Peer Research Assistant I (Temporary Part Time x1 year)
About the role
Position: Peer Research Assistant I
Compensation Grid Range: $22.28/hour - $27.86/hour, commensurate with demonstrated and documented experience
Job Type: Temporary Part-Time (1 year with possibility of extension, up to 5 hours/week)
Dept. /Health System: Institute for Better Health
Site: 2085 Hurontario St (Mississauga)
Posted: October 1, 2025
Posting Deadline: October 15, 2025
Trillium Health Partners - Institute for Better Health
Trillium Health Partners (THP) is one of the largest community-based acute care facilities in Canada. Comprised of the Credit Valley Hospital, the Mississauga Hospital and the Queensway Health Centre, Trillium Health Partners serves the growing and diverse populations of Mississauga, West Toronto and surrounding communities and is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.
Our Mission: A New Kind of Health Care for a Healthier Community
Our Values: Compassion, Excellence, Courage
Our Goals: Quality, Access, Sustainability
Our Enablers: People, Education, Innovation, Research
The Institute for Better Health (IBH) is a critical component of THP Solutions, the research, innovation and revenue generating division of THP driven to find innovative, evidence-based approaches to solving the most complex health care challenges and building a culture of innovation at all levels across THP with our partners beyond our walls. Learn more about our Institute for Better Health here: Institute for Better Health
The Role
The Peer Research Assistant role within IBH will work closely with and be trained by the research team within the Institute for Better Health to support a research project entitled, EMPOWHPVR: Exploring the factors that impact HPV-self sampling uptake amongst Black women and people with a cervix in Peel region, Ontario.
Project Description
Cervical cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer for women and people with a cervix (WPC) in Ontario. HPV (human papillomavirus) infection is the most common cause of cervical cancer. Despite cervical cancer screening programs in Ontario, some populations, particularly Black WPC are less likely to get screened. Also, COVID-19 related screening delays likely added to screening barriers (e.g. limited access to family doctors) many Black WPC face, leading to a potentially dangerous backlog.
HPV self-sampling (HPVSS) empowers WPC to collect their own cervix sample when and where they want that is then sent for lab testing. As Ontario moves towards self-sampling, HPVSS interventions tailored for Black WPC must be developed to ensure that the current pattern of cervical cancer under-screening does not happen again. This two-phased study aims to co-develop and pilot-test an HPVSS intervention made for and by Black WPC in Peel. The first phase of this study involves one-on-one interviews with Black WPC and health care providers to learn more about any information gaps in HPV, cervical cancer and HPVSS knowledge to help inform the creation of an impactful HPVSS intervention.
Role Requirements
We seek a Peer Research Assistant who is passionate about working with Black communities, Black women and Black people with a cervix and contributing to healthcare research. Candidates require no previous research experience as all research training will be provided. The ideal candidate will be driven to learn, grow and contribute to shared learnings.
Qualifications and Skills
- Successful completion of High School diploma (Grade 12) or equivalent; lived experience will be taken into consideration as applicable to the job posting
- Lived experience accessing cervical cancer screening/Pap(anicolaou) testing and HPV testing
- Live or work in Peel region (Mississauga, Brampton and/or Caledon)
- Fluent in English. Fluency in another language commonly spoken in Black communities in Peel region (e.g., French, Amharic, Somali, Yoruba, Igbo) is an asset
- Interest in learning more about research processes and contributing to the evidence-base for healthcare programs
- Interest in learning about qualitative data analysis
- Interest in learning about and conducting one-on-one qualitative interviews and data analysis
- Motivation to engage with local Black communities and stakeholders
- Interest in academic and report writing
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Basic knowledge of virtual meeting software (e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet)
- An understanding of and sensitivity to equity, diversity and inclusion issues
- An understanding of and ease with discussing sexual and reproductive health
- Experience working with or being part of diverse Black communities is an asset
- Experience working with NVivo qualitative data analysis software and using constructivist grounded theory methodology is an asset
Responsibilities
- Supports implementation of all research activities associated with the project
- Supports the development of data collection tools (e.g., interview guides, participant surveys) and study protocols
- Participates in conducting participant recruitment, conducting qualitative interviews and data analyses
- Attends team meetings
- Helps organize and recruit participants for events scheduled as part of project activities
- Attends trainings as required for study related capacity building
- Travel to interview locations as needed
- Contributes to report writing, manuscript development and other writing products
- Other responsibilities as may be assigned
Please submit the following application components in a single file:
- A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) detailing your interest in the role, any experience being part of a qualitative research project, reasons for applying and any relevant experience (volunteering, community work, etc.)
