Graduate Assistant Intern

Overview

The Rural Workforce Academy Graduate Assistant will support the implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of rural workforce development initiatives within the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the Auburn University Health Transformation Collaborative (AUHTC). Working under the supervision of program faculty and project leadership, the Graduate Assistant will assist with workforce assessment activities, program evaluation, rural internship coordination, community engagement, data collection and management, stakeholder communication, and reporting. The appointment provides applied professional development in rural health, nutrition workforce development, program evaluation, community-engaged scholarship, and grant-supported initiatives.

There may be duties other than teaching, research or extension, and the following guidelines must be adhered to:

• At least 60% of the student’s primary duties and responsibilities are directly related their program of study.

• No more than 25% of the student’s duties and responsibilities are administrative/clerical in nature. (i.e. event setup and takedown, filing, copying, etc.)

About the Auburn University Health Transformation Collaborative

The Auburn University Health Transformation Collaborative (AUHTC) is a university-wide, interprofessional initiative that brings together Auburn University’s health sciences programs and complementary disciplines to advance health and healthcare through collaboration, innovation, education, research, clinical practice, and community engagement. By connecting faculty, staff, students, clinicians, researchers, and community partners across disciplines, AUHTC creates a shared platform for developing and implementing innovative approaches to complex health challenges. The collaborative leverages Auburn’s collective expertise and resources to strengthen health professions education, develop the healthcare workforce, advance interdisciplinary research and innovation, expand models of care, and improve individual and population health. Rural health transformation is one of AUHTC’s major interprofessional initiatives, reflecting the broader collaborative’s capacity to mobilize expertise across the university to address significant healthcare needs in Alabama and beyond.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with workforce assessments focused on rural nutrition practice and workforce development.
• Support survey administration, interviews, focus groups, listening sessions, and stakeholder-engagement activities.
• Conduct literature reviews and environmental scans related to rural health, nutrition services, and workforce needs.
• Support collection, organization, cleaning, and management of program evaluation data.
• Maintain project databases, files, tracking systems, and supporting documentation.
• Assist with quantitative and qualitative data analysis under faculty supervision.
• Assist with tracking participation, program outcomes, performance measures, and grant deliverables.
• Follow applicable requirements for responsible data management, confidentiality, and research or evaluation procedures.
• Assist with coordination of rural internship and experiential learning opportunities.
• Help maintain records of placement sites, preceptors, student participation, and required documentation.
• Support communication with rural practitioners, healthcare organizations, professional associations, public agencies, and community organizations.
• Assist faculty with research and scholarly activities related to rural health, nutrition workforce development, program evaluation, and health disparities.
• Conduct background research, literature searches, and evidence reviews.
• Contribute to preparation of abstracts, posters, presentations, technical reports, manuscripts, and grant materials.
• Support dissemination of project findings to academic, professional, community, and funding audiences.
• Participate in research team meetings and professional development activities, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties consistent with the goals of the Rural Workforce Academy and the educational purpose of the assistantship.

Qualifications

• • Must be an enrolled Auburn University graduate student in Nutrition Sciences (or a related field) or eligible for admission to the Nutritional Sciences Ph.D. program.
  • Interest in nutrition, public health, rural health, workforce development, program evaluation, health promotion, education, or a related field.

  Preferred Qualifications

  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration, current enrollment in a Supervised Practice Experience Dietetic Internship, or eligibility to sit for the registration examination for dietitians.
  • Experience with research, data collection, program evaluation, or community-engaged projects.
  • Experience working with community organizations, health programs, students, or professional stakeholders.
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
  • Interest in rural health, nutrition-related health disparities, and a demonstrated interest in rural populations, nutrition-related health outcomes, and access to nutrition-related care.

  Appointment Expectations

  • The Graduate Assistant will devote effort consistent with a 0.55 FTE appointment and Auburn University graduate assistantship requirements while concurrently enrolled in a graduate program.
  • The work schedule will be established with the supervising faculty member based on academic responsibilities and program needs.
  • Continuation of the appointment requires satisfactory academic progress, satisfactory work performance, compliance with university requirements, and continued eligibility for a graduate assistantship.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other commonly used productivity tools.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, maintain accurate records, meet deadlines, and protect confidential information.

Why Work at Auburn?

Why should YOU consider student employment at Auburn University?

• Gain valuable work experience! Student employment allows you to explore different interests, identify strengths, and make informed decisions about your future career goals.
• Build your network! Interacting with faculty, staff, and fellow students can lead to valuable connections and potential mentors.
• Make a difference! Have the satisfaction of knowing YOU are a part of providing the premier academic experience at Auburn and the life-changing work our students and employees perform.
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Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.