Smoothie Program for Achieving and Resilient Kids (SPARK Study): Prior literature suggests that yogurt may be beneficial for brain health, including cognitive processes involved with self-regulation (i.e., executive functions-EF). Therefore, we are conducing a randomized clinical trial to compare 4 weeks exposure of daily yogurt at 2 doses (1 vs 2 drinks per day) to daily fruit juice on neurocognitive function and microbiome composition in 60 rural children from Central Pennsylvania (20 children per exposure condition). Children are randomized to receive either the control (fruit juice) or one of the experimental doses of yogurt smoothies (1x daily vs. 2x daily) for 4 weeks. Main outcomes will be EF assessed by validated tasks and surveys, hippocampal-dependent memory assessed by a validated neuropsychological assessment, brain function assessed by functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and gut microbiome composition.
- 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) or Dr. Kathleen Keller (klk37@psu.edu) with CV and description of interest.