About the Department:

The GMU Department of Nutrition & Food Studies exposes our undergraduate and graduate students to the importance of science as the foundation for advancing the field of nutrition and public health. We also conduct research in Nutrition. Students learn the biological, psychological, environmental and sociocultural complexity that influences health, wellbeing and overall quality of life and the role nutrition plays in that. Our faculty come from a range of professional and scientific backgrounds such as public health, medicine, psychology, epidemiology, food systems, global nutrition, and clinical nutrition. This allows us to address the challenge of health promotion from a multidisciplinary perspective. This also facilitates a broad understanding of how nutrition fits into the lives of all individuals in the context of their complex lives, the places they live, the cultural and personal backgrounds they bring and the resources they have. The goal of our nutrition department is to prepare students to meet people “where and how they live” with evidence-based nutrition and health promotion guidance and to engage in cutting edge scientific discovery.

About the Position:

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow prepares postdoctoral scientists for careers as independent clinical and translational researchers. The postdoctoral fellow works under the supervision of the department chair (Martin Binks, Ph.D., MBA.) to conduct research in nutrition, obesity, metabolic disease and related areas. The role includes primary responsibility for producing original research (e.g., designing and conducting randomized controlled trials, database management, statistical analyses) and other scholarly activity (e.g., presentation at scientific meetings, manuscript preparation and submission, grant writing). The postdoctoral fellow will also contribute to student mentoring, teaching, and community outreach and engagement efforts.

Responsibilities:

Research

• Provides skilled support in conducting all types of original research (e.g., clinical trials, data mining etc.);
• Performs data analysis, manuscript preparation / submission and grant writing; and
• Presents at professional and scientific conferences. 

Mentoring

• Mentors undergraduate and graduate students under the supervision of the chair. The chair directly mentors all students / trainees (i.e., undergraduate, graduate, postdoc), however the chair relies on the postdoctoral fellow to mentor students directly on specific projects and activities, and where appropriate, the postdoc supervises graduate student mentoring of undergraduate students. 

Teaching Assistant / Community Outreach & Engagement

• Provides TA support for classes taught by the chair and/or participates in independent teaching and training activities; and
• Participates in community engagement efforts. 

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in a related field;
• Doctoral degree from any scientific field;
• Direct experience related to clinical research, data analysis, various software platforms like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, R Statistical Software etc;
• Knowledge and skill in clinical research and associated scientific methodology including data analysis;
• Knowledge and skill in using software (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, R Statistical Software);
• Demonstrated ability to learn new scientific, computer and other scholarly skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English;
• Ability to work independently and seek supervision when needed; and
• Other attributes include collegiality, strong work ethic, and intellectual curiosity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience related to grant writing and mechanisms used while creating grant proposals;
• Experience as a TA, educator, mentor or manuscript author;
• A strong background in human research methodology, statistical analysis and experience in conducting randomized controlled clinical trials is preferred;
• Knowledge and skills related to grant writing and grant mechanisms (e.g., NIH, Industry, Philanthropic); and
• Knowledge of scientific manuscript and presentation creation and submission process.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Nutrition & Food Studies (Req#10001889) at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include 1) a cover letter of interest, 2) Resume, 3)CV and 4) list of three references with full contact information.

Posting Open Date: November 11, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  November 25, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes