Research Assistant – Eating Disorders Program, Faculty of Social Work in University of Calgary – Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Summary

The University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work seeks a full‑time Research Assistant for its Eating Disorders Program. The eight‑month fixed‑term role (potentially extendable) involves 35 hours per week, primarily remote work, supporting the development of national clinical practice guidelines, transition care guidelines, and an Alberta virtual hub for eating disorders. Responsibilities include literature reviews, ethics submissions, participant recruitment, qualitative data collection, database management, and manuscript assistance. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or a related field and have at least two years of research experience with youth or mental‑health contexts, especially eating disorders. Strong communication, organizational, and computer skills are required. Applications close on 23 October 2026 via the university’s Careers portal.

Key Facts

Department	Faculty of Social Work
Position Type	Research Assistant
Discipline	Social work, psychology, or related discipline
Research Area	Eating Disorders
Degree Required	Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related discipline
Experience	Minimum 2 years of experience in research programs or projects
Contract Duration	Full-time, fixed-term position of approximately 8 months
Deadline	2026-10-23
Employer Address	Main Campus, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada

About the Project

The position supports three main initiatives within the Calgary Eating Disorder Program: (1) updating national clinical practice guidelines for screening and treating eating disorders in children, adolescents and emerging adults; (2) creating evidence‑informed transition guidelines to move young adults from pediatric to adult care; and (3) developing an Alberta virtual hub and telementoring model to assist local clinicians. The work combines literature synthesis, stakeholder engagement, and data collection to inform these resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct literature and scoping reviews
• Assist with ethics submissions and approvals
• Screen and recruit participants
• Schedule and conduct qualitative interviews and focus groups
• Obtain informed consent and maintain records
• Collect and manage qualitative data
• Coordinate transcription and prepare transcripts
• Maintain databases and enter data promptly
• Generate reports and present to stakeholders
• Assist in manuscript, report and presentation development

Required Skills

• Literature review and scoping review expertise
• Knowledge of research ethics and TCPS2 guidelines
• Qualitative and mixed‑methods research experience
• Strong written and oral communication
• Organizational and time‑management abilities
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and virtual collaboration tools
• Data management and version‑control skills
• Scientific writing and manuscript preparation

Who Should Apply

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or a related discipline, at least two years of research experience in youth, young adult or family settings, and familiarity with eating‑disorder or mental‑health research are encouraged to apply.

About the Employer

UCalgary describes itself as Canada’s entrepreneurial university, a top research institution founded in 1966 with 36,000 students. It emphasizes innovative learning, hands‑on experiences, and an Indigenous Strategy that promotes a culturally competent campus supporting Indigenous peoples.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline?

23 October 2026

Is the position remote?

Most of the work is conducted remotely

What are the weekly working hours?

35 hours per week, with flexibility for occasional evening or weekend