- CV
What’s in it for You?
- An opportunity to be part of a team of health research, innovation and improvement leaders in a culture of service and improvement supported by collaboration and partnership
- A team and organization that is genuinely invested in your development and growth
- Many active and ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion activities and committees you can be part of
Building an Anti-Racist, Equitable and Inclusive Team and Why it is Important to Us – A new Kind of Health Care for a Healthier Community:
When we set out to build our vision and future, we connected with and heard from our community - patients, families, visitors, physicians, staff and volunteers. Our plan to create a new kind of health care for a healthier community means advancing health across the hospital, the system and the community and is built on an inter-connected system of care organized around patients - inside and outside the hospital. Recognizing this mission could not be realized without also assessing and investing in our internal practices, culture and processes we are building an organization where everyone at THP feels they belong, their voice matters, and contributes to our collective success. We commit to making systemic fairness a reality for all and are working to ensure that the community we serve is reflected at all levels, and in all professions at THP. Diversity is our strength and we recognize and value teaching and learning we all contribute and benefit from in our environment; our unique lived experiences matter and shape our actions and behaviors. In becoming an antiracist organization, we acknowledge the existence of oppression, racism, bias and complicity, and we have been working steadily to make changes in the way we work to dismantle these barriers. This includes developing and realizing an action plan to advance racial equity and embed anti-racism accountability across IBH, starting with our anti-Black racism priority initiative.
Work Environment:
If you are passionate about what you do, motivated to improve the health of the community, committed to excellence, quality and patient safety and are interested in joining our talented team of experts and change agents in administration, science, technology, public health policy and so much more we would like you to join our Better Together team!
Important Message for Potential Applicants:
If you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, we strongly encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We encourage applicants who are members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Ontario Human Rights Code to consider this opportunity.
Candidates are selected on the basis of their skill, ability, experience and qualifications.
Where these factors are relatively equal seniority shall govern providing the successful applicant.
Trillium Health Partners’ (THP) is an equal opportunity employer who values the importance of antiracism work and is committed to integrating antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion best practices throughout THP operations, policies and culture. Therefore, we ask that even if you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, we still encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We encourage all applicants who are members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Ontario Human Rights Code based on race, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nations, Métis or Inuk/Inuit person to consider this opportunity.
In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code Trillium Health Partners will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.
All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Trillium Health Partners is identified under the French Language Services Act.
We thank all those who apply but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
About Trillium Health Partners
Trillium Health Partners is a leading hospital with an outstanding record of performance, fiscal responsibility and quality patient care. The hospital encompasses three main sites – Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital and Queensway Health Centre – offering the full range of acute care hospital services, as well as a variety of community-based, specialized programs.
Our intention is to achieve the highest quality of care that is easily accessible for our community, at the lowest cost. We are committed to creating an exceptional experience for everyone who walks through our doors.
As our diverse community continues to grow and age, and as more people are living with chronic diseases, we’re taking into account the inevitable changes on the horizon. We know that to continue to deliver exceptional patient care, we must think and act differently, and take a new and innovative approach to the delivery of health care. We envision a new kind of health care for a healthier community – an inter-connected system of care that is organized around the patient, both inside the hospital and beyond its walls. Through partnership, working in a coordinated way across the system, we can meet the needs of our patients and continue to provide outstanding, sustainable quality patient care.
As partners in creating a new kind of health care, we are Better Together.
