Research Dietitian 3 - Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Research Dietitian 3 serves on an interdisciplinary team focused on improving health outcomes for pregnant, postpartum, and high-risk women through evidence-based lifestyle interventions. The role provides individualized counseling, coaching, and guidance to program participants. In collaboration with physicians, nurses, social workers, and research staff, the dietitian conducts comprehensive assessments, develops personalized wellness plans, monitors progress, and supports participants through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause. The position combines direct patient care, health coaching, and research support. Most of the time is spent meeting with patients, providing education and coaching, monitoring outcomes, and collaborating with the multidisciplinary care team. Research responsibilities include supporting team research goals, consulting on study protocols and budgets, maintaining study equipment, training research personnel, mentoring medical students, and supervising daily project activities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Five years of relevant work experience.
Tennessee Licensed Dietician/Nutritionist certification.
Registered Dietitian certification from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Nice To Haves

Registered Dietitian experience in clinical, outpatient, preventive cardiology, or wellness settings.
Experience in exercise physiology, exercise therapy, fitness coaching, personal training, or cardiac rehabilitation.
Experience working with women's health populations, including pregnancy and postpartum care.
Strong patient education and health coaching experience.
Experience using motivational interviewing and behavior-change techniques.
Ability to translate nutrition and physical activity recommendations into practical lifestyle plans.
Experience counseling patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, or other chronic health conditions.
Knowledge of cardiovascular risk reduction and preventive health strategies.

Responsibilities

Provide individualized counseling, coaching, and guidance to program participants.
Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop personalized wellness plans.
Monitor patient progress and outcomes, and support women through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause.
Collaborate with physicians, nurses, social workers, and research staff.
Plan and implement strategies that contribute to team research goals and objectives.
Convene regular research staff meetings and provide continuing education opportunities, including discussion of current peer-reviewed nutrition, medical, and scientific research.
Assist with consultations for study protocols, performance evaluations, accounting, and budget development.
Calibrate, maintain, and test equipment used in diet and nutrition studies and projects.
Train research personnel in valid and reliable methodology.
Mentor medical students in nutrition research methods and supervise daily research project activities.
Assess staffing needs and make recommendations regarding personnel and budgetary issues.
Perform additional duties as assigned.