Research Assistant - Eating Disorders Program, Faculty of Social Work

Job summary

Support eating disorder research projects by conducting literature and scoping reviews, assisting with ethics submissions, and contributing to manuscripts, reports, and presentations. Recruit and schedule participants, support interviews and focus groups, manage research data and transcripts, and provide reports to the Principal Investigator and study team.

Job details

Description The Faculty of Social Work invites applications for a Research Assistant - Eating Disorders Program. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 8 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension. The Research Assistant (RA) will work on a research project within the clinical research unit of the Calgary Eating Disorder Program (CEDP) and the Faculty of Social Work. The objective of this role is to support ongoing eating disorder related projects. This includes but is not limited to: the development and implementation of updated national clinical practice guidelines for the screening and treatment of eating disorders in children, adolescents, and emerging adults; the transition from pediatric to adult eating disorder care for young adults by developing and implementing evidence-informed, equitable, and patient-centered transition guidelines and supports; and the development of an Alberta Eating Disorder virtual hub and telementoring model that supports local clinicians. This position reports to the Principal Investigator. The successful candidate is responsible for and will work closely with the Principal Investigator and study team at the University of Calgary with most of the work conducted remotely. Working conditions involve working 35 hours per week with flexibility for the occasional evening or weekend. This position is part of the AUPE Bargaining Unit. Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to): Project Assistance (60%) Conduct literature reviews, scoping reviews. In collaboration with the Principal Investigator and study team, implement the research activities as assigned. Assist with ethics submissions, revisions, and annual approvals. Work independently and with minimal supervision. Establishes and maintains effective, productive relationships with staff, peers, immediate supervisor and senior management and with the campus community. Manages own time effectively and ensures immediate reports to manager is kept informed of activities, and progress of work. Demonstrated strong communication, team and customer service skills, and an ability to exercise judgment within established guidelines. Assist the Principal Investigator and study team in the development of manuscripts, reports, and presentations relevant to the project including literature searches, and editing. Other related duties as assigned. Specific duties will vary with the needs and stage of development of the project. Research Activities (40%) Assist with the screening and recruitment of participants. Scheduling of qualitative interviews and focus groups. Complete informed consent with participants and maintain detailed records. Assist with research data collection activities such as interviews, focus groups, and training. Maintaining database with timely data entry. Coordinate transcription and prepare transcripts for data analysis (cleaning, anonymizing, and uploading data). Generate various reports as required by Principal Investigator and research team. May require presentation of reports to various stakeholders. Other related duties as assigned. Qualifications / Requirements: Bachelor's degree in social work, Psychology, or a related discipline. Minimum 2 years of experience in research programs or projects, with a focus on youth, young adults, and families. Experience working in eating disorders or mental health settings or research contexts. Experience conducting literature reviews and scoping reviews. Experience with qualitative analysis and/or mixed methods research. Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with participants and interdisciplinary teams. Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and contribute to team deliverables in a fast-paced environment. Ability to work independently and collaboratively within both virtual and in-person teams. Knowledge of research ethics and TCPS2 guidelines for human participant research. Demonstrated experience in scientific writing, including reports, literature reviews, and research manuscripts. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfort using virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams). Strong computer literacy and ability to quickly learn new software systems. Ability to receive direction and provide support within a team setting. Experience with study file management and version control. Demonstrated positive attitude, adaptability, and willingness to learn and take on new responsibilities. Application Deadline: October 23, 2026 We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted. This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 1. For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. About The University Of Calgary UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca. The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do. The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary. As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]). Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

What you’ll do

Support eating disorder research projects by conducting literature and scoping reviews, assisting with ethics submissions, and contributing to manuscripts, reports, and presentations. Recruit and schedule participants, support interviews and focus groups, manage research data and transcripts, and provide reports to the Principal Investigator and study team.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related discipline, plus at least two years of research experience focused on youth, young adults, and families. Candidates should have experience in eating disorder or mental health settings, qualitative or mixed methods research, research ethics, scientific writing, and strong organizational, communication, and computer skills.

Listed skills

• Qualitative research · Preferred
• Data entry · Preferred
• Microsoft Office · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Literature Reviews
• Scoping Reviews
• Qualitative Research
• Mixed Methods Research
• Participant Recruitment
• Informed Consent
• Research Ethics
• TCPS 2 Guidelines
• Scientific Writing
• Data Collection
• Database Management
• Data Entry
• Transcript Preparation
• Study File Management
• Version Control
• Microsoft Office

Job areas

• Science & Research
• Healthcare
• Social Services
• Education

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