Research assistant – casual position
Start date: Will commence when a suitable candidate is found
Application deadline: September 15, 2025
Supervisor: Dr. James Greenwood-Lee
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology
A scoping review of frameworks to define and assess appropriateness in health care.
Overview
A Research Assistant is being hired to support a scoping review of frameworks used to define appropriateness of health care and their application to assess the prevalence of inappropriate health care in Canada. This work will expand on a recent systematic review that examined the inappropriate use of clinical practices in Canada. A key limitation of the systematic review was an inability to assess the quality of the methodology/frameworks used to assess appropriateness due to high levels of heterogeneity in the reviewed studies. Scoping reviews provide a systematic but iterative method to synthesize evidence and assess the scope of an area of inquiry and enable a mapping and theming of alike concepts and practices that come from diverse sources. The end goal will be:
- To collect and catalogue data describing how frameworks used to assess appropriateness of health care define what is appropriate and create measures of appropriateness (right care, right provider, etc.)
- To ascertain how appropriateness frameworks consider and balance patient, provider and system perspectives in determining whether health care is appropriate
To ensure the quality of the review the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will be followed.
Specific activities include, but are not limited to
The primary job duties for the research assistant (RA-I) will include but are not limited to:
- Development of search strategy and selection criteria in accordance with PRISMA-ScR
- Conduct search and selection process
- Data extraction and cataloguing
- Summarizing results
The successful candidate will work with, and directly report to, Dr. James Greenwood-Lee at Athabasca University. Dr. Greenwood-Lee will provide training and supervision for the development and implementation of the search strategy and selection criteria and the subsequent extraction and cataloguing of data that will be required.
Qualifications
- Senior undergraduate student or graduate student
- A background in Health Sciences and/or Health Services Research is preferred but other backgrounds will be considered
- Experience conducting scoping or systematic reviews, along with skills in data analysis, statistics/mathematical modelling and/or logic modelling are assets but not necessary
The opportunity will provide training in how to conduct literature searches using proper methodology. This will include identifying the appropriate form of literature review, developing and refining search criteria, developing and refining selection criteria, selection and cataloguing of articles, and may include the analysis and synthesis of information depending on aptitude and time.
All contributions of the research assistant will be recognized in resultant publications/presentations in the acknowledgements and if appropriate a co-authorship will be provided as per the authorship policies of relevant publication.
The position is based remotely in Alberta.
How to apply
Qualified individuals are encouraged to submit their application by email to Dr. James Greenwood-Lee at jgreenwoodlee@athabascau.ca. Applications should include (as a single PDF file):
- A brief cover letter that summarizes your skills, interests and experience
- A current resume or curriculum vitae
- An unofficial copy of your transcript
- The contact information for 1–2 references
Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a suitable candidate is found. All applicants are thanked for their interest in this position; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Athabasca University and the researchers are committed and seek to support equity in employment and research opportunities. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous people, people of colour, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ people, women, and other historically marginalized groups. Applicants are welcome, but not required, to self-identify in their letter of application.
For more information on this Research Assistant Opportunity, please contact James Greenwood-Lee, PhD at the coordinates below, on or before Sept 15th 2025. Applications will be accepted until (9/15/2025). Please note that there is a strong internal candidate for this position.
James Greenwood-Lee, PhD (he/his)
Associate Professor
Athabasca University
jgreenwoodlee@athabascau.ca
1-877-297-0716