Clinical Research Assistant

Job Summary
The Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre is seeking a full-time Clinical Research Assistant to join our multidisciplinary research team. In this role, you will play a vital part in advancing our studies by using your strong communication skills to recruit and engage with research participants, most of whom are individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. As a Clinical Research Assistant, you will support participant recruitment and testing, which may involve non-invasive brain stimulation, behavioral tasks, wearable sensor use, validated clinical scales, and neuroimaging techniques like EEG and fMRI.

The successful candidate will also help design and implement studies and evaluate the effectiveness of experimental designs. Additionally, you will provide support to research staff and physicians and maintain close interaction with research participants throughout the study process.

Organizational Status
The Research Assistant will report to the Research Lab Manager and Principal Investigator of the study, and will work closely with graduate students, fellows, and research staff from different departments on campus.

Work Performed

• Reviews electronic medical record (EMR) charts for recruitment of appropriate research participants,

in a respectful and confidential manner.

• Recruits and screens potential movement disorders patients by telephone according to general study criteria.

• Addresses any general study queries from the community or from other research personnel.

• Maintains a detailed tracking log of participants.

• Obtain informed consent and explain studies to research participants.

• Assist in applications to the Ethics Board, with amendments as needed

• Performs patient study visits ensuring accurate and timely data collection in modalities such as non-invasive brain stimulation, EEG, fMRI, wearable sensors.
Excellent communication skills and work ethic is required and essential.

• Perform clinical assessments such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDSUPDRS)

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Documentation is key: Create and maintain detailed documentation of all recruitment processes and acquired data during study visits.

• Monitor and trouble-shoot electronic resources, teach experimental techniques to students, post-doctoral fellows, scientists, and other researchers.

• Perform literature searches when required. Participate in seminars, group meetings, and conferences. Prepare abstracts, manuscripts, presentations, and educational materials.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors made could influence the ability of the PI to meet critical deadlines, as well as compromise the results of research projects and affect funding applications, thereby impacting the credibility of the Investigator. Poor decisions may be damaging to the reputation of and cause financial loss to the Principal Investigator, The Centre, the Research Institute, and the University.

Supervision Received
The Research Assistant will work closely with researchers, graduate students, and clinical fellows. Direct supervision will be provided by the Research Lab Manager and Principal investigator of the study.

Supervision Given
None

Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an 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

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or Graduation from a technical college or institute. (eg. Health Science, Public Health, Neuroscience). Minimum of 3 years related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience in interacting with patient populations in a respectful and confidential manner.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven verbal communication, writing, and editing skills, including the ability to accurately summarize and communicate…