Seeking Research Assistants for an exciting new project anticipated to begin Fall 2018

The University of Iowa College of Public Health is partnering with Grinnell College on a project to tackle obesity in Iowa. This project is initiated by Tom Vilsack, the former Governor of Iowa and US Secretary of Agriculture. Rockefeller Foundation has expressed interest in funding this project. The project will be a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an obesity intervention in Iowa school-aged children. It will involve not only the child participants but also stakeholders including families, schools, and communities. Details of the intervention are under development and will be forthcoming.  The study is anticipated to begin in Fall 2018 and is led by a dynamic multidisciplinary team within the Department of Epidemiology at the College of Public Health.

In anticipation of this project beginning in the Fall 2018, applications of interested hourly research assistants are sought.  Graduate students from Dietetic Internship Program, Epidemiology, Community and Behavioral Health, Health and Human Physiology, and Urban and Regional Planning are highly encouraged to apply.

A total of 5 positions are sought for the 2018-2019 academic year.  Students interested in applying for these hourly positions should send a letter of interest to Vickie Miene at vickie-miene@uiowa.edu  by April 30, 2018.  The letter of interest should be limited to 2 pages total and should include the following items:

• Student name and contact phone and email
• Student primary area of study
• Student anticipated graduation date
• Student personal interest in the proposed project
• Explanation of student interest, knowledge and prior experience related to obesity research
• Explanation of student interest/experience working in team settings
• Explanation of student interest/experience conducting interviews or focus groups

Students must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to travel within a 90 mile radius of Iowa City for study activities.  Students will need to meet the University of Iowa Driving Policy requirements. https://opsmanual.uiowa.edu/administrative-financial-and-facilities-policies/fleet-services/university-driving-policy

Students will be notified of selection for faculty interviews which are tentatively scheduled to occur May 1-4, 2018

If you have questions about this opportunity please contact Wei Bao at Wei-Bao@uiowa.edu.