Research or academic dietitian
Do you want to contribute to the knowledge and evidence dietitians use in practice?
What do research and academic dietitians do?
Dietitians work as part of research teams investigating nutrition and health issues to further knowledge in these areas. The research generated by research dietitians is used to inform dietetic practice and forms the basis of evidence-based practice guidelines, position statements and government policies.
An academic dietitian works in the university setting and is usually involved in both research and the education of student dietitians and other health professionals regarding nutrition and dietetics.
Where are the jobs?
Universities
Research organisations, e.g. CSIRO
Industry e.g. Nestle
Health services and non-government organisations, e.g. public hospitals or Cancer Council Victoria
Job titles to search
Professor or Associate Professor
Lecturer or Senior Lecturer
Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Researcher or Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Dietitian or Research Nutritionist
Skills required for the job
Research and academic dietitians have skills in research design, data analysis and interpretation, scientific writing in order to conduct research. Academic dietitians will also have skills in teaching and supervision of higher degree research students.
The skills you should aim to develop include:
Working effectively in teams and collaborating
Strong communication skills for oral presentations (e.g. conferences or teaching) and writing (scientific publications and research grants)
Good time management and project management ability
Attention to detail
How to develop your skills
To give yourself the best opportunity to be job ready at the end of your degree, we recommend that you:
Volunteer at a research organisation as this will give you an opportunity to be exposed to the type of research you could be involved in
Find a mentor
If you are seeking casual work during your degree, consider working as a research assistant to gain exposure to the research environment
Join professional organisations, many offer a student rate for membership
Attend Professional organisation events or seminars and set yourself a goal to meet two new people every time you attend
What units or courses to study at Deakin
Dietetic graduates wanting to further their qualifications can elect to do an honours degree or complete H541 Graduate Certificate of Health Research Practice. This can lead onto a Masters by Research or PhD.
In order to become a research or academic dietitian it is usual to complete a research degree such as a Masters by Research or PhD.
Miscellaneous
Graduate profile video (2-3 minutes)