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. Working with physicians, nurses, social workers, and research staff, the Research Dietitian conducts comprehensive assessments, develops personalized wellness plans, monitors participant progress, and supports women through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause. The position combines direct patient care, health coaching, and research support within an established women's health research program. Most of the work involves meeting directly with patients, providing education and coaching, monitoring outcomes, and collaborating with the multidisciplinary care team. The role also supports research goals and operations, including staff education, protocol consultation, equipment testing and maintenance, mentoring medical students, supervising daily project activities, and making recommendations related to staffing and budgets. Additional duties may be assigned.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) 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, guidance, and education to participants.
Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop personalized wellness plans.
Monitor participant progress and outcomes 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 recommend additional personnel and other budgetary matters.
Perform other duties as assigned.