CLINICAL RESEARCH DIETICIAN

Job Description

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Nutrition Sciences Research, is seeking a Clinical Research Dietitian. The Clinical Research Dietitian coordinates and manages clinical research studies with limited supervision from a Principal Investigator (PI). The Clinical Research Dietitian oversees multiple aspects of clinical trial coordination, including participant recruitment, informed consent, data collection, regulatory compliance, and study documentation. This position prefers prior clinical research experience and requires the ability to work with increasing autonomy while ensuring adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), UAB policies, and federal guidelines.

Manages and helps conduct the industry-sponsored clinical trials within the UAB DNS under PIs Dr. Tim Garvey and Dr. Holly Wyatt, and works directly with research participants in executing the study protocol. This would include, but not be limited to, recruiting research participants, overseeing intervention delivery, performing nutrition assessments and dietary counseling, acquiring informed consent, working with clinic staff to collect outcomes data, maintaining regulatory documents and adherence, and working with study sponsors to implement a common study intervention on protocol.

General Responsibilities

To conduct nutrition research within the UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences by designing and implementing dietary protocols and interventions, and working directly with research participants to ensure adherence to study requirements.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. Executes study protocols, including developing study visit schedules, preparing visit materials, and data collection under supervision.
2. Recruits and screens potential research participants according to protocol inclusion/exclusion criteria.
3. Obtains informed consent and ensures ongoing consent throughout study participation.
4. Collects, processes, and ships specimens (blood, urine, etc.) per protocol requirements.
5. Accurately documents study activities in source documents and electronic data capture (EDC) systems.
6. Prepares, maintains, and submits regulatory documentation (e.g., IRB approvals, continuing reviews, protocol amendments) with oversight.
7. Addresses queries and ensures timely resolution of data or compliance issues.
8. Adheres to ethical standards, confidentiality, and patient safety procedures.
9. Attends required research training, including CITI certification and protocol-specific training.
10. Serves as primary coordinator for one or more studies.
11. Identifies, consents, screens, and schedules participants; conducts study visits; maintains study documentation.
12. Collects, prepares, processes, ships, and maintains inventory of research specimens.
13. Assists with the management of study drugs, maintenance of source documents, and study-level documentation, including regulatory binders, enrollment logs, etc.
14. Provides protocol-specific dietary counseling for patients in clinical trials, mostly for obesity, overweight, and cardiometabolic disease.
15. Conducts activities in accordance with the protocol, regulations, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
16. Aids in the management of the study life cycle from start-up to closure, including IRB submissions, participant recruitment and follow-up, scheduling visits, and coordinating lab and fieldwork.
17. Performs other duties as assigned.

Annual Salary Range

$52,555 - $85,400

Qualifications

Master's degree in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or nutrition education required, if licensed on or after 01/01/2024; OR a Bachelor's degree in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management is required if licensed on or prior to 12/31/2023.

Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirement. Currently licensed (active or temporary) as a Dietitian with the State of Alabama Board of Examiners for Dietetic/Nutrition Practice required.

Preferences

• Previous experience working in clinical trials/research.
• Ability to communicate effectively.