Part Time Research Assistant - Family and Community Medicine
The Penn State Department of Family and Community Medicine is seeking a part-time (up to 24 hours/week) Research Assistant to support their community-engaged, dynamic, fast-paced Food as Medicine and SNAP-Ed initiatives during the summer months.
Primary Responsibilities
- Deliver SNAP-Ed and Food as Medicine programming in low-income community settings, including:
- Community gardens
- Food pantries
- Boys & Girls Clubs
- Senior centers
- Other community partner sites
- Conduct engaging nutrition education sessions, food tastings, and cooking demonstrations
- Adapt programming for diverse audiences (children, adults, families), including potential digital or social media engagement
- Support garden-based education and seasonal food programming
- Collect, manage, and report evaluation data to assess individual- and community-level impact
- Contribute to continuous quality improvement of programming
Qualifications
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and strong oral and written communication abilities
- Strong culinary skills and foundational nutrition knowledge
- Passion for community nutrition, SNAP-Ed programming, gardening, and health equity
- Able to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team
- Flexibility and willingness to work in varied community settings
- Reliable transportation for local travel to partner sites
- Availability for occasional evening and weekend community events
Preferred Qualifications
- Fluency in Spanish
- Experience with SNAP-Ed or other community-based nutrition education programs
- Experience with gardening or garden-based education
- Experience with data management and analysis tools (e.g., REDCap, Excel)
- Background in community nutrition, public health, dietetics, or a related field
How to Apply
Candidates should upload a cover letter with a summary of relevant skills, statement of research interests and goals, current resume, and contact information (name, position title, institution, e-mail address) for at least two professional references. The successful candidate must pass a background check.
To apply, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.