Food Aid Packaging Research Assistant / Senior Research Assistant – Friedman School of Nutrition-16001467
Description

This is a grant funded position and is not eligible for severance pay.

The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, established in 1981, is the only self-governing graduate and professional school of nutrition in North America. Its mission is to improve the nutritional well-being of people worldwide through:

• the creation of new knowledge
• the application and dissemination of evidence-based information and
• the education and training of future leaders in the field

This mission is fulfilled by bringing together experts from the areas of clinical nutrition, social and public policy, and biomedicine. Faculty at the school include biomedical scientists, economists, epidemiologists, nutritionists, physicians, political scientists and psychologists who focus on a myriad of issues with the common thread of nutrition and its role in fostering the growth and development of human populations.

The Friedman School of Nutrition is seeking a full-time Research Assistant/Senior Research Assistant to work on a project relating to the assessment of the quality and programmatic uses of fortified food products used in U.S. Title II food aid programs. The project, called the Food Aid Quality Review, ( www.foodaidquality.pbworks.com) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Food for Peace (FFP).

FAQR Phase I, conducted from 2009 to 2011, examined the nutritional needs of beneficiary populations across the developing world and the nutritional quality of commodities currently available to meet those needs, with the objective of improving the quality of Title II food aid commodities and programming. The findings of FAQR Phase I were published as a report, Delivering Improved Nutrition: Recommendations for Changes to U.S. Food Aid Products and Programs (USAID, April 2011), which is available at http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/food-assistance/resources/research-and-policy-papers.

The project completed Phase II of research in February 2016, which involved presenting findings and recommendations, implementing many of the recommendations, and testing recommendations through follow-on studies. The current phase, FAQR Phase III, will conclude activities initiated in earlier phases, and will respond to new priorities. Focus areas include: research on the acceptability and cost effectiveness of new food products; testing new formulations of products (compared with existing foods); studying improved packaging and delivery approaches to enhance logistics; organizing consultative and expert meetings to draw on the widest possible expertise and take account of the multiple perspectives on food aid programming; synthesizing state-of-the-art evidence on food-based delivery of micronutrients in environments where food aid is required; and defining and disseminating improved field tools for calculating the cost-effectiveness of products and interventions, including specialized foods.

This job will be a Research Assistant or Senior Research Assistant, depending on the experience of the candidate.

The Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR) Phase III Research Assistant/Senior Research Assistant (RA) will work closely with the FAQR Principal Investigators, Food Technologist, and Project Manager. The RA’s primary focus includes FAQR Phase III activities related to the food aid packaging. This will include exploring the potential for improved packaging in enhancing/retaining nutrients in food aid products, as well as in extending product shelf life, improving transportability, resisting pest infestation, and as a vehicle for messaging. The RA will pursue consultation with implementing partners to assess issues of packaging and storage, including pest infestation, mold contamination, food wastage, as well as environmental concerns relating to container disposal.

The RA will assist with:

• Assist in completing a concept note outlining the purpose, objectives, and methods for the FAQR Phase III work stream in food aid packaging
• Communicate with partners at the World Food Programme (WFP), and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Natick Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and others.
• Assist in identifying members of a Task Force focused on food aid packaging and creating documents to guide the Task Force objectives.
• Perform a comprehensive literature review on current available packaging technologies applicable to food aid.
• Complete all interviews and analyze results to gather information on issues regarding packaging, storage, pest infestation, mold, food wastage.
• Assist in the organization of a workshop to share findings and gain additional input from stakeholders on recommendations for next steps on USAID priorities for packaging technology (Participants include: Food aid Suppliers, Packaging companies, Packaging experts)
• Complete a final report highlighting major food packaging issues, detailing recommendations and next steps for USAID
• Complete a policy brief communicating key policy relevant findings
• Any other assigned tasks as assigned for the successful completion of FAQR Phase III objectives
• Attend and present at scientific conferences or team meetings as needed

This is a full-time position at Tufts University in Boston, MA to begin by mid-May 2016 or as soon thereafter as possible.

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:

• 1-3 years related experience preferred, with experience in food aid packaging technology, nutrition, and food science.
• Preferably some prior experience working in international nutrition, with knowledge of food aid commodities, food aid packaging, storage, pest infestation, mold, food wastage.
• Experience with workshop facilitation, qualitative and quantitative data analysis is a plus.
• Masters degree in Food Science or Technology, Packaging, Nutrition or a combination of experience on the forgoing areas.
• Must have working knowledge of nutrition, and food science.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with data analysis programs (such as SPSS, STATA, Nvivo) is desirable.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Food technology experience with basic understanding of various aspects of packaging, storage techniques, pest infestation, familiarity with food aid products, especially those used in food assistance programming such as: fortified blended foods, fortified rice, fortified cereals, ready-to-use foods (nutritional pastes).
• Applied knowledge on food handling, food safety, food aid supply chains is a plus.

Special Work Schedule Requirements:
Occasional research team meetings and reporting deadlines require working beyond normal office hours.

Tufts University is an AA/EO employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds. Please see the Tufts University non-discrimination statement.

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston
Job: Research
Organization: Academic Programs – Friedman
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Jun 28, 2016, 1:16:30 PM PI94712361