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Part-time Research Assistant - Petersen Kitchen

Part-time

Penn State University

State College, PAPart-timePosted 9mo agoStill listed today

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At a glance

Compensation
No compensation found
Location
State College, PA
Role Type
Research
Schedule
Part-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

Dr. Kristina Petersen’s lab in Penn State’s Department of Nutritional Sciences seeks part-time research assistants for its research kitchen during summer 2026. The kitchen prepares controlled meals and diets for research studies. Assistants prepare and pack meals, work with research participants, and support administrative tasks and data entry. The role is in person in State College, Pennsylvania, and requires availability for at least 20 hours per week during the summer.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Meal Preparation, nice to haveCooking, nice to haveParticipant Engagement, nice to haveData Entry, nice to haveAttention to Detail, nice to haveCommunication, nice to haveOrganization, nice to haveTeamwork, nice to have

Qualifications

Customer Service or Hospitality Experience, nice to haveHuman Subjects Research Training, requiredAvailable 20+ Hours Weekly, requiredBackground Check, required

Full job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS Dr. Kristina Petersen’s lab in the Department of Nutritional Sciences is seeking dynamic part-time research assistants to join our highly productive research kitchen for the summer (May to August 2026). The Kitchen produces tightly controlled meals and diets for research studies conducted at Penn State. The position involves preparing, cooking, and packing research meals and snacks according to standard protocols and recipes. In addition, the position involves engaging with research participants to provide instructions and assess adherence to the research protocol, research-related administrative tasks, and data entry. We seek candidates that are proactive, task- orientated, attentive to detail, and have excellent communication and organizational skills. Prior experiences in customer service or hospitality a plus, but a positive attitude, love of food and a willingness to learn and work as an individual or as part of a team depending on the task is the main requirement. Applicants must be willing to undertake training in human subjects research (training will be provided). The successful candidate will be available to work for at least 20 hours per week during the summer. This is an in-person job in State College, Pennsylvania. Applicants must submit a resume/CV and cover letter indicating their interest in the position and availability for the position during the summer.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines

How this job compares

Set against the 681 open Research Assistant jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.

Pay
  • This postingNot listed
  • US median$47–60K/yr84 salary ranges
  • Pennsylvania median$12–16/hr38 hourly ranges
Openings
Olive Jobs lists 78 open Research Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania and 681 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
Research Assistant postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 2 years (152 postings).
Education
187 of the 681 open Research Assistant jobs (27%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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