The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation (Foundation) is seeking two doctoral students who are RDN members of the Academy to serve as their 2025 Summer Evidence Analysis Center (EAC) fellows. The fellows will work closely with the Academy’s EAC team and content experts in the proposed research areas.
The fellowships begin in late June 2025.
This opportunity, available through funding from the Foundation’s Research Endowment, is the equivalent of full-time for 12 weeks and includes nearly full-time effort early on in the fellowship followed by necessary publication activities throughout fall 2025.
Application
Interested candidates should apply online by 3:00 pm CT on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Applications should include a CV, tailored personal statement highlighting relevant experience and skills that makes the candidate a good fit for the fellowship, and a letter of support from their current academic advisor.
Questions? Please visit the Foundation’s fellowship page to read the Frequently Asked Questions first. Further questions can be directed via email to Nicci Brown, MS, RDN, FAND, Program Director, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation at nbrown@eatright.org with the subject “EAC Fellowship.”
Background
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has invested in developing and synthesizing evidence to support evidence-based practice since 2004. The Evidence Analysis Center (EAC) is a branch of the Academy’s Research team, and its staff work with content advisors and expert advisory groups to conduct scoping and systematic reviews, evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines, and consensus and position papers.
The researched topics are ones prioritized through member and staff recommendations in addition to evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines and position papers that continually need updating. The output of this work is used by the policy and advocacy, publications, lifelong learning, and nutrition service coverage teams in their work. Additionally, the journal articles, guidelines, and position statements are used by educators, students, practitioners in a variety of settings, clinical nutrition managers, and grant writers and funders.
In an effort to train more RDNs in the methodology behind scoping and systematic reviews and to address topics prioritized by the Academy’s Policy and Advocacy team, a summer EAC fellowship was created and funded by the Academy Foundation through its Research Endowment. The summer of 2021 was the inaugural year for the summer fellowship program, and two fellows worked collaboratively on systematic reviews annually since then.
Overview
As part of the Foundation’s successful Fellowship program, this project will focus on conducting systematic reviews on topics that have been identified as important for both advocacy and practice.
The fellows will spend 12 weeks with EAC staff and content experts in the proposed research area(s).
The EAC staff will serve as methodology experts and will mentor selected RDN fellows and to complete a robust systematic review. The topic area this year is:
- Effectiveness of Nutrition Interventions for Adults living with Type 2 diabetes: A Systematic Scoping review
Details and Responsibilities
With the support of the Academy's RISA team, the fellows will produce the following outcomes:
- One or more manuscript(s) submitted to a nutrition science, peer-reviewed journal
- Systematic reviews published within the Academy's Evidence Analysis Library
This fellowship work may also be leveraged to create abstracts and additional papers for publication.
Additional Position Details
- All fellowship work will be accomplished through telecommuting methods (webinars, conference calls, etc.). Relocation is not required.
- Applicants must be able to commit to a nearly full-time effort (40 hours/week) early on in the fellowship followed by necessary publication activities throughout fall 2025.
Fellow Criteria
- Currently enrolled as a doctoral student in a university nutrition and dietetics program.
- Doctoral students enrolled in universities within and outside of the United States are encouraged to apply.
- Recent graduates of doctoral programs (less than five years) may be considered.
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken
- Be either:
- Currently credentialed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
- Currently pursuing the RDN credential, evidenced by enrollment in an ACEND-accredited program leading to RDN examination eligibility
Fellow Skills
Qualified applicants are required to demonstrate experience and proficiency in the following skills:
- R or SAS statistical analysis
- Conducting scoping or systematic reviews
Additional desirable skills include:
- Self-motivated
- Ability to function at a high level
- Strong interpersonal and team skills
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently
Fellowship Award
The Foundation will provide funding support for the fellowship as follows:
$15,000 Fellowship Stipend
- The stipend is based on the standard set by other Foundation fellowships.
Additional benefits (health insurance, retirement, etc.) are not available for this position.
Apply Here