About Us:
The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto is Canada’s top faculty of pharmacy and ranked among the top in the world. We bring together Canada’s leading scientists, researchers, and educators in the heart of Toronto’s innovation and health research ecosystem. We advance professional pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical science through world-leading education and research and are recognized worldwide for our outstanding scholarship, ingenuity, creativity, and impact.
Our faculty, students, staff, and alumni come together to create a vibrant, collaborative environment rich with possibilities. We are at the forefront of redefining pharmacy’s impact in health care and developing the capacity of pharmaceutical science to pinpoint better therapeutic targets, create new ways of building medications, and ensure medication use is safe and effective. We are committed to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering an environment where each member of our community can achieve their full potential.
Learn more: www.pharmacy.utoronto.ca
Position Description:
The Research Associate will serve as a senior scientific leader within the lab and will work in close partnership with Dr. Sara Guilcher (PI) to oversee and advance the lab’s applied health services research portfolio. This role is designed for an experienced investigator capable of independently managing major components of the research enterprise, including scientific direction, personnel supervision, grant development, and operational oversight. The Optimizing Health and Healthcare Experiences (OPTI-HEx) Lab (www.optihexlab.com) conducts applied health services research focused on improving care delivery, patient experiences, and health outcomes for individuals with complex health and social care needs. The team works at the intersection of rehabilitation sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, social sciences, and implementation science, frequently employing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to evaluate service delivery models and develop and test interventions.
The Research Associate will play a central leadership role in ensuring the scientific excellence, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability of the lab. The successful candidate will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and may assume delegated authority for day-to-day lab management. This position is intended for a highly motivated and experienced investigator capable of operating with substantial independence. The Research Associate will be entrusted with significant responsibility for the scientific research functions of the lab and will be expected to contribute meaningfully to its long-term growth and sustainability.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct academic research to achieve research goals of PI and lab
- Independently conceptualize, design, and lead quantitative (e.g., administrative health data, surveys), qualitative, and mixed-methods studies
- Conduct academic research to achieve research goals of PI
- Lead interpretation and dissemination of research findings through high-impact publications
- Lead knowledge mobilization and implementation strategies to translate findings into policy, practice, and system-level impact
- Lead preparation and submission of competitive grant applications (as co-PI or Co-Investigator) and liaising on post-award grant management activities, including the coordination of multi-investigator proposals
- Execute research projects and report on their progress through oral and written reports and scientific journal articles
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with collaborators, community partners, and co-investigators
- Present the lab at institutional, national, and international meetings
- Supervise and mentor graduate students and trainees
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in health services research or a closely related discipline
- Minimum 3–5+ years of postdoctoral research experience
- Demonstrated track record of leading interdisciplinary research programs
- Evidence of successful grant writing and related success, including peer-reviewed funding (as PI or Co-I preferred)
- Strong record of first- and senior-author publications in high-impact, field-relevant journals
- Demonstrated experience supervising and mentoring trainees and research staff
- Expertise in quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods research design and analysis
- Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder research projects
- Demonstrated experience in grant preparation and monitoring research project expenses
- Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills