Pediatric Research Nurse

Louisiana State University; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement options

Paid holidays

Tuition exemption for qualified posi­t

Training and development opportunities

Employee discounts

Job summary

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world‑renowned research institute affiliated with LSU, seeks a Pediatric Research Nurse for the Developmental Physiology Laboratory. You will work with scientists to conduct clinical research involving infant and prenatal health, overseeing study visits, consent, data collection, and participant safety.

The role requires a BSN and a Louisiana RN license, 1 year neonatal/pediatric nursing, and strong communication to educate families and coordinate care.

Qualifications

• BSN with active RN license in Louisiana.
• Minimum 1 year nursing in neonatal/pediatric settings.
• Ability to perform infant heel sticks.
• Strong assessment and patient safety skills.
• Ability to educate parents on procedures.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate clinical trial activities to ensure protocol compliance and participant safety.
• Recruit and retain participants; build relationships with families and partners.
• Attend community recruitment events, including weekends.
• Monitor adherence to study protocols and provide education to families.
• Administer protocols per regulatory requirements and document activities.
• Collect biospecimens such as saliva, breastmilk, stool, and blood.
• Conduct study visits with consent, assessments, data collection.
• Provide education and counseling to families on procedures and adherence.
• Oversee regulatory activities for trials, including IRB submissions.
• Collaborate with investigators and staff to activate and run studies.
• Maintain complete documentation and data integrity.

Skills

RN licensure

Infant care

Clinical research

Regulatory knowledge

Education counseling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN)

Tools

Microsoft Office

EHR systems

Job description

About Us

At the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers, and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Position Information

Job Posting Title: Pediatric Research Nurse

Type: Professional / Unclassified

Department: LSUPBRC Clinic - Developmental Physiology (Emily Flanagan (00059878))

Work Location: LSU - Pennington Biomedical

Pay Grade: Professional

Job Description

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Pediatric Research Nurse in the Developmental Physiology Laboratory. The Research Nurse will work closely with a team of researchers in the Developmental Physiology Laboratory. Daily responsibilities include participating in all aspects of clinical research of infant and pregnant participants.

Major Responsibilities

• Coordinate and conduct clinical trial activities in collaboration with investigators, sponsors, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure protocol compliance, participant safety, and high-quality research outcomes in the field of infant and prenatal health.
• Facilitate participant recruitment and retention efforts, including identifying and screening potential participants, conducting recruitment outreach, coordinating community recruitment activities, and building strong relationships with participant families, physicians, community partners, and other stakeholders to support enrollment, engagement, and long-term study retention.
• Attend community events for participant recruitment, including approximately 6 weekend events per year.
• Monitor participant adherence to study protocols through direct observation, participant interviews, data review, and ongoing follow-up, implementing supportive interventions and education strategies to optimize compliance and study retention.
• Administer study protocols in accordance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements while closely monitoring participants for adverse reactions and documenting all activities accurately and thoroughly.
• Collect participant biospecimens relevant to protocols including saliva, breastmilk, stool, and blood via heel sticks.
• Conduct study visits in accordance with study protocols and regulatory requirements, including informed consent, participant assessments, data collection, and accurate documentation of study activities.
• Provide individualized education and counseling to research participants’ families regarding study procedures, potential side effects, and the importance of protocol adherence, fostering participant engagement and trust throughout the clinical trial experience.
• Serve as a primary clinical resource for participants’ families by addressing questions, assessing concerns, coordinating care needs, and promoting a positive and supportive research experience from enrollment through study completion.
• Oversee regulatory and compliance activities for assigned clinical trials, including preparation and submission of IRB applications, continuing reviews, protocol amendments, and essential regulatory documents in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), sponsor requirements, and institutional standards.
• Collaborate with investigators, research staff, pharmacy, laboratory, and institutional departments to facilitate successful study activation, protocol implementation, and ongoing operational readiness for clinical research studies within the Developmental Physiology Laboratory.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete clinical research documentation, ensuring data integrity, participant confidentiality, and readiness for sponsor audits, monitoring visits, and regulatory inspections.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN).
• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in Louisiana.
• Minimum of one (1) year of nursing experience in a neonatal or pediatric clinical setting such as the NICU, PICU, or pediatric clinical practice.
• Ability to perform infant heel sticks for blood collection.
• Strong clinical assessment skills with the ability to recognize, evaluate, and respond to adverse events and participant safety concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to educate and counsel participants’ parents regarding study procedures and protocol compliance using clear and compassionate communication.
• Excellent organizational, time management, adaptability, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage multiple studies and priorities in a fast-paced research environment.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with investigators, sponsors, research staff, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Proficiency in clinical documentation systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, data integrity, and compliance with institutional, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of nursing experience in neonatal, pediatric, or other related clinical specialty preferred.
• Experience with regulatory reporting, managing coordinating or supporting clinical trials, research protocols, or investigational drug studies preferred.
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, FDA regulations, and human subject protection standards preferred.

Additional Job Description

Competencies: None

Special Instructions

Interested candidates should include a resume and a list of three (3) professional references to the online application. Professional references should be the name, title, company, and contact information from past employers. Professional references should include current or previous supervisors and/or coworkers. Personal references should not be considered for the reference check process. We will respect the request that we do not contact a current employer. However, we will need to contact a prior supervisor if such a request is made. A letter of application/cover letter is recommended but not required. Official transcripts are required prior to hire and are not required at the time of application.

Posting & Closing Dates

Posting Date: September 11, 2026

Closing Date: October 9, 2026 (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified)

Additional Position Information

Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the‑art research facilities on a 222‑acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, visit PBRC.

Background Check

An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits

Pennington Biomedical Research Center offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Employer of Record Services

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pennington Biomedical Research Center/LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contact Information

Questions or concerns can be directed to PBRC Human Resources at 225‑763‑2776 or [e-mail].

About LSU

LSU includes institutions, facilities and programs in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and its campuses stretch the length of the state from New Orleans to Shreveport. Each institution plays a vital role in preparing students to incorporate new knowledge and technologies into their daily lives. LSU researchers across Louisiana are working on developing a wide‑range of innovations to improve quality of life by studying issues such as disease management, advance medical treatments, obesity, coastal protection, hurricane preparedness, energy, natural resource management and agriculture, among others. Louisiana’s Flagship University is a land‑, sea‑ and space‑grant institution with academic programs in all areas of science, engineering, humanities, arts and social sciences. The University comprises of nine institutions: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (“LSU”), the premier flagship university for the state, which include the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the School of Veterinary Medicine Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana State University at Eunice Louisiana State University at Shreveport LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans LSU Health Science Center – Shreveport The Health Care Services Division Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Pennington Biomedical Research Center Any other college, university, school, institution, or program now or hereafter under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College In implementing its mission, LSU is committed to: Offering a broad array of undergraduate degree programs and extensive graduate research opportunities designed to attract and educate highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students; Employing faculty who are excellent teacher‑scholars, nationally competitive in research and creative activities, and who contribute to a world‑class knowledge base that is transferable to educational, professional, cultural, and economic enterprises; and Using its extensive resources to solve economic, environmental, and social challenges.