Description
The Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts invites applications for a Research Assistant position. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 1 year (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
The Determinants of Child Development Lab (DCDL), led by Dr. Sheri Madigan, is seeking a full-time, in-person Research Assistant (RA) to support a variety of research tasks. This role is ideal for someone who has some prior research experience and is eager to grow their skills in a collaborative academic lab setting. As part of a core team of research staff in the DCDL, the RA will contribute to data collection, entry, and coding and assist with literature reviews and other foundational research duties.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
- Provide support to Dr. Madigan, senior lab staff, and other lab members across a range of administrative and research-related tasks.
- Engage and assist with research activities, including literature searches, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, umbrella reviews, data cataloguing projects, search strategy development, screening abstracts and full-text articles, data extraction, data analysis, participant recruitment, scheduling sessions, and preparation of manuscripts for submission and publication.
- Support knowledge translation efforts by helping update website content, prepare informational materials, and format presentations or social media content under supervision.
- Contribute to lab organization and operations, including preparing materials, managing scheduling, and maintaining shared documents and calendars.
- Help facilitate lab meetings and team events by preparing agendas, supporting planning for team-building and internal training activities.
- Maintain accuracy and attention to detail in all tasks, including consistent file naming, document formatting, and following established lab protocols.
- Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and lab activities to develop research and professional skills.
- Take on additional responsibilities as they arise, based on evolving project and lab needs.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Eagerness to learn and take initiative within a supportive team environment
- Recently completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, or a related discipline.
- Some prior research experience, which may include coursework, internships, volunteer roles, or RA positions.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to ask questions and follow instructions carefully.
- High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in data entry, document handling, and task tracking.
- Comfort with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and willingness to learn new platforms (e.g., shared drives, Airtable, Covidence, REDCap).
- Ability to work independently, take initiative on tasks, and contribute positively to a collaborative team environment.
-
Strong time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities within a full-time schedule.
Assets: - Familiarity with any of the following tools: Zotero/Mendeley/EndNote, Covidence, Airtable, REDCap, website content platforms (e.g., WordPress, MailChimp).
Application Deadline: July 29, 2025.
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 Operational / Administrative 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 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.
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 (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
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.