"Alerted.org

Work Shift:

Please see job description for details.

Time Type:

Part time

Department:

CC039191 ACRI Research Programs

Summary:

Arkansas Children’s Research Institute is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented team member to support ongoing research on early childhood nutrition, feeding practices, physical activity, and implementation science. Our program of research focuses on improving the nutritional and developmental environments of early care and education (ECE) settings, supporting families in healthy practices, and advancing community-engaged dissemination and implementation (CEDI) science.

This position offers the opportunity to be directly involved in recruitment, field-based data collection, coaching in evidence-based feeding practices, and contributing to scholarly products that inform both research and practice.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment: Identify, contact, and recruit eligible program sites and participants in alignment with project protocols. Maintain accurate recruitment records and provide weekly progress updates to the project manager.

Field-Based Data Collection: Conduct on-site data collection activities including classroom observations, teacher and caregiver interviews, and/or surveys.

Ensure adherence to project procedures, ethical guidelines, and confidentiality standards. Accurately record and securely transmit data for team analysis.

Coaching in Evidence-Based Feeding Practices: Deliver coaching to teachers using project-developed materials and protocols. Adapt coaching to local site contexts while maintaining fidelity to core practices. Document coaching sessions and monitor teacher progress over time.

Team Participation: Actively contribute to monthly coaching reflection meetings, sharing insights, challenges, and lessons learned with peers. Attend monthly project team meetings to align efforts across sites. Maintain regular communication with the project manager regarding progress, needs, and emerging issues.

Analysis and Scholarly Products: Collaborate with the research team to contribute to data analysis, interpretation, and the development of manuscripts, presentations, and dissemination materials. Support the translation of findings into practical tools and scholarly outputs that advance the science of implementation in nutrition, physical activity, and ECE settings.

About Our Program

Our research group is nationally recognized for advancing community-engaged implementation science to improve child and family health outcomes. We lead multiple funded projects that address nutrition, feeding, physical activity, and early development, including:

WISE (Together, We Inspire Smart Eating): a long-standing intervention to improve nutrition in early care and education settings.

WISE Babies: an infant- and toddler-focused adaptation of WISE to promote healthy feeding practices from the earliest years.

WISE Words: an ECE-based mealtime communication intervention to strengthen teacher–child interactions and improve feeding practices.

Community Expecting: a community-based physical activity program tailored for pregnant women with excess weight, co-designed with community partners.

We-Move: a dyadic gross motor development intervention supporting mother–child pairs.

Our projects emphasize cross-sector collaboration, sustainable implementation, and community-engaged dissemination. We work closely with early care and education programs, community organizations, and families to ensure research is both scientifically rigorous and practically meaningful

Additional Information:

Required Education:

Doctoral Degree

Recommended Education:

Required Work Experience:

Recommended Work Experience:

Required Certifications:

Recommended Certifications:

Description

1. Works independently as part of a research project/program.

2. Under the direction of the Investigator, writes detailed protocols for the conduct of research and contributes to the design, interpretation and final writing of research publications.

3. Analyzes and evaluates experimental data and interprets results within the scope of work and in relation to the general research program. Prepares written reports on phases of laboratory work involved in research projects.

4. Keeps abreast of trends in field of interest by reading current research literature, abstracting scientific articles of value in the prosecution of research problems, and attending and presenting at scientific meetings, seminars and research conferences.

5. Gathers research materials, supplies, equipment and apparatus. Coordinates service support: repair of equipment, requisitioning of supplies and research materials. Selects procedures for data collection and handling; develops or utilizes computer programs for conversions and statistical analysis of data.

6. Participates in the training of research support staff, fellows, and students. Conducts initial training as well as continuous skill development of staff/trainees in laboratory techniques and instrumentation procedures, as needed. Counsels staff/trainees on minor technical problems; may advise and assist staff/trainees with special research projects. Manages research expenditures.

7. Assists in proposal development and in facilitating new directions for the lab. Works with PI to develop plans for personnel and resources. Performs procedures to ensure experimental validity and keeps appropriate records.

8. Other duties as assigned.

Arkansas Children’s (https://www.archildrens.org/about-us) is the only hospital system in the state dedicated to caring for children, which enables us to uniquely shape the landscape of pediatric care in Arkansas.

Arkansas Children’s is driven by four core values—safety, teamwork, compassion and excellence—which inform every action.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital has received Magnet Status (https://www.archildrens.org/about-us/magnet-recognition) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), for nursing excellence and patient outcomes. And we are nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report (https://www.archildrens.org/about-us/awards-and-recognition) for Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery and Urology.

For more than a century, Arkansas Children’s has met the unique needs of children. But we’re more than just a hospital treating sick kids—our services include two hospitals, a pediatric research institute, foundation, clinics, education and outreach, all with an unyielding commitment to making children better today and healthier tomorrow.

Arkansas Children’s Little Rock campus includes a 336-bed hospital with the state’s only pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center, burn center, Level 4 neonatal intensive care and pediatric intensive care, as well as a nationally-recognized transport service. And Arkansas Children’s Northwest (https://www.archildrens.org/locations/arkansas-childrens-nw) provides inpatient and emergency care, clinic rooms and diagnostic services to children in that corner of the state.

_“Arkansas Children’s is a place of hope and comfort for children and parents. When you are at children’s, you are part of an elite team united with a common goal of saving children and making their lives better.”_ Michael – Business Operations Manager

•Arkansas Children’s Hospital is a prestigious institution that cares for children.” Linda – Information Systems Analyst

•We are an organization of care, love, and hope while we champion children.” Angela – Parking and Fleet Coordinator

•Care, love, and hope for children!” Kathy – Administrative Assistant

•When I think of my time here at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, I can honestly say that it has given me a unique perspective on the human condition, and the various roles that we all have in patient care. As a supply assistant, I have a very important job ensuring that the doctors and nurses have what they need to provide the world class medical care to the Children of Arkansas and surrounding states. Being a Champion for Children is more than a catch phrase, it is a way of life!” Nick – Supply Assistant

Arkansas Children's provides equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or any other category protected by federal, state and local laws. Further, Arkansas Children's will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.