Postdoctoral Research Associate

Description LOCATION

This position is fully on-site and requires a regular presence in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this position.

The Center for Translational Research within the Research Institute Health and Wellness Center (RIHWC) at ACHE is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate dedicated to the NIH R01: 1R01DK
148868-01, Novel Mechanisms Promoting Energy Intake Compensation in Response to Aerobic and Resistance Exercise. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will work closely with PI, Kyle Flack, PhD, RD, Director of Translational Research, to provide subject recruitment, care, and data collection procedures in adherence with the study protocol and in accordance with good clinical practice principles.

Novel Mechanisms Promoting Energy Intake Compensation in Response to Aerobic and Resistance Exercise is a 5-year clinical trial including up to 120 participants randomized into two different supervised exercise interventions. Outcomes include changes in body composition (DXA), total energy intake and expenditure, hormonal mediators of hunger, cardiometabolic parameters, behavioral mechanisms promoting energy intake, and functional outcomes such as muscle strength and fitness.

• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of the larger team associated with this project.
• Coordinate participant recruitment, enrollment, and outcome assessments, including schedules and staff/student coverage.
• Contribute to the development of research documentation for publication and/or preparing technical reports, patents, grants, papers, and/or records.
• Design and carry out experiments in the laboratory, analyze experimental data, formulate conclusions, and communicate results and conclusions to the Principal Investigator and lab members.
• Oversee the participant scheduling and staff/student coverage of the intervention delivery.
• Be able to present information on research progress and outcomes and communicate complex information orally and in writing.
• Collaborate professionally with national scientists/stakeholders.
• Supervise and train students.
• Develop new ideas and incorporate them into planned or new research.
• Present research at national conferences and meetings.
• Contribute to the development of research documentation for publication and/or prepare technical reports, patents, grants, papers, and/or records.
• Other duties assigned by the Director of Translational Research or their designee.

• Ph.D. in biological sciences with experience working and facilitating research projects/ activities.
• Proven capacity to work independently, prioritize multiple tasks, and operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Organizational skills to effectively monitor and manage schedules of participants.
• Experience with or the interest to learn collection and processing procedures for human urine and blood samples.
• Experience with or the interest to learn the following applied physiology assessment systems:

• Indirect calorimetry for resting and exercise metabolism
• Visual gaze detection software/hardware
• Behavioral reinforcement assessment and programming
• HUMAC-Norm Isokinetic testing
• Accelerometry
• Continuous glucose monitoring
• Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

• Ph.D. in exercise physiology, nutrition, or integrative physiology.
• CPR and First-aid certification.
• Familiarity with exercise testing and monitoring.
• Strong knowledge of grant budgeting, IRB reporting guidelines, data management, and research compliance.
• Excellent skills in leadership, budget management, strategic planning, problem solving, and collaboration.
• Experience with R Statistical Software.

• Demonstrate proficiency in computer skills, i.e. Microsoft Office.
• Display professionalism for the college in all communication and interactions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Ability to prioritize and organize numerous and varied assignments.

• Ability to orally communicate effectively with others with strong interpersonal skills and customer service orientation.
• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and supervisory staff at all levels.
• Ability to understand oral and written information, using the English language, and organize thoughts and ideas into effective forms of…