Student-Research Assistant – PSE Implementation

Description

Position Overview

Position Type: Grant-Funded | Temporary 

Duration: June 1 – September 30, 2026  

Center: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine 

Location: CWRU Institute for Population and Community Health, Warren E. Anderson MidTown Collaboration Center, 1974 E. 66th Street, Suite 300, Cleveland, Ohio 44103-4888  

Hours: 40 hours per week during summer term, 20 hours per week during Fall Semester.  

Compensation: Based on experience and CWRU student employment rate available here

Number of Positions: 1  

 

 

Project Background

The Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health at Case Western Reserve University is supporting implementation of Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) change efforts to increase healthy food choices and active living among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) consumers across Ohio. A core initiative within this work focuses on enhancing capacity to implement PSE strategies that increase access to healthy foods and promote healthy food choices among SNAP consumers through a statewide mini grant program and enhanced marketing efforts.The Research Assistant (GRA) will provide critical support across all four project objectives, working with statewide, regional, and local networks across Ohio.

 

 

Position Summary

Under the direction of a Project Manager, the Research Assistant will support the coordination, implementation, and evaluation of a statewide PSE mini grant program targeting farmers markets, food pantries, early childcare centers, and K-12 school sites serving SNAP and SNAP-eligible consumers. This position offers hands-on experience in program coordination, grant administration, program evaluation, success story development, and community nutrition marketing. The RA will collaborate with statewide, regional, and local partner networks across Ohio.

 

 

Key Responsibilities

Mini Grant Site Selection & Coordination (Objective 1)

• Assist with outreach to statewide, regional, and local networks to identify and recruit eligible sites

• Support the review and selection process for up to 125 mini grant sites across Ohio serving SNAP and SNAP-eligible consumers

• Help coordinate mini grant awards (up to $1,500 per award) across farmers market, food pantry, early childcare, and K-12 school settings

• Maintain organized records of applicant and awardee information, ensuring geographic variability and diversity of PSE interventions represented

• Communicate with site contacts regarding award status, requirements, and timelines

Evaluation Planning & Implementation (Objective 2)

• Assist with developing and implementing a comprehensive evaluation plan for the mini grant program

• Support creation of data collection tools (e.g., surveys, tracking forms, reporting templates) for mini grant recipients

• Maintain and organize evaluation data across all funded sites

• Track progress toward success metrics, including: 

• Number of mini grant awards

• Number of organizations reached

• Geographic variability of awards

• Variety of PSE interventions supported

Success Story Development & Dissemination (Objective 3)

• Conduct outreach to mini grant recipients to gather information for 5 success stories highlighting community-level benefits of PSE mini grants

• Draft compelling, accessible success stories based on evaluation data and site feedback

• Support dissemination of success stories through appropriate channels (e.g., newsletters, websites, social media, partner networks)

• Ensure success stories reflect diverse geographies, settings, and populations served

General Project Coordination

• Attend regular team meetings and provide updates on task progress

• Maint