Research Dietitian

Overview

Summary:

The Research Dietitian will provide high-level subject matter expertise in nutrition and human physiology to support the full lifecycle of military research studies; execute study coordination, ensuring strict adherence to regulatory compliance, data integrity, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP); facilitate the design and preparation of specialized metabolic research diets and the collection of complex physiological data; and support the dissemination of research finds to the broader scientific and military communities.

 

This position is based in Natick, MA and is primarily on-site, with situational telework permitted only when approved.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions:

• Clinical Research Coordination: Provide comprehensive documentation and coordination for complex military-relevant human research studies from project development to closeout.
• Regulatory Compliance: Manage the development of research protocols and informed consent forms; manage Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission packages, continuing reviews, and final reports.
• Data Analysis & Software Proficiency: Perform data analysis using statistical software (e.g. SPSS) and nutrition-specific software (e.g. Food Processor).
• Metabolic Dietetics: Design, formulate, and prepare specialized research diets and menus for controlled feeding studies within a metabolic kitchen setting.
• Body Composition & Metabolic Testing: Conduct testing using various methods, including, but not limited to Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), InBody, and indirect calorimetry.
• Physiological Measurement: Execute a range of measurement techniques, including, but not limited to, cardiorespiratory exercise testing, phlebotomy, and high-altitude research procedures.
• Clinical Trial Management: Manage recruitment and daily operations for multiple nutrition-focused clinical trials while ensuring data integrity and adherence to GCP requirements.
• Technical Training: Assist in the hands-on training of other team members in clinical data collection and protocol compliance.
• Scientific Communication: Communicate research findings (both written and orally) to larger audiences, i.e., the dissemination of research findings through manuscript preparation and presentations at national scientific conferences.
• Provide administrative and technical support to facilitate communication between internal groups, research partners, and study volunteers to ensure project alignment and success.
• Document Management: Manage all study documentation and regulatory records to ensure a constant state of audit-readiness.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Provide expertise on the effects of nutrition interventions (e.g., probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics) on Warfighter health and performance.
• Field Research Operations: Provide technical oversight and coordination for the daily execution of military ration field tests in extreme environments (i.e. high altitude, extreme heat or cold) to gain unique operational insights.
• Protocol Implementation: Implement nutrition and lifestyle intervention protocols for randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
• Educational Content Development: Develop and deliver nutrition educational materials to enhance participant adherence to study protocol diets.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to monitor progress and provide technical inputs to ensure deliverables remain within established schedules and performance parameters.
• Epidemiology and Statistics: Apply subject matter expertise in epidemiology and statistics to support research outcomes.
• Human Subjects Protection Support: Support the human subjects recruitment process by providing technical expertise on participants’ rights and protocol requirements to ensure clinical interactions align with approved IRB ethical standards.

Qualifications

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Specialized knowledge of nutrition interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics, and their effects on Warfighter health and performance.
• Strong scientific writing and presentation capabilities .
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) requirements and maintaining audit-ready study documentation.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Active Registered Dietitian (RD) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Current Certified Clinical Research Professional certification.
• Current CITI Program certifications for Biomedical Research Investigators and Study Coordinators and Research Monitors.
• Current Basic Life Support training
• Experience coordinating human-subjects/clinical research from study development through closeout.
• Experience developing research protocols and informed consent forms and supporting IRB submissions, continuing reviews, and final reports.
• Experience designing, formulating, and preparing specialized research diets and menus for controlled feeding studies.
• Experience with nutrition-specific software such as Food Processor.
• Experience with body composition and metabolic testing, including DEXA, InBody, and indirect calorimetry.
• Experience with cardiorespiratory exercise testing and phlebotomy.
• Statistical analysis experience using tools such as SPSS.
• Experience supporting military ration field tests/research in environmental extremes, including high altitude, extreme heat, and extreme cold.
• Travel: CONUS travel may be required to support research studies, field data collection, meetings, scientific conferences, and training. For Research Dietitian services, the Government estimates up to two meetings/conferences annually and up to six trips annually to support field-study data collection.
• Must obtain a favorably adjudicated Tier 3 investigation (or equivalent). At minimum, a favorable interim suitability determination must be granted before contract work begins, pending final adjudication.

Pay and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $81,000.00 to $95,000.00 annually.