Undergraduate Readers
The School of Biological Sciences offers undergraduates the opportunity to support courses as Readers, hired on an as-needed basis to perform grading and proctoring duties.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
- Prior completion of the same or equivalent course of the assignment. Instructor may require completion of certain courses with stipulated grades (often a grade of A or B expected). See also, Alternative Qualifying Courses
- A cumulative 3.00 UC GPA at the time of application and during the quarter of assignment.
- A minimum of 90 units completed or transferred into UC San Diego at the time of application.
- During the academic year, enrolled in a minimum of 6 units at UC San Diego during the quarter of assignment.
- Registered UC San Diego student with fees paid in the quarter of assignment.
Restrictions
- Students may NOT assist in more than one course per quarter at UC San Diego.
- See the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE) salary rates and benefits.
For more information on Summer Session opportunities, please visit the Summer Session IA page.
For other UC San Diego undergraduate student opportunities, please visit the page on Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice Opportunities.
All assignments are based on instructional needs and are offered solely at the discretion of the School of Biological Sciences. While an instructor may request a student as an IA, such a request does not guarantee placement, nor does it constitute an offer of apprenticeship or employment.
Current Application
Fall 2025 application will open on Wednesday, June 11th, and close on Sunday, July 6th at 11:59pm PST
Application for Fall IA positions
Application Timeline
| For participation in: | Application Opens | Applicants Notified of Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Late Spring Quarter | August, prior to the Fall term |
| Winter | Weeks 1 - 4 of the preceding quarter | By week 8 of the preceding Fall quarter |
| Spring | Weeks 1 - 4 of the preceding quarter | By week 8 of the preceding Winter quarter |
| Summer | Early Spring Quarter | By week 8 of the preceding Spring quarter |
*Approximate timeline. Actual dates may vary.
Reader Performance Expectations
Actual duties for a particular course may vary and will be defined by the supervising instructor. Typical duties may include:
- Attend lectures
- Grade exams/quizzes/homework
- Enter grading information
- Proctoring exams
- Exam Scribe
Performance Evaluations and Standards
Readers are evaluated by the instructor of the course and by the students enrolled in the course via online evaluation surveys conducted at the end of the quarter.
Workload and Time Reporting
Reader assignments may differ depending on the specific course and its associated workload. Typically, Readers can expect 0 to 10 hours per week. However, workload may fluctuate, and Readers should be prepared for variations in their hourly commitment, with the possibility of increased responsibilities during peak periods such as finals week.
- Readers (including proctors and graders) must accurately report the actual hours worked in their assigned positions.
- A 25% FTE Reader position equates to a maximum of 110 hours per quarter, which is approximately 10 hours per week. Some weeks may require more hours than others. If additional hours beyond the allocated FTE are anticipated, students must obtain prior approval from the instructor or supervisor.
- To ensure timely and correct payment processing, timesheets must be submitted punctually and accurately reflect hours worked via EcoTime and approved by the supervising instructor.
- Detailed instructions for submitting timesheets through EcoTime will be provided upon completion of employment paperwork.
- For any inquiries related to timesheet submission, please reach out to biotimekeeping@ucsd.edu.
Employment Information
- A School of Biological Sciences’ Human Resources team member will contact those selected as an IA (TA or Reader) by email with instructions for completing employment paperwork, if needed.
- Students employed in the title code 2850 are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between UC San Diego and the UAW.
- Readers are paid biweekly and must submit timesheets via EcoTime. The supervising instructor will approve the IA’s timesheets. Information about EcoTime can be found at the EcoTime Support Guide.
- For questions regarding timesheet submission, please email biotimekeeping@ucsd.edu.
- Names and addresses of all ASEs are released to the UAW as a condition of employment in title code 2850.
- See the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE).
FAQs for Readers
Employment Paperwork
Hiring must be completed prior to the start of the quarter, including verification of original identification documents. IAs who need to complete hiring paperwork will be contacted via their @ucsd email. Some students may already be active in the UCPath Payroll system; in such cases, no additional paperwork is required. Please monitor your @ucsd email for information on logging into UCPath (UCSD Payroll system), enrolling in direct deposit, and using the timekeeping system (EcoTime).
Readers are paid biweekly and must submit timesheets via EcoTime for hours worked. The supervising instructor will approve their Reader’s timesheets. Information about EcoTime can be found at the EcoTime Support Guide.
Pay close attention to the average number of hours per week associated with the assignment. This information is provided in the original offer email and on the appointment notification. Increasing the maximum number of hours is not permitted. Readers who believe they may exceed the assigned workload must consult with their supervising instructor to ensure the workload remains within established guidelines. Early communication with the instructor—prior to exceeding workload limits—is essential.
For questions, please email biotimekeeping@ucsd.edu
IA Resources
The IA Resource page includes information about office hours, make-up sections, review sessions, technology, etc.
Dr. Jim Kadonaga is the Faculty Advisor for Instructional Assistants. The Faculty Advisor is a point of initial contact for inquiries related to professional development as an IA, science of teaching, classroom effectiveness, or other questions and concerns related to ethics, behavior, or academic integrity.
Contacting the Supervising Instructor
IAs may or may not receive instructions from the supervising instructor before the start of the quarter. If no communication is received, IAs are encouraged to proactively reach out to the supervising instructor via email. If unable to make contact, IAs should notify biota@ucsd.edu and attend the first class meeting. Discussion section assignments are coordinated directly with the supervising instructor.
Questions? Send them to biota@ucsd.edu