Research Chair - Mental Health and Addictions

RESEARCH CHAIR – MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS

Position Summary 
This is an opportunity for a scientifically creative, data-inclined individual with a strong clinical research background in mental health and addictions to further our emerging work in Mental Health and Addictions research at Health Sciences North and Health Sciences North Research Institute. As the largest hospital in Northeastern Ontario, we have a unique set of demographic and geographic challenges that make our research opportunities unique, but widely applicable to other care settings. We are well positioned to work with local partners and other hospitals across Northern Ontario to develop localized clinical solutions grounded in evidence-based research.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of excellence in empirical research as it relates to the mental health and/or addictions. Excellence will be indicated by an established track record in peer reviewed publications and other dissemination activity such as conference presentations, reports for government, policy papers and peer reviewed funding.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to design research projects, craft grant proposals, develop study protocols along with clinical research staff, assist in robust knowledge dissemination activities and provide research mentorship. Key to these projects are training to develop clinical research methodology, interpret system & clinical data, facilitating significant data sharing and stewarding projects to knowledge dissemination.

The Research Chair – Mental Health and Addictions provides an interface between clinician, clinical research staff, the HSNRI Research Services Office, ICES and the Mental Health and Addictions program in order to ensure the efficient functioning of established research programs while at the same time developing collaborative research programs as a Principle Investigator.

Responsibilities

• Develop new collaborative research programs as a Principle Investigator.
• Collaborates with, system leaders, medical staff, clinicians, patients and families and key community stakeholders to develop and execute mental health and addictions research and strategy.
• Plans and carries out clinical research projects focused in mental health and addictions, and analyzes the data obtained from these experiments.
• Provides mentorship to build research capacity and expertise in the mental health programs.
• Collaborates with Mental Health and Addictions physicians and staff to carry out clinical research projects.
• Assists in the training of trainees and answers questions regarding research projects.
• Provides advice or functional guidance of a specialized nature to students and trainees.
• Facilitates the collaboration between students, trainees, and other medical staff.
• Writes documents and manuscripts including, but not limited to reports for various initiatives, grant applications, protocols, Standard Operating Procedures, etc.
• Prepares and reviews grants from research group prior to submission.
• Synthesizes clinical data into coherent research programs.
• Determines equipment and software needs and orders appropriate equipment for the program.
• Attends research meetings with Co-Leads and research team.
• Assists in the presentation of research results.
• Conducts data analyses, modelling, mining, data entry and dissemination.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Qualifications

Education:

• PhD or MD

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years post-graduate experience in relevant mental health and addictions research
• Clinical research experience is considered essential

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
•    Proven track record of research excellence, and scholarship, including but not limited to high-impact publications, peer-reviewed research funding, leadership and coaching of highly qualified personnel, professional service and knowledge translation activities.
•    Working  knowledge  of:  current  Microsoft  Windows  environment,  Microsoft  Word, Microsoft  Excel,  Microsoft  PowerPoint,  GraphPad,  databases,  SPSS,  NVIVO,  SAS,  R, RedCap, Modelling software, Adobe Illustrator and other specialized software required.
•    Training and knowledge related to mental health and addictions diagnoses, epidemiology, and associated challenges preferred.
•    Strong knowledge or research funding opportunities, eligibility criteria, approaches to funding challenges, and required elements for grant applications.
•    Excellent  organizational,  interpersonal  and  communication  skills  (both  written  and verbal).
•    Experience with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.
•    Ability to train undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and support residents and medical learners in research design and methodology.
•    Requires  extensive  knowledge  gained  through  in-depth  involvement  in  a  complex technical/professional field and requires broad experience in several fields such as:

• Troubleshooting, creativity, patience, multitasking, and a clear understanding of the field of study.

•    Knowledge on health and safety policies, tri-council policies on research, research ethics with regards clinical trials considered an asset.
•    Ability to communicate using appropriate scientific terminology (ex: grants, manuscripts, reference letters, protocols, SOPs)
•    Understanding of how to properly apply statistical analysis; must be able to interpret results and determine appropriate statistical tests.
•    Understanding of how to properly conduct rigorous qualitative research projects and perform thematic analyses.

Working Conditions
 

HSN/HSNRI

Health Sciences North (HSN) is one of Canada’s Top 40 research hospitals and Northern Ontario’s largest hospital. HSN is the tertiary care centre for Northeastern Ontario, affiliated with Laurentian University and its Northern Ontario School of Medicine. It has 4,000 employees, 500 medical staff members, 2,100 learners, and 700 volunteers. It ranks in the top 10% of North American hospitals on the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and its patient experience survey results are above the average of Ontario’s teaching hospitals on most indicators. HSNs Mental Health and Addictions Programs boast more than 24 local and regional programs and services offered in over 9 locations, with over 400 multidisciplinary staff and 16 psychiatrists. Our regional work spans across the North East and provides service as far as the James Bay Coast.

Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) was established in 2011 as an independent not- for-profit corporation. Designed to bring together researchers, clinicians, regional partners and industry, HSNRI is the affiliated research institute of Health Sciences North. HSNRI and the work that is carried on within and outside of our walls is integral for HSN to achieve its strategic goal to strengthen our academic and research impact.

The organizations strive to support research efforts of researchers and medical staff that are favourably peer-reviewed, partially funded through external sources and involve collaborations. Support will include space and access to HSNRI scientists, inclusive of ICES North, statisticians, grant-writers and administrative staff. Collaborative research including, but not limited to Cancer Solutions, Healthy Aging, Cardiovascular Health, and Indigenous Health are being advanced.

HSN and HSNRI will be driven by their renewed purpose to provide high-quality health services, support learning and generate research that improves health outcomes for the people of Northeastern Ontario. In doing so, HSN and HSNRI will be patient and family-focused and digitally- enabled. They will be socially accountable, support and develop their people and strengthen their academic and research impact.
 

Common working conditions include, but are not limited to the following:

•    Frequent standing and occasional walking within the laboratory and office space.
•    Constant sitting and frequent handling, grasping of materials, and repetitive motions.
•    Frequent  talking  and  listening  whether  it  be  phone  call  conversations,  or  in  person communication. Occasional loud noises may occur.
•    Will experience frequent physical hazards and occasional vibrations.
•    Little physical effort required, but speed in daily tasks is essential as the competitive nature of science requires efficient data collection and publication.
•    Frequent  interruptions/multitasking:  students  and  trainees  ask questions  on  the  use of equipment, experimental design, troubleshooting, etc.
•    Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn in the laboratory at all times.
•    May require obtaining and handing out information, handling complaints regarding equipment and other issues, explaining and exchanging information at presentations/conferences, problem solving in regards to experiments, teaching/training students and trainees, mediate and negotiate with vendors and counsel students and trainees.
•    Typically works alone and/or in groups.

Salary 

• $150,000 per year

Selection Process

•    Candidates will be selected for this position on the basis of their skill, ability, experience and qualifications as identified in their curriculum vitae.
•    Candidates will be shortlisted and may be called for an interview

Application

• Deadline September 30, 2022 at 11:59pm
• Please submit a Curriculum Vitae and Cover letter
• Please include in your cover letter a 5 year plan for your research program

Health Science North research institute is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability and others who may contribute to diversity within our organization.

We support a caring and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, and equal opportunity. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the bona fide requirements for the open position. Applicants can make their accommodations known once they are contacted.