, and SQL, occasional use: STATA) to analyze administrative database; writes, executes, and assess quality of SAS code to support CNODES projects and Ministry of Health deliverables; documents quality assurance testing and coding methods; interpreting results; and responsible for quality of research and results.

3. Physician prescribing portrait feedback development, production, and evaluation. Uses SAS, SQL, and R software to produce physician prescribing portraits by patient subgroups. Work with physicians and project staff on formats for presenting results, in combination with evidence from literature, into portraits that are visually appealing to end users. Maintain a physician address database to be used by multiple TI Working Groups that tracks study participation indicators.

4. Writing. Conducts review of literature, and drafts summaries incorporating feedback from team members; writing, editing and submission of research protocols; write abstracts, summary reports, and conference submissions; write articles for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

6. Communications. Maintains collaboration and manages differences of opinion among the dispersed members of the research team, the Research Analyst develops and maintains an efficient communication system that is respectful of how busy the collaborators are.

7. Knowledge Translation and Exchange. Interacts one-to-one with users throughout the analysis, and documents queries and responses; presents research results at academic conferences and stakeholder meetings; write articles for submission to peer-reviewed journals; presents findings at the MoH and CNODES meetings; and makes decisions regarding content of manuscripts and manage the submission and review of manuscripts to scholarly journals.

Presentation at national meetings and international conferences is required (minimum 1 per year)

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position requires initiative and attention to detail. Errors or missteps in communication could produce friction among collaborators due to strong differences of opinion to how drug safety and effectiveness studies should be designed and implemented.

Accuracy and timeliness of tasks are critical in keeping research projects on time and on budget. Errors can lead to significant project delays.

Supervision Received
The work is largely independent. Works under the supervision of Dr. Greg Carney, who conducts analyses for both the BC MoH and CNODES observational studies, provides guidance on the databases and advice on analyses.

Supervision Given
Junior research analysts, data analysts, research assistants and medical/co-op students conducting short-term projects.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- 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

Minimum of an undergraduate degree in a discipline related to health policy, health services research, or statistics. Graduate degree with successful completion of quantitative methods courses is preferred. Minimum of three years experience in data analysis, experience in manuscript writing, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Must be familiar with university research environments and manuscript writing processes. Authorship or co-authorship of scholarly publications on health care would be an asset. The following skills and abilities are necessary to be successful in the position:

- Critical understanding of issues related to health and health care analysis.
- Experience with data management and programming (SAS, R, and SQL).

- Ability to conduct statistical analyses of health-related data and/or surveys.
- Ability to identify and implement research methods appropriate for quantitative research questions.

- Ability to design, complete, and publish a research project in pharmacoepidemiology.

- Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team.

- Excellent oral and written communication skills.

- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with team members, external collaborators and stakeholders.

- Ability to deal with multiple tasks and priorities

- Ability to act with discretion and maintain confidentiality

- Ability to train new team members