Megan McAlister
Double Bay
Summary
Research professional with strong analytical skills and deep understanding of research design, data collection and analysis techniques. Adept at team collaboration, consistently delivering impactful research outcomes. Highly adaptable, ensuring seamless integration with changing project requirements. Strong background in qualitative and quantitative research methods, with focus on achieving measurable results. Reliable, with proven ability to contribute effectively in fast-paced environments.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Research Officer
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
07.2022 - 10.2025
- Led 15 research projects over 3 years, managing project timelines and deliverables, aligning team efforts with organisational goals and compliance with ethical standards.
- Increased funding opportunities by writing persuasive grant proposals and securing external partnerships.
- Supported researchers with research proposals and ethics applications.
- Utilised Content Manager software to develop and maintained documentation for data collection processes, ensuring compliance with statistical standards.
- Presented findings at conferences, enhancing visibility of research outcomes within the academic community.
- Liaised between departments to ensure timely dissemination of critical information relevant to ongoing projects.
- Established strong working relationships with stakeholders, facilitating communication and collaboration on research projects.
- Utilised software tools such as R, SQL, and Excel for conducting sophisticated data analysis tasks.
Research Assistant
Brain Injury Matters
01.2024 - 06.2024
- Conducted research to analyse the effectiveness of an adapted cycling intervention on rehabilitation for acquired brain injury through face-to-face and telephone semi-structured interviews with service users and their family and clinicians.
- Completed risk assessments to ensure ethical and accessible interviews, considering capacity, communication and sensory and mobility adjustments.
- Coordinated participant recruitment efforts for research studies, increasing engagement and diversity in samples.
- Conducted literature reviews to support hypothesis development and identify gaps in existing knowledge.
- Developed questionnaires for interviews.
- Assisted in data collection and analysis using statistical software to ensure research accuracy.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop intervention strategies for brain injury recovery.
Project Team Leader
Mind Your Mood
12.2021 - 07.2022
- Led Queen's University Belfast's mental health campaign, leading a cross-functional team to achieve project milestones and deliverables.
- Mentored junior team members and volunteers, fostering professional growth and skill development.
- Analyzed project performance data to identify opportunities for process improvement.
- Mitigated risks proactively through continuous monitoring of project progress and addressing potential issues swiftly.
- Fostered a positive work environment that encouraged collaboration, innovation, and professional growth among team members.
- Negotiated contracts with external vendors or partners as necessary to secure required resources at competitive rates while preserving quality standards in service delivery.
- Conducted thorough post-project reviews to identify lessons learned for future reference and improvement opportunities in similar projects going forward.
Statistician Intern
NISRA
10.2020 - 09.2021
- Collected, monitored and analysed COVID-19 statistics in Northern Ireland during the global pandemic, deepening understanding of the importance of delivering accurate information in high-pressure circumstances.
- Contributed to the Suicide Review with the Coroner’s Service for Northern Ireland
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to interpret data findings and support strategic initiatives.
- Created comprehensive reports and visualizations to present data insights effectively.
- Utilized statistical software such as SQL for data analysis and modeling tasks.
Education
Master of Science - Clinical Health Psychology
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, Northern Ireland09.2024
Bachelor of Science - Psychology with Professional Placement
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, Northern Ireland07.2022
Skills
- Microsoft Office software
- Effective stakeholder collaboration
- Data analysis using SQL
- Data analysis using R
- Effective teamwork
- Survey design
- Statistical modeling
- Research literature analysis
- Research project proposals
- Effective time management
- Attention to detail
- Analytical problem solving
- Quantitative research
- Qualitative research
- Data collection
- Verbal and written communication
Accomplishments
- Presented research findings at the Administrative Data for Research UK Conference (2025).
- Thesis findings presented at British Psychological Society Division of Academics, Researchers, and Teachers in Psychology annual conference (2023).
- Represented Northern Ireland at quarterly UK-wide meetings, organised by the Economic and Social Research Council, aimed to improve and streamline research application processes.
- Facilitated training for researchers using the Education Outcomes Linkage Database in Northern Ireland.
- Contributed to the planning and organisation of launch events and research conferences for research database releases in Northern Ireland.
Certification
- Accredited Researcher, Office for National Statistics (2022 valid to 2027). Vetted and trained in managing confidential data and conducting secure, high-quality research in the UK.
- Working with Children’s Check, valid in NSW to November 2030
- Driver’s License, valid in NSW to December 2026
Timeline
Research Assistant
Brain Injury Matters
01.2024 - 06.2024
Research Officer
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
07.2022 - 10.2025
Project Team Leader
Mind Your Mood
12.2021 - 07.2022
Statistician Intern
NISRA
10.2020 - 09.2021
Master of Science - Clinical Health Psychology
Queen’s University Belfast
Bachelor of Science - Psychology with Professional Placement
Queen’s University Belfast