Program Aide; Research Dietitian

Program Aide (Research Dietitian)

Agency: Texas A&M Agri Life Research

Department: Nutrition

Proposed Minimum Salary: Commensurate

Job Location: College Station, Texas

Job Type: Temporary/Casual Staff (Fixed Term)

The Research Dietitian will oversee the implementation of a dietary intervention for adolescents with PCOS living in Texas as part of a two-year grant. The Research Dietitian will update and revise an intervention handbook, conduct and/or oversee bi-weekly nutrition consultations with study participants and at least one parent to support meal planning and dietary behavior change, record detailed meeting notes, and support the interpretation and publication of study findings.

The Research Dietitian will coordinate purchasing of intervention foods from local grocers with the families. They may also support the conduct of 24-hour diet recalls. This role is open to remote and hybrid candidates for up to 15 hours per week for approximately two years and is contingent on continued grant funding and approval and/or eligibility. This role will include weekends and evenings and hours worked per week may range based on participant enrollment/interaction in accordance with the design of the research study.

We ideally seek an RDN who is committed to the duration of the study.

• Intervention preparation support (15%):
  Assist in the development of the intervention protocols and research documentation templates; develop a dietary intervention handbook to aid in the implementation of the dietary intervention across study participants and ensure; develop research nutrition notes and a protocol to document nutrition counseling meetings.
• Support virtual/hybrid dietary intervention (70%):
  Coordinate with families to set up bi-weekly nutrition counseling meetings, or weekly if required; conduct and oversee dietary intervention counseling to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with the dietary intervention handbook; support training of the Research Coordinator and graduate student for successful implementation of the intervention; aid in coordination of food purchasing by families, recipe development, meal planning, and answering questions related to the dietary intervention from study staff and participants;
  
  track food purchasing expenditures.
• Interpretation and publication (15%):
  Assist in the interpretation, analysis, and publication of nutrition-related study findings.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree program approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
• Completed pre-professional experience approved by ACEND
• Passed or forthcoming within 3 months of the national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
• Completed continuing professional education requirements
• Active Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) License within at least 3 months of hire date
• At least two years of related experience providing nutrition counseling to adolescents and/or patients with PCOS
• At least two years of related experience in research
• CITI training

• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing
• Ability to positively and professionally interact with participants and their families and the research study staff
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Working knowledge of office software and instructional programs
• Knowledge of principles and methods for dietary interventions
• Skilled in utilizing various learning and active listening strategies
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others

• This position is security sensitive in that it will involve research with minors.
• This position requires compliance with state and federal laws/codes and Texas A&M University System/TAMU policies, regulations, rules and procedures.
• All tasks and job responsibilities must be performed safely without injury to self or others in compliance with System and University safety requirements.
• This position will frequently require work beyond normal office hours and/or work on weekends.
• Remote work options may be available for this position, depending on the nature of the role and employee eligibility, in accordance with Agri Life Alternate Work Location Procedures.
• This is a wage position established to accommodate a temporary organizational need. As such, TAMU does not guarantee any set number of hours or length of employment in this role.
• This position may direct and/or evaluate the work of others.

This position is grant funded and availability is contingent on grant funding.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.