Research Coordinator (I)
City : Hamilton
Category : Other
Industry : Education
Employer : McMaster University
Research Coordinator (I)
JD 0437
Unit/Project Description: The Research Coordinator (I) will join the prestigious and highly productive Cochrane Canada/MacGRADE team (canada.cochrane.org). This individual will bring the experience, skills, and adaptability to work in an environment where multiple, simultaneous, and often interdependent projects are undertaken to serve the needs of decision-makers.
Cochrane is an independent global network of over 30,000 healthcare practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, working to translate systematically reviewed evidence into useful information for health care decision making.
GRADE was developed by the GRADE Working Group which is a collaboration of methodologists, guideline developers, clinicians, and other interested members with the aim of developing and implementing a common, transparent, and sensible approach to grading the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations in health care. (www.gradeworkinggroup.org). Cochrane has adopted the GRADE approach as a system to evaluate the overall quality of the body of evidence from a systematic review and to produce Summary of Findings Tables to present the evidence to decision makers.
In addition to producing systematic reviews and collaboratively leading clinical practice guideline activities with clinical experts, the Cochrane Canada and MacGRADE Centres at McMaster lead research on improving the systematic review process, methodology of integrating different types of evidence, knowledge for optimal knowledge translation to health care and policy, and methods in health care guidelines.
The position of Research Coordinator (I) requires a resourceful, motivated, results-oriented professional with a demonstrated knowledge of systematic review and highly specialized knowledge translation methods, and who can work effectively in a team environment.
Job Summary: The Research Coordinator (I) is responsible for implementing, monitoring, refining, analyzing, coordinating, and reporting on several research projects. Acts as a resource for the development of protocols, study documents, operations of study management, and management techniques.
Purpose and Key Functions:
- Apply specialized knowledge and scientific principles to review, critically appraise and interpret published literature.
- Write sections of scientific papers, funding proposals, and abstracts.
- Coordinate the activities of research staff and resources to ensure that the project progresses in accordance with predetermined timelines.
- Develop estimates of time and resources for research projects.
- Oversee the collection, entry, verification, management, analysis, and reporting of data.
- Use statistical software to analyze data and interpret results.
- Design and maintain databases, data collection forms, error checking methods and related programs for efficient collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Troubleshoot moderately complex computer problems.
- Write data management and operations documentation for projects.
- Liaise between the project centre and remote project sites and personnel.
- Conduct structured project participant interviews.
- Ensure that the relevant research methodology is applied and all research material is handled in accordance with established protocols, policies, and procedures.
- Participate in the development of promotional strategies and related materials to encourage participation and support for research projects.
- Consult on protocol development, student organization, and data management activities.
- Develop presentations and present information and training sessions to project personnel and project participants.
- Present at meetings, seminars, and conferences.
- Keep project participants informed of project progress through regular reports and newsletters.
- Implement and maintain research project budgets. Create financial projections and make adjustments to research project budgets throughout the fiscal year.
- Exercise appropriate controls, monitor, and reconcile accounts.
- Conduct literature searches.
Supervision:
- Provide lead hand supervision and is responsible for the quality and quantity of work of others.
- Ongoing responsibility for supervising up to 9 casual employees at any one time.
- Provide orientation and show procedures to others.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study.
- Requires 4 years of relevant experience.
Assets:
- Previous experience working with Cochrane Canada or a Cochrane review group.
- Previous involvement with or understanding the guideline development process.
- Experience performing GRADE assessments and using GRADEPro.
- Extensive and demonstrated skills in knowledge translation and mobilization methods.
Additional Information:
The successful candidate must have/demonstrate:
- Knowledge and experience with systematic review methods:
- Implementing methods as outlined in a systematic review protocol.
- Screening literature search results.
- Understanding of epidemiological study designs.
- Understanding bias and performing risk of bias assessments.
- Data extraction from included articles, performing meta-analysis.
- Involved in writing a draft review report.
- Specialized knowledge and experience with guideline development
- Experience in using quality appraisal tools for guidelines.
- High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Strong written and oral communications skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a research team environment.
- Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel
- Experience in the Health Research field in one or more of the following:
- Economic evaluation
- Social determinants of health
- Epidemiology
- Public health & preventive medicine