About the Role
About Us: At the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers, and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. All Job Postings will close at 12:01a.m. CST (1:01a.m. EST) on the specified Closing Date (if designated). If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application progress will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page. Job Posting Title: Clinical Research Associate 2 - Pediatric Obesity Clinical Trials Position Type: Professional / Unclassified Department: LSUPBRC PopSci - Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior - Project Management (Natalie Malek (00057821)) Work Location: LSU - Pennington Biomedical Pay Grade: Professional Job Description: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Clinical Research Associate 2 in the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory. The Clinical Research Associate will conduct clinical trial study visits autonomously and in the field (at clinical practices throughout the state), including preparation, data collection, and entry. Responsibilities include obtaining informed consent, measuring anthropometrics, assessing diet and activity, administering questionnaires, and following risk management procedures. This position will be responsible for coordinating data collection and intervention delivery at clinical sites and ensuring high data quality and consistency. Effective communication with participants and external clinical providers/managers is essential for scheduling, reminders, screenings, interventions, and follow-ups. Proficiency in REDCap database entry and conducting off-campus procedures as per study protocols is preferred. Ideal candidates will have a strong educational background, relevant experience, attention to detail, interpersonal skills with a variety of ages, and excellent organizational and communication skills. Job Responsibilities Conduct Clinical Trial Study Visits: Prepare for and conduct clinical trial study visits, including data collection and entry. Ensure all necessary materials and equipment are ready, accurately collect data during visits, and promptly enter data into the appropriate systems. Follow the protocol closely to minimize deviations and identify when to triage cases to the project manager or supervisor. Perform Clinical Research Data Collection Activities: Carry out various clinical research data collection tasks, such as obtaining informed consent from participants and their legal guardian, measuring anthropometrics and body composition, assessing diet and physical activity, and administering questionnaires. Ensure all data are collected accurately and in accordance with study protocols. Coordinate and Implement Data Collection and Intervention Delivery: Assist in the coordination, implementation, and execution of data collection and intervention delivery at clinical sites. Ensure consistency with established strategies, commitments, and goals to maintain high data quality. Monitor and adjust processes as needed to ensure smooth operation, within the confines of the protocol and manual of procedures. Communicate Effectively with Participants: Maintain clear and effective communication with study participants. This includes scheduling visits, making reminder calls, sending emails, conducting screenings, delivering interventions, and performing follow-ups. Ensure participants are well-informed and supported throughout the study. Enter Clinical Trial Data in REDCap Database: Accurately enter clinical trial data into the REDCap database. Ensure data are entered promptly and correctly, following all relevant guidelines and protocols. Perform Off-Campus Procedures and Visits: Conduct off-campus procedures and visits as outlined by the study protocol and visit checklists. Ensure all activities are performed in accordance with study requirements and maintain high standards of data collection and participant care. Contribute to the development, organization, and updating of study reports, intervention and participant materials, and study procedures. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in life sciences, nursing, public health, or a related field. 3+ years of experience in a healthcare setting, particularly in pediatric care and clinical research, and/or performing assessments in human subjects. Strong understanding of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, human subjects protection, and other regulatory requirements. Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with study participants, scheduling visits, and conducting follow-ups. Ability to explain complex information clearly and empathetically. Exceptional organizational and time-management skills to handle multiple tasks, coordinate study activities, and ensure data quality. Attention to detail is critical for accurate data collection and entry. Ability to work well in a team and build rapport with participants. Willingness to travel for off-campus visits and adapt to varying study protocols. Strong problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot issues that arise during study visits and data collection. Proficiency in using clinical research databases such as REDCap for data entry and management preferred. *Flexible schedule required. This position will require some work after regular hours. Intermittent travel is sometimes required when conducting studies inside and outside of Baton Rouge. 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. Additional Job Description: *Flexible schedule required. This position will require some work after regular hours. Intermittent travel is sometimes required when conducting studies inside and outside of Baton Rouge. Competencies: None Special Instructions: Interested candidates should include a resume and a list of three (3) professional references to the online application. Professional references should be the name, title, company, and contact information from past employers. Professional references should include current or previous supervisors and/or coworkers. Personal references should not be considered for the reference check process. We will respect the request that we not contact a current employer. However, we will need to contact a prior supervisor if such a request is made. A letter of application/cover letter is recommended but not required. Official transcripts are required prior to hire and are not required at the time of application. Posting Date: April 17, 2026 Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified): May 16, 2026 Additional Position Information: Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, visit PBRC. 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. Essential Position (Y/N): Pennington Biomedical Research Center/LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Contact Information: Questions or concerns can be directed to PBRC Human Resources at 225-763-2776 or hrm@pbrc.edu. LSU includes institutions, facilities and programs in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and its campuses stretch the length of the state from New Orleans to Shreveport. Each institution plays a vital role in preparing students to incorporate new knowledge and technologies into their daily lives. LSU researchers across Louisiana are working on developing a wide-range of innovations to improve quality of life by studying issues such as disease management, advance medical treatments, obesity, coastal protection, hurricane preparedness, energy, natural resource management and agriculture, among others. Louisiana’s Flagship University is a land-, sea- and space-grant institution with academic programs in all areas of science, engineering, humanities, arts and social sciences. The University comprises of nine institutions: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (“LSU”), the premier flagship university for the state, which include the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the School of Veterinary Medicine Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana State University at Eunice Louisiana State University at Shreveport LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans LSU Health Science Center – Shreveport The Health Care Services Division Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Pennington Biomedical Research Center Any other college, university, school, institution, or program now or hereafter under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College In implementing its mission, LSU is committed to: Offering a broad array of undergraduate degree programs and extensive graduate research opportunities designed to attract and educate highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students; Employing faculty who are excellent teacher-scholars, nationally competitive in research and creative activities, and who contribute to a world-class knowledge base that is transferable to educational, professional, cultural, and economic enterprises; and Using its extensive resources to solve economic, environmental, and social challenges.