Registered Dietitian - Metabolic Kitchen

About Us

Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts research focusing on the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers, and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Position Type

Professional / Unclassified

Department

LSUPBRC Cores - Metabolic Kitchen (Renee Puyau Stelzer (00006337))

Work Location

LSU - Pennington Biomedical

Pay Grade

Professional

Job Description

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Registered Dietitian in the Metabolic Kitchen. The Registered Dietitian in the Metabolic Kitchen supports clinical research studies through the planning, preparation, coordination, and monitoring of specialized nutrition interventions and controlled dietary protocols. This position collaborates with investigators, research staff, and participants to ensure accurate implementation of study diets, compliance with research protocols, and adherence to food safety and regulatory standards. The Registered Dietitian provides nutrition-related oversight for metabolic feeding studies, participant assessments, dietary education, meal planning, nutrient analysis, and data collection within a research-focused environment.

Major Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, and implements specialized research diets and controlled feeding protocols in accordance with study requirements and investigator specifications.
• Aids in metabolic kitchen operations, including meal preparation coordination, portion accuracy, food labeling, inventory management, and compliance with sanitation and food safety standards.
• Edits research participants on study diets, meal compliance, food preparation instructions, and protocol requirements to support participant adherence and study integrity.
• Collaborates with principal investigators, study coordinators, nurses, and research staff to support study start-up activities, protocol implementation, and ongoing study operations.
• Maintains accurate research records, source documentation, nutrient databases, food production logs, and study-related data entry within applicable electronic systems.
• Aids in the development of menus, recipes, nutrient calculations, and standardized procedures to support clinical and metabolic research studies.
• Ensures compliance with institutional policies, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), sponsor requirements, and applicable federal, state, and regulatory guidelines.
• Participates in quality assurance activities, audits, monitoring visits, and protocol training sessions related to metabolic research operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, or related field.
• Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist in the State of Louisiana or ability to obtain licensure prior to hire.
• One year of experience in clinical nutrition, metabolic nutrition, research nutrition, clinical trials, or a related healthcare setting.
• Knowledge of medical nutrition therapy, nutrition assessment methods, and therapeutic diet principles.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with research participants and interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to accurately document, manage data, and maintain compliance with research protocols and regulatory requirements.

Additional Job Description

Competencies: None

Special Instructions

Interested candidates should include a resume and a list of three (3) professional references to the online application. Professional references should be the name, title, company, and contact information from past employers. Professional references should include current or previous supervisors and/or coworkers. Personal references should not be considered for the reference check process. We will respect the request that we not contact a current employer. However, we will need to contact a prior supervisor if such a request is made. A letter of application/cover letter is recommended but not required. Official transcripts are required prior to hire and are not required at the time of application.

Additional Position Information

Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, visit PBRC.

Contact Information

Questions regarding career opportunities at Pennington Biomedical should be sent to hrm@pbrc.edu.

Background Check

An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits

Pennington Biomedical Research Center offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Essential Position

Y

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pennington Biomedical Research Center/LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.