Indigenous Engagement and Policy Research Coordinator

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge qualifications and experience for the the normal course employees will be hired transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia seeks a Research Assistant in the Wasserman Lab working on the Silent Genomes Project. The Wasserman laboratory partners with a strong genetics community to develop and apply computational (bioinformatics) methods to improve diagnosis for individuals with rare genetic disorders caused by variations in genome sequences. The Silent Genomes Project is a national collaboration focused on the development of an Indigenous Background Variant Library under Indigenous governance and oversight.

Based on the campus of BC Childrens Hospital the Wasserman laboratory is the lead laboratory for the expansion of the Indigenous Background Variant Library. This position presents a unique opportunity to work with Indigenous partners (individuals communities and organizations) across Canada to improve the existing Indigenous Background Variant Library by making it more representative of the diversity of Indigenous peoples by continuing a commitment to the development of safe and transparent approaches to inclusion and to create educational resources that support the Indigenous Background Variant Library and related efforts. The work is conducted under funding from three intersecting grants: Silent Genomes: Building a sustainable path to genetic/genomic care for Indigenous people of Canada and beyond funded by Genome Canada the CIHR-funded Team Grant: The Pan-Canadian Genome Library (PCGL) and the CIHR-funded training grant The Canadian Bioinformatics Computational Biology and Health Data Sciences Training and Community Platform (now known as the Canadian Bioinformatics Hub. The PCGL aims to provide long-term national infrastructure and resources for maintaining data and access to the output of genome sequencing projects including the Silent Genomes Project. Funded work under the Canadian Bioinformatics Hub is focused on building Indigenous capacity in data science and bioinformatics.

The successful candidate will be responsible for development of genomic educational materials and tools for Indigenous families and communities considering research participation in Silent Genomes facilitating engagement with First Nations Metis and Inuit stakeholders drafting communications for Indigenous health and policy organizations in Canada and beyond who are learning about or collaborating with the project and engaging with trainees and academic investigators across Canada committed to expanding Indigenous capacity in the data sciences and computational biology. The candidate will review study protocols and educational resources from the project and provide suggestions for improved alignment with the priorities and guidelines of Indigenous communities and organizations.

The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting literature reviews (both academic and other) on policy topics preparing draft documents summarizing such literature and drafting policies for consideration by project members collaborators and/or related organizations. The successful candidate will require strong skills in handling phone and e-mail communications regarding Silent Genomes. In addition the incumbent may provide supervision to University undergraduate students or volunteers working on Silent Genomes within the Wasserman lab.

Occasional travel within Canada is likely.

For more information. Please see the Silent Genomes Project website at:

Status
This is a task-oriented role requiring some independence strong initiative and excellent professional judgement. The successful candidate reports to and receives guidance from Dr. W. Wasserman (Professor Medical Genetics Project Leader) with input and advice from Dr. L. Arbour (Medical Geneticist Co-Project Leader) and Dr. Nadine Caron (Co-Project Leader) as needed. The successful candidate may supervise University undergraduate students or volunteers working on Silent Genomes. The successful candidate will prepare documents for external access and engage in confidential conversations with individuals communities or representatives of organizations.

Work Performed

• Prepare summaries of policy documents related to data handling and data governance with emphasis on Indigenous data

• Draft new policy documents reflecting perspectives obtained from the literature and in-depth discussions with internal and external partners for consideration by project leaders and an Indigenous governance committee

• Develop educational resources conveying information about policy and governance within the Silent Genomes project

• Facilitate engagement with First Nations Metis and Inuit partners to inform the development of genomic education resources for Indigenous communities/research participants

• Identify and develop expertise in the various educational tools available through in-depth literature review and consultation with education experts

• Create genomic educational materials based on input received from Indigenous partners

• Provide guidance to peers undergraduate students and volunteers in the Wasserman lab working on governance ethics or policy work within Silent Genomes

• Engage with community organizations Indigenous partners and Indigenous individuals to share information about the Silent Genomes project the PCGL or the Canadian Bioinformatics Hub

• Contribute to the writing of study protocols for participant recruitment enrollment and DNA collection for expansion of the Indigenous Background Variant Library

• Contribute to the preparation and submission of academic publications

• Give presentations to community members stakeholders and healthcare providers to communicate study activities and/or research results

• Travel within Canada will be required on occasion

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The successful candidate exercises professional judgment and initiative in the overall coordination and management of research activities. The successful candidate makes high-level decisions regarding the planning coordination and communication of research activities.

Lack of careful attention to protocols and regulatory and ethical guidelines could suspend the Investigator and University as a site for further research and/or funding. Performance must strictly conform to research protocols Tri-Council policy statement and standard Canadian guidelines for health research involving Indigenous People.

A high level of cultural competency and sensitivity is necessary in this position as any insensitive actions could jeopardize our longstanding research relationship with the Indigenous communities we work with.

Errors in the dissemination of data or any breach of confidentiality could jeopardize this research study and Dr. Wassermans research program. A confidentiality agreement must be signed stating that any identifying and/or personal information will be held in the strictest confidence. It is imperative that the successful candidate is detail-oriented and very careful with their work.

Supervision Received
The incumbent works closely with the Genetic Counselor/Research Manager and the project leaders but needs to be self-motivated to complete assigned tasks in a timely manner. The incumbent is expected to report to a Research Manager (unnamed) and if that position is unfilled will report to and receive guidance from Dr. W. Wasserman (Professor Medical Genetics Project Leader). In either reporting format the incumbent will have access to input and advice from Dr. L. Arbour (Medical Geneticist Co-Project Leader) and Dr. Nadine Caron (Co-Project Leader) as needed.

Supervision Given

The incumbent provides shares expertise to project team members University students and other trainees participating on the Silent Genomes project.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree preferred in a scientific or policy-related field; Bachelors degree with domain experience will be considered

• Experience working with Indigenous-related projects or organizations is an asset.

• Demonstrated experience preparing documents with extensive documentation of references and sources

• Experience in leading knowledge translation activities and developing educational tools

• Keen interest in Indigenous health and community-based research.

• Previous experience providing healthcare or conducting research within Indigenous communities is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe interactions with Indigenous peoples.

• Demonstrated knowledge experience and/or training in the ethical social and cultural issues around conducting research in Indigenous communities is required.

• Excellent interpersonal manner and communication skills

• Excellent organizational time-management and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail

• Proficiency with Word software is required.

• Successful completion of Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS) online tutorial (may be completed upon hiring)

• Successful completion of an Indigenous Cultural Safety Course (may be completed upon hiring)