Peer Research Assistant I (Temporary Part Time x1 year)
About the role
Position: Peer Research Assistant I
Compensation Grid Range: $22.28/hour - $27.86/hour, commensurate with demonstrated and documented experience
Job Type: Temporary Part-Time (1 year with possibility of extension, up to 5 hours/week)
Dept. /Health System: Institute for Better Health
Site: 2085 Hurontario St (Mississauga)
Posted: October 1, 2025
Posting Deadline: October 15, 2025
Trillium Health Partners - Institute for Better Health
Trillium Health Partners (THP) is one of the largest community-based acute care facilities in Canada. Comprised of the Credit Valley Hospital, the Mississauga Hospital and the Queensway Health Centre, Trillium Health Partners serves the growing and diverse populations of Mississauga, West Toronto and surrounding communities and is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.
Our Mission: A New Kind of Health Care for a Healthier Community
Our Values: Compassion, Excellence, Courage
Our Goals: Quality, Access, Sustainability
Our Enablers: People, Education, Innovation, Research
The Institute for Better Health (IBH) is a critical component of THP Solutions, the research, innovation and revenue generating division of THP driven to find innovative, evidence-based approaches to solving the most complex health care challenges and building a culture of innovation at all levels across THP with our partners beyond our walls. Learn more about our Institute for Better Health here: Institute for Better Health
The Role
The Peer Research Assistant role within IBH will work closely with and be trained by the research team within the Institute for Better Health to support a research project entitled, EMPOWHPVR: Exploring the factors that impact HPV-self sampling uptake amongst Black women and people with a cervix in Peel region, Ontario.
Project Description
Cervical cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer for women and people with a cervix (WPC) in Ontario. HPV (human papillomavirus) infection is the most common cause of cervical cancer. Despite cervical cancer screening programs in Ontario, some populations, particularly Black WPC are less likely to get screened. Also, COVID-19 related screening delays likely added to screening barriers (e.g. limited access to family doctors) many Black WPC face, leading to a potentially dangerous backlog.
HPV self-sampling (HPVSS) empowers WPC to collect their own cervix sample when and where they want that is then sent for lab testing. As Ontario moves towards self-sampling, HPVSS interventions tailored for Black WPC must be developed to ensure that the current pattern of cervical cancer under-screening does not happen again. This two-phased study aims to co-develop and pilot-test an HPVSS intervention made for and by Black WPC in Peel. The first phase of this study involves one-on-one interviews with Black WPC and health care providers to learn more about any information gaps in HPV, cervical cancer and HPVSS knowledge to help inform the creation of an impactful HPVSS intervention.
Role Requirements
We seek a Peer Research Assistant who is passionate about working with Black communities, Black women and Black people with a cervix and contributing to healthcare research. Candidates require no previous research experience as all research training will be provided. The ideal candidate will be driven to learn, grow and contribute to shared learnings.
Qualifications and Skills
- Successful completion of High School diploma (Grade 12) or equivalent; lived experience will be taken into consideration as applicable to the job posting
- Lived experience accessing cervical cancer screening/Pap(anicolaou) testing and HPV testing
- Live or work in Peel region (Mississauga, Brampton and/or Caledon)
- Fluent in English. Fluency in another language commonly spoken in Black communities in Peel region (e.g., French, Amharic, Somali, Yoruba, Igbo) is an asset
- Interest in learning more about research processes and contributing to the evidence-base for healthcare programs
- Interest in learning about qualitative data analysis
- Interest in learning about and conducting one-on-one qualitative interviews and data analysis
- Motivation to engage with local Black communities and stakeholders
- Interest in academic and report writing
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Basic knowledge of virtual meeting software (e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet)
- An understanding of and sensitivity to equity, diversity and inclusion issues
- An understanding of and ease with discussing sexual and reproductive health
- Experience working with or being part of diverse Black communities is an asset
- Experience working with NVivo qualitative data analysis software and using constructivist grounded theory methodology is an asset
Responsibilities
- Supports implementation of all research activities associated with the project
- Supports the development of data collection tools (e.g., interview guides, participant surveys) and study protocols
- Participates in conducting participant recruitment, conducting qualitative interviews and data analyses
- Attends team meetings
- Helps organize and recruit participants for events scheduled as part of project activities
- Attends trainings as required for study related capacity building
- Travel to interview locations as needed
- Contributes to report writing, manuscript development and other writing products
- Other responsibilities as may be assigned
Please submit the following application components in a single file:
- A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) detailing your interest in the role, any experience being part of a qualitative research project, reasons for applying and any relevant experience (volunteering, community work, etc.)
