Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Salary: $90,000 - 110,000 CAD per year plus benefits and pension
Location: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus, Kelowna BC (on-site)
Type: Full-time
Salary: $90,000 - 110,000 CAD per year plus benefits and pension
Duration: 1 Year, with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and work performance. To date there is 4 years of stable support for this position.
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed starting November 1, 2025 until the position is filled.
Call for Applications:
Dr. Mary Jung invites applications from highly qualified candidates for a full-time position at the level of research associate in the Diabetes Prevention Research Group. Knowledge of and interest in one or more of the following areas are required: health behaviour change, diabetes prevention, equity, diversity, and inclusion with respect to implementation and sustainment of health programming, implementation science, scale-up and sustainability.
Qualifications and Experience:
Successful applicants will have:
A PhD in health behaviour change, behavioural science, psychology, implementation science, health promotion, or related discipline.
A minimum of one year of postdoctoral research experience in one of the identified disciplines.
An established record of research productivity, independent investigation, innovation, and initiative.
Effective communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and tact.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to lead a team.
A commitment to multidisciplinary and collaborative research.
Experience mentoring research trainees.
A strong methodological background in both qualitative and quantitative methodology.
Experience engaging and working with community organizations and or equity-owed populations is a strong asset.
Experience in grant and manuscript writing.
Financial and human resource management experience is a preferred asset.
Responsibilities:
The Research Associate will contribute and play a key role in overseeing the national scale up of Small Steps for Big Changes, a project funded through PHAC, NHMRC, and CIHR-funded Healthy Cities Implementation Science Grant. This study aims to test the implementation, effectiveness, and sustainability of a diabetes prevention program in urban communities in Canada and Australia. The candidate would be responsible for overseeing all stages of this multi-phase project in collaboration with Dr. Mary Jung and an inter-disciplinary team of researchers and community partners, including daily project management, leading data collection (e.g., surveys, interviews), data analysis and knowledge mobilization activities.
Reporting to the Director and Principal Investigator (PI) of DPRG, Dr. Mary Jung, the incumbent will be responsible for:
· Overseeing day-to-day operations of Jung’s research program (budget, equipment, liaison between students and PI) to ensure lab success, scholarly productivity and impactful outputs.
· Directing and overseeing lab manager, research staff, and trainees when PI absent.
· Representing PI and DPRG in meetings, academic activities when PI absent.
· Acting as ambassador and role model for DPRG – abiding with lab rules and expectations and commitment to the lab.
· Acting as junior supervisor through formal engagement in supervision and seats on committees, formal review of papers, posters, presentations prior to being sent to PI.
· Developing innovative new research questions from existing and plausible future projects.
· Writing grant applications to fund innovative project ideas.
· Leading and supporting manuscript writing and timely knowledge dissemination outputs for DPRG.
· Timely, effective, respectful and productive communication with PI.
· Applying for student fellowship opportunities to support high school, undergraduate, and graduate trainees.
Salary, Benefits, and Employment Conditions:
The salary range for this position is $90,000 - 110,000 CAD per year plus benefits and pension, commensurate with qualifications and experience of the chosen candidate. The position is full-time and based on-site at UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC. The position may involve travel to communities in Canada for engagement. The Research Associate will have significant independence in undertaking priority research, mentoring trainees and leading collaborative research teams. The position is subject to budgetary approval.
Start date: December 1, 2025, or a mutually agreed time thereafter
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications through Workday to Dr. Jung. The application must include a single PDF file titled “Research Associate Application – [Your Name]” and include the following:
Cover letter:
· explaining why you are suited for this position;
· providing names and contact information for two references (to be contacted for short-listed candidates only);
· proposing a tentative date for when you could begin the position.
Curriculum Vitae;
one-page (maximum) research statement that describes the connection between your research and one (or more) of the areas listed above; and your proposed research project(s) that would complement and/or advance the current research of the Diabetes Prevention Research Group.
UBC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for all candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To make a confidential request for accommodations, please contact jonathan.durynek@ubc.ca .
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizen. Therefore, all applications must include one of the following statements in their cover letter:
• I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada; or
• I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.