| Department: |
Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, ideas FOR HEALTH informatics research cluster
|
Effective Date: |
24 March 2006 |
| Grade: |
USG 9 |
Reports to: |
to the JW Graham Research Chair in Health Information Systems |
General Accountability
The Research Associate is accountable to the JW Graham Research Chair in Health Information Systems. The incumbent is responsible for management, planning, and implementation of research projects and research team activities within a fast-paced and evolving international, national, and provincial environment that advances ideas and fosters innovations in data, evidence and application systems for various health-related research projects. This position includes specific responsibilities related to the planning and organization of research activities such as, reviewing and synthesizing research reports and academic papers for input on the design of research projects; development of grant proposals, production of research reports and scientific papers. This position also includes specific responsibilities related to strategic and operational planning; building and motivating teams, coaching staff in their roles, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
Nature and Scope
The ideas FOR HEALTH informatics research cluster at the University of Waterloo is an alliance of researchers, care providers, government and non-government agencies, and solution providers interested in advancing ideas - innovations in data, evidence and application systems for the health sector.
ideas FOR HEALTH levers Waterloo's existing strengths in the health sciences and computer science by engaging in leading-edge research and education activities designed to enhance Canada's capacity and international reputation in the area of health information systems.
Our members help lead a number of major research initiatives. Through our affiliations with the Department of Health Studies and Gerontology and the School of Computer Science, we also play an active role in the delivery of Waterloo’s undergraduate and graduate programs in health informatics.
Some of our current projects include:
- Deploying and managing Ontario’s online province-wide performance reporting system for the acute care, complex continuing care, rehabilitation and mental health hospital sectors.
- Developing comprehensive assessment tools to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the in-patient portion of the mental health system.
- Generating assessment tools to identify “at-risk” seniors requiring additional support or care.
- Supporting the development of decision-support tools designed to help hospital managers and care providers promote quality improvement initiatives.
- Constructing knowledge discovery tools by using “mining” techniques to unlock the wealth of information contained in the information that is routinely collected on the health of Canadians.
- Developing an understanding of how information systems and information technologies are used by optometrists in the delivery of optometric care.
- Investigating best practices for the presentation of health information on the Internet.
- Creating an inventory of the funding, financial reporting, and performance measurement practices of health ministries and departments across Canada.
Major Challenges of the Position
This position requires the skills of an experienced researcher and manager with academic preparation to:
- Plan, organize, and execute research activities that involve reviewing and synthesizing research reports and academic papers for input on the design of research projects; development of grant proposals, research reports and production of scientific papers.
- Implement strategic and operational plans related to research projects and teams within a fast-paced and evolving international, national, and provincial environment that advances ideas and fosters innovations in data, evidence and application systems.
- Exercise extensive judgment, initiative, and innovativeness in decision making involving project planning design, methods of data collection and analysis, setting of project goals and evaluating the performance of project activities against overall research objectives.
- Develop positive relationships with internal and external senior level stakeholders from other universities, departments, organizations, hospitals, government, and advisory committees.
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The candidate will need to be able to
- Review and synthesize research reports and academic papers.
- Plan aspects of data collection and analysis.
- Participate in project design and setting of research goals.
- Play a major role in the preparation and dissemination of reports, papers, and publications.
- Lead, inspire, motivate, and coach staff in their roles.
- Implement strategies to effectively engage teams and partner stakeholders in moving forward with research initiatives in a timely manner.
- Interact with internal and external senior level stakeholders from other universities, departments, organizations, hospitals, government, and advisory committees.
Statistical Data
ideas FOR HEALTH is in the midst of significant growth. Funding in 2005-2006 is anticipated to be over several million dollars, with a concomitant increase in personnel. Equally important is that the profile of our work has been increasing. We expect to expand our work with several other major provincial/territorial and national research groups.
Specific Accountabilities
- Utilize research findings in the development of proposals for new research activities.
- Select and develop research procedures, techniques and methods of data analysis.
- Conduct analysis of overall results against the research project objectives.
- Prepare research grant applications, reports, and publications.
- Prepare and deliver presentations to a variety of internal and external stakeholders such as, academic, research, medical, technical and lay audiences.
- Plan, develop, and negotiate contracts with external stakeholders.
- Lead, motivate, and coach staff in their roles.
- Liaise and communicate with various executives regarding various complex issues related to research projects.
- Perform other duties associated with the major challenges of the position.
- Provide direction and leadership for multiple research projects.
- Manage the strategic and operational aspects of multiple research projects.
- Oversee a variety of research plans from conception to completion.
- Produce proposals, reports, articles, and briefs on complex issues for a variety of internal and external audiences.
- Build and maintain a collaborative internal and external work environment that advances ideas and fosters innovations in data, evidence and application systems for health-related research projects.
- Communicate and facilitate research project activities to international, national and provincial health care organizations
Working Conditions