- CV
What’s in it for You?
- An opportunity to be part of a team of health research, innovation and improvement leaders in a culture of service and improvement supported by collaboration and partnership
- A team and organization that is genuinely invested in your development and growth
- Many active and ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion activities and committees you can be part of
Building an Anti-Racist, Equitable and Inclusive Team and Why it is Important to Us – A new Kind of Health Care for a Healthier Community:
When we set out to build our vision and future, we connected with and heard from our community - patients, families, visitors, physicians, staff and volunteers. Our plan to create a new kind of health care for a healthier community means advancing health across the hospital, the system and the community and is built on an inter-connected system of care organized around patients - inside and outside the hospital. Recognizing this mission could not be realized without also assessing and investing in our internal practices, culture and processes we are building an organization where everyone at THP feels they belong, their voice matters, and contributes to our collective success. We commit to making systemic fairness a reality for all and are working to ensure that the community we serve is reflected at all levels, and in all professions at THP. Diversity is our strength and we recognize and value teaching and learning we all contribute and benefit from in our environment; our unique lived experiences matter and shape our actions and behaviors. In becoming an antiracist organization, we acknowledge the existence of oppression, racism, bias and complicity, and we have been working steadily to make changes in the way we work to dismantle these barriers. This includes developing and realizing an action plan to advance racial equity and embed anti-racism accountability across IBH, starting with our anti-Black racism priority initiative.
Work Environment:
If you are passionate about what you do, motivated to improve the health of the community, committed to excellence, quality and patient safety and are interested in joining our talented team of experts and change agents in administration, science, technology, public health policy and so much more we would like you to join our Better Together team!
Important Message for Potential Applicants:
If you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, we strongly encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We encourage applicants who are members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Ontario Human Rights Code to consider this opportunity.
Candidates are selected on the basis of their skill, ability, experience and qualifications.
Where these factors are relatively equal seniority shall govern providing the successful applicant.
Trillium Health Partners’ (THP) is an equal opportunity employer who values the importance of antiracism work and is committed to integrating antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion best practices throughout THP operations, policies and culture. Therefore, we ask that even if you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, we still encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We encourage all applicants who are members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Ontario Human Rights Code based on race, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nations, Métis or Inuk/Inuit person to consider this opportunity.
In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code Trillium Health Partners will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.
All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Trillium Health Partners is identified under the French Language Services Act.
We thank all those who apply but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
About Trillium Health Partners
Trillium Health Partners is a leading hospital with an outstanding record of performance, fiscal responsibility and quality patient care. The hospital encompasses three main sites – Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital and Queensway Health Centre – offering the full range of acute care hospital services, as well as a variety of community-based, specialized programs.
Our intention is to achieve the highest quality of care that is easily accessible for our community, at the lowest cost. We are committed to creating an exceptional experience for everyone who walks through our doors.
As our diverse community continues to grow and age, and as more people are living with chronic diseases, we’re taking into account the inevitable changes on the horizon. We know that to continue to deliver exceptional patient care, we must think and act differently, and take a new and innovative approach to the delivery of health care. We envision a new kind of health care for a healthier community – an inter-connected system of care that is organized around the patient, both inside the hospital and beyond its walls. Through partnership, working in a coordinated way across the system, we can meet the needs of our patients and continue to provide outstanding, sustainable quality patient care.
As partners in creating a new kind of health care, we are Better Together.