Research Assistant - Family and Community Medicine

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

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.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-moving, community-based environment and is deeply passionate about nutrition education, food access, gardening, and health equity. Candidates must be adaptable, energetic, and committed to delivering high-quality programming while supporting evaluation and reporting efforts.

Primary Responsibilities

• 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

Qualifications

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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

To apply, candidates should upload a cover letter with a summary of relevant skills, statement of research interests and goals, current resume, and contact information (name, position title, institution, e-mail address) for at least two professional references. The successful candidate must pass a background check. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is closed.

The FCM Research Division has a dynamic team of researchers involved in diverse, collaborative, primary care-based research, including cancer prevention and survivorship, healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, mental health, pain, substance use, health disparities, and more. Our campus is located in the beautiful town of Hershey, which features a high quality of life including excellent schools, numerous venues for indoor and outdoor activities, and proximity to major metropolitan centers.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

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.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

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.

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