MEAL-TIME Study: An ‘obesogenic’ style of eating (e.g., larger bites and faster eating and bite rates) has been identified in the lab and proposed as a modifiable behavioral target, however, it is unclear if this eating style will generalize to the home environment, where children consume two thirds of their total energy. We will assess laboratory and home eating styles (e.g., bite rate) in 100 prepubertal 6-9-year-old children to constrain variability in energy requirements. Children will be video-recorded while consuming identical study-provided meals at home and in the laboratory (counter-balanced order) in addition to a ‘typical’ meal at home. Parents will use smart-phone devices and the Wear-IT app to video-record children at home. We will also be completing neurospychological testing of executive functioning in the lab and several behavioral tasks to look at reward-related food processing.
- Ethical Training – you will complete required background checks for working with children and ethical training for doing research with humans
- Recruitment and Scheduling – you will need to be able to clearly explain the study to parents who are interested in the study and answer questions they may have
- Food Preparation – you will help to prepare meals and snacks in a safe and consistent manner
- Running Study Visits – you will have the opportunity to be trained to work with the child during study visits and collect data according to our Standard Operating Procedures.
- Data Management – you will help to ensure all data is high quality, have the opportunity to be trained to score neuropsychological assessments of cognitive function, and have the opportunity to be trained to use the meal videos to code child behaviors during meals
In good academic standing and able to speak and communicate fluently in English.
We typically require at least 8-10 hours per week and a minimum commitment of 2 semesters.
Additional skills include: attention to detail, reliable, works well in a team environment, and comfortable communicating with chidlren and their parents.
Please include your CV.
Please contact Dr. Alaina Pearce (azp271@psu.edu) with CV and description of interest.