Part Time Research Assistant - Family and Community Medicine

Job Description And Position Requirements

The Penn State Department of Family and Community Medicine is seeking a part-time (up to 24 hours/week) Research Assistant to support our community-engaged, dynamic, fast‑paced Food as Medicine and SNAP‑Ed initiatives during the summer months. This is a summer appointment with the possibility of extension beyond the summer if funding is available. Our team’s goal is to realize a future where everyone can identify, access, prepare, and eat high-quality, culturally appropriate food to achieve optimal health.

We develop, test, and implement evidence-based nutrition education and culinary medicine programming for diverse populations in community and clinical settings.

• 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

• 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
• Ability 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

• 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

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact .

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.