WHAT IS THE PROJECT?
The Power of Peer Support project is a collaboration between UBC Okanagan and Pain BC (a nonprofit aimed at increasing education and support for people living with chronic pain). Our team recently completed a longitudinal study of the benefits and barriers to obtaining peer support for chronic pain. The next step is to share and discuss our findings with the broader UBCO community, and specifically to increase awareness about the value of peer support for chronic pain and chronic illness more broadly.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Our team is seeking four motivated research assistants from the fields of social work, nursing,
psychology, and health-related sciences (e.g., medicine, kinesiology, physiotherapy). Students
should have an interest in health research, peer support, and knowledge exchange. The position will involve disseminating research findings about peer support to UBCO health care trainees and educators through:
(1) a 1-hour, in-person knowledge exchange event at UBCO, and
(2) a UBCO interdisciplinary health conference poster presentation.

WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT?
Duration: January 12th, 2026 – March 13th, 2026.
This position requires availability to present findings at UBCO’s Interdisciplinary Student Health Conference on March 7th 2026.
Time: 16 hours
Payment: $400 ($25/hour)

WHAT WILL I BE ASKED TO DO?
* Participate in weekly project meetings with the research team.
* Be an active and engaged member of an interdisciplinary team of trainees
*Become familiar with Pain BC’s peer support program and research on the benefits of peer support more generally
* Contribute to the development of a research poster summarizing findings of the research for co-presentation at the UBCO Interdisciplinary Student Health Conference
* Contribute to the development of a presentation for the knowledge exchange event, drawing from coursework, practicum experiences, or relevant literature.
* Participate in a knowledge exchange event focused on communicating the value of peer support in healthcare to students and trainees.

TO APPLY:
Please email susan.holtzman@ubc.ca with a short, 1-paragraph statement of interest as well as
a current CV and unofficial transcript by December 15th, 2025.