Research Support Assistant

About the Role

This 12-month fixed-term role at Massey University's School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition on the Albany Campus in Auckland offers an annual salary between $50,690 and $67,551. The position entails a full workweek of 37.5 hours contributing to research projects focused on physical activity and health among children and adolescents.

School Overview

The School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition is a dynamic, research-focused academic group with specializations in human nutrition and dietetics, sport development, exercise science, exercise prescription, and physical education. The school adopts a multidisciplinary approach to enhance understanding of how diet, exercise, and activity affect health and wellbeing. The university is committed to upholding the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi through its practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Support three school-based physical activity research initiatives: Healthy Active Learning, GAC-PAQ validation, and The Body Project pilot trial.
• Assist in data collection by visiting schools to engage with children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 for survey validation and intervention studies.
• Collaborate with a team comprising academics, postgraduate, and undergraduate students to help implement and evaluate these initiatives.

Project Details

• Healthy Active Learning promotes well-being in youth through healthy eating, drinking, and physical activity, supported by Sport NZ and government ministries.
• Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) involves validating a global survey tool through local data collection.
• The Body Project is an internationally recognized eating disorder prevention program, with a current online pilot trial in secondary schools.

Candidate Profile

• Holds a Master's degree in Sport Science or Nutrition, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Experience in evaluation research, particularly for programs similar to Healthy Active Learning.
• Comfortable working with children and adolescents.
• Proficient in utilizing digital tools in research settings.
• Ability to work cooperatively within a team.
• Possession of a full, clean driver's license.
• Commitment to comply with the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 and related safety check regulations.

Additional Information

Applicants will be considered as they apply, with interviews possibly scheduled before the closing date of Sunday, 16 August 2026, at 11:00 pm. The role offers a significant opportunity to contribute to youth health and education improvements through research support.