Job Details

Registered Dietitian - Metabolic Kitchen

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Registered Dietitian in the Metabolic Kitchen.

The Registered Dietitian in the Metabolic Kitchen supports clinical research studies through the planning, preparation, coordination, and monitoring of specialized nutrition interventions and controlled dietary protocols. This position collaborates with investigators, research staff, and participants to ensure accurate implementation of study diets, compliance with research protocols, and adherence to food safety and regulatory standards. The Registered Dietitian provides nutrition-related oversight for metabolic feeding studies, participant assessments, dietary education, meal planning, nutrient analysis, and data collection within a research-focused environment.

Major Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, and implements specialized research diets and controlled feeding protocols in accordance with study requirements and investigator specifications.
• Assist with metabolic kitchen operations, including meal preparation coordination, portion accuracy, food labeling, inventory management, and compliance with sanitation and food safety standards.
• Educates research participants on study diets, meal compliance, food preparation instructions, and protocol requirements to support participant adherence and study integrity.
• Collaborates with principal investigators, study coordinators, nurses, and research staff to support study start-up activities, protocol implementation, and ongoing study operations.
• Monitors participant dietary compliance and documents deviations, adverse events, and study-related nutrition data in accordance with protocol and regulatory requirements.
• Maintains accurate research records, source documentation, nutrient databases, food production logs, and study-related data entry within applicable electronic systems.
• Assists with development of menus, recipes, nutrient calculations, and standardized procedures to support clinical and metabolic research studies.
• Ensures compliance with institutional policies, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), sponsor requirements, and applicable federal, state, and regulatory guidelines.
• Participates in quality assurance activities, audits, monitoring visits, and protocol training sessions related to metabolic research operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, or related field.
• Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist in the State of Louisiana or ability to obtain licensure prior to hire.
• One year of experience in clinical nutrition, metabolic nutrition, research nutrition, clinical trials, or a related healthcare setting.
• Knowledge of medical nutrition therapy, nutrition assessment methods, and therapeutic diet principles.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with research participants and interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to accurately document, manage data, and maintain compliance with research protocols and regulatory requirements.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce with a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.

Questions regarding career opportunities at Pennington Biomedical should be sent to hrm@pbrc.edu.

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - Pennington Biomedical Research Center offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University's partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.