Careers at Niagara Health

Job Details

Job Title:

RESEARCH SCIENTIST LEVEL 4, FT

Posted Date:

2026-04-07

Closing Date:

2026-04-20

Functional Discipline:

NIAGARA HEALTH KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTE

Job Description

VACANCY DETAILS

VACANCY NUMBER: 42936AC

JOB TITLE: RESEARCH SCIENTIST LEVEL 4, FT
STATUS: FULL TIME
DEPARTMENT: NIAGARA HEALTH KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTE
LOCATION: NIAGARA HEALTH
HOURS OF WORK: 75 HOURS PER PAY PERIOD

POSTING DATE: 7 April 2026
CLOSING DATE: 20 April 2026

UNION: NON UNION
WAGE RANGE: $95.641 - $112.508 PER HOUR

POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The Niagara Health Knowledge Institute (NHKI) was established in 2023 with support from the McCall MacBain Foundation. Its mission is to improve patient care and experience by embedding research into clinical practice and to lead community hospital-based research in Canada. The NHKI is led by Dr. Jennifer Tsang, the Executive Director and Chief Scientist.
The Research Scientist 4 is a distinguished independent investigator who leads a sustained and nationally recognized program of applied clinical research aligned with NHKI's strategic priorities, with a particular focus on care for older persons. The incumbent holds an established track record of peer-reviewed funding, high-impact publication, trainee supervision, and leadership in national and international research networks. This role requires demonstrated capacity to shape a field of inquiry, serve as a senior scientific leader within NHKI, and contribute to the broader mission of advancing community hospital research in Canada.

NHKI's academic activities further Niagara Health's ongoing strategic focus on care for older persons, and the successful candidate will join a growing research enterprise committed to expanding research capacity across Canadian community hospitals and elevating the community hospital sector as a site of world-class scientific inquiry. The successful candidate will be accountable to the Executive Director and Chief Scientist of the NHKI and work collaboratively with other NHKI staff and Niagara Health employees engaged in the NHKI activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
o Lead a named, sustained, and independently funded program of applied clinical research with a focus on care for older persons, including areas such as frailty, delirium, dementia, functional decline, transitions of care, sedation and analgesia in older critically ill patients, and health service delivery for aging populations in community hospital settings
o Design and execute studies across the full spectrum of research designs, including randomized controlled trials, multicentre observational studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and population-based cohort studies
o Serve as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on peer-reviewed and externally funded research projects at the national and international level
o Prepare and submit competitive grant applications to national and international funding agencies including CIHR, SSHRC, and disease-specific foundations
o Provide senior scientific leadership and mentorship to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior scientists, research coordinators, clinical staff, and clinical trainees
o Publish research findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences as an invited speaker and scientific leader
o Serve on national and international guideline panels, scientific committees, and editorial boards, contributing NHKI's community hospital perspective to the broader research and clinical communities
o Collaborate with clinical program leaders, hospital administration, and community partners to ensure research relevance and facilitate the translation of evidence into practice
o Support the meaningful engagement of patients, families, and communities in research priority-setting, study design, and knowledge dissemination
o Contribute to the strategic development of NHKI's research agenda and organizational capacity, including mentoring of junior scientists and building of institutional research infrastructure
o Hold an academic appointment at the Associate Professor or Full Professor level at a Canadian university
o Other responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director and Chief Scientist, NHKI

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required
o PhD or equivalent doctoral-level degree in a health-related discipline such as epidemiology, health sciences, or a related field
o Minimum ten (10) years of research experience with a demonstrated and sustained record of independent, high-impact research productivity
o Substantial record of peer-reviewed publications as first, senior, or corresponding author in high-impact journals, with evidence of citation impact and field influence
o Demonstrated and sustained success in obtaining peer-reviewed research funding as principal or co-principal investigator from national or international agencies
o Established record of graduate and postdoctoral trainee supervision with evidence of successful trainee completion and career outcomes
o Current appointment or demonstrated eligibility for appointment at the Associate Professor or Full Professor level at a Canadian university
o Demonstrated leadership in national or international research networks, guideline panels, or scientific societies
o Experience conducting clinical research in accordance with ICH GCP guidelines, including randomized controlled trials

Strongly Preferred:
o Active clinical license and experience as a regulated health professional in Canada; candidates with a clinical background and current practice are considered a strong asset given the embedded and clinically integrated nature of research at NHKI
o Research expertise focused on care for older persons, including aging, frailty, delirium, or related areas in acute or critical care settings
o Fellowship designation from a relevant national or international professional society
o Demonstrated experience contributing to clinical practice guidelines at the national or international level

Competencies:
o Senior scientific leadership and the ability to shape a research agenda, build institutional capacity, and sustain a productive research program in a resource-constrained community hospital setting
o Demonstrated ability to communicate research value and impact to diverse audiences including patients and families, hospital leadership, foundations, and policy makers
o Ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships across clinical, academic, community, and international settings
o Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in research design, team building, trainee mentorship, and community engagement
o Deep understanding of the operational, cultural, and strategic environment of community hospital research, including the unique opportunities and constraints of conducting research outside of academic health science centres

Questions, quoting the job posting number, may be directed to hrrecruit@niagarahealth.on.ca

This position is an existing vacancy at Niagara Health. No artificial intelligence is used in the screening, assessment, or selection of applicants. If you believe you have encountered or applied for a fraudulent job posting claiming to represent Niagara Health, please contact hrrecruit@niagarahealth.on.ca

At Niagara Health, we value diversity, equity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all people. We are especially interested in hearing from you if you are excited about being part of a respectful and hard-working team in the beautiful Niagara Region, have a passion for service and excellence in healthcare, have a background or related expertise in the healthcare environment, supporting patient care and providing extraordinary customer-service.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Niagara Health will provide accommodations through the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.

At Niagara Health, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. As a part of this work, we collect information on Ontario Human Rights Code grounds and non-Code grounds in order to: hire and retain diverse talent, prevent and/or address systemic barriers to access and opportunity, improve service delivery and programs and advance diversity and inclusion overall. All identification questions are optional and include a "prefer not to answer" option.

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