Part-Time Research Support – NourishNET Lab

Job Description And Position Requirements

The Nourishing Networks and Environments to Thrive (NourishNET) Lab in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State is hiring a part-time Undergraduate Research Assistant to support research projects related to early childhood nutrition, food parenting practices, and community health.

Research projects will primarily focus on how social relationships, information sources, and parent’s everyday interactions influence decisions they make around child feeding, eating, and nutrition. Our lab is interdisciplinary, and we are committed to addressing diet-related disparities to promote optimal thriving potential and well-being.

This is great for someone looking to gain research experience in public health nutrition while also developing project coordination skills within an academic research setting. This position bridges hands-on research support, working alongside research staff and graduate student researchers. Training will be provided, and responsibilities can include:

• Assisting with data collection, including translation/transcription
• Applying and/or supporting qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Contributing to systematic review processes
• Conducting literature reviews and providing writing support
• Supporting development of research materials
• Aiding in light project coordination tasks, such as tracking deadlines, organizing files, and supporting communication across research activities
• Serving as logistical support for pilot studies and community engagement efforts, as needed

The expected commitment for this role is 6-10 hours per week.

Desirable Qualities

Besides the general requirements, desirable qualities in the ideal candidate include:

• A strong work ethic and attention to detail
• A willingness to learn
• Proactiveness and ability to work independently across varied tasks
• Comfort managing multiple tasks or deadlines at once

Bilingual in Spanish is highly desirable.

Contact Information

Please direct your questions to Dr. Ligia Reyes, lir5256@psu.edu.

Background Checks/Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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