Graduate Student Research Assistant (Nutrition)

Case Western Reserve University•Cleveland, OH

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

Nourishing Tomorrow (NT) is a NIH-funded, community-based research project led by Case Western Reserve University in partnership with MetroHealth, University Hospitals, and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. The study evaluates approaches to supporting pregnant people and their families through increased access to nutritious food and supportive resources during pregnancy and postpartum. The Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) will support participant engagement and data collection for Nourishing Tomorrow. The primary responsibility of this position is conducting standardized participant interviews, by phone, at key study timepoints, requiring both careful adherence to research protocols and compassionate, attentive interviewing, particularly when addressing sensitive topics. As a primary point of contact for participants, the Research Assistant plays an important role in establishing trust, supporting retention, and ensuring high-quality study data.

Requirements

Current graduate student in psychology, anthropology, nutrition, public health, health sciences, or a related field.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive participant information appropriately.
Ability to interact respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with research participants, patients, families, or community members.
Experience in community-based research, public health, nutrition, healthcare, or social services.
Experience working with populations experiencing food insecurity or other social and economic barriers to health.
Experience with REDCap or other electronic data collection systems.
Experience completing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training or certification.
Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary or community-academic team.
Mental Health First Aid training or certification is preferred and may be provided or required based on the responsibilities of the position.

Responsibilities

Schedule and conduct standardized participant interviews at baseline, near delivery, and three months postpartum, following study protocols and scripts to ensure consistent and high-quality data collection. Interviews include sensitive topics related to psychosocial well-being and require compassionate, attentive interviewing, sound judgment, and the ability to recognize participant responses or behaviors that may require immediate follow-up.
Coordinate participant data collection activities, including scheduling follow-up interviews and 24-hour dietary recalls with the BioNutrition team, tracking completion of required study activities, and communicating reminders and follow-up information to participants.
Process participant incentive payments following completion of study activities and maintain accurate documentation of payments in accordance with study and university procedures.
Support participant engagement and retention through approved phone, email, and text communication.
Establish and maintain respectful, responsive relationships with participants and assist in identifying and addressing barriers to completion of study activities.
Identify and respond to participant psychological safety concerns that arise during study interviews, including elevated depression symptoms, suicidal ideation, or other signs of psychological distress. Follow established safety protocols, promptly communicate concerns to designated study leadership, and support timely documentation and reporting of adverse events and notification of clinical/hospital partners as required.
Enter and maintain participants and study data in REDCap and other approved systems; review records for completeness and accuracy and assist with routine data quality assurance and cleaning activities.
Maintain accurate and timely study documentation and participant tracking records in accordance with study protocols, IRB requirements, and institutional policies.
Maintain participant confidentiality and protect sensitive research information in accordance with human subjects research requirements, study protocols, and institutional policies.
Communicate professionally and respectfully with participants, research staff, clinical partners, the BioNutrition team, and community partners to support coordinated study implementation.
Participate in study team meetings, interviewer training, protocol training, quality assurance activities, and ongoing refresher training to maintain consistency and fidelity in participant data collection.
Build supportive and respectful relationships with study participants while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
Approach participant interactions with empathy, cultural humility, and sensitivity to circumstances that may affect pregnant and postpartum individuals and their families.
Listen attentively for indications that a participant may be experiencing distress or need additional support and respond in accordance with established study protocols.
Provide study-approved resources or referrals when appropriate and directed by study procedures.
Apply principles from Mental Health First Aid or similar training when appropriate, while recognizing the boundaries of the research role and connecting participants with appropriate professional resources, including informing study personnel as per study protocols.
Selected candidates will complete required institutional and study-specific training before independently performing study activities. Training may include research ethics, confidentiality, study protocols, REDCap, participant engagement, and other project-specific procedures. Mental Health First Aid training or certification is preferred and may be provided or required based on the responsibilities of the position.