Summer Opportunities

Graduate students may apply for teaching assistant positions. Minimum eligibility requirements:

• Prior experience as an IA in a Biological Sciences class (as evidenced by a passing grade in BISP 195 or BGGN 500), or a previously completed graduate student TA appointment in another department at UC San Diego - those assisting in the spring quarter prior to summer session are eligible to apply
• UC San Diego graduate student, enrolled in at least 12 units in the previous spring quarter
• Minimum 3.000 GPA
• Some instructors may require completion of certain courses with stipulated grades.

Undergraduates may apply for Undergraduate Tutor positions. Minimum eligibility requirements:

• Prior experience as a UGIA in a Biological Sciences class (as evidenced by a passing grade in BISP 195) - those assisting as a UGIA in the spring quarter prior to summer session are eligible
• Minimum 3.000 GPA
• Registered, enrolled UC San Diego undergraduate student in the previous spring quarter
• Some instructors may require completion of certain courses with stipulated grades.

Actual duties for a particular course may vary. Complete descriptions of duties will be provided to selected applicants by the instructor of record for the course. Typical duties include:

Graduate IAs:

• Attend lectures
• Lead discussion section(s) or lab section(s)
• Hold office hours
• Assist with development of exams
• With faculty oversight, develop new (written) course material for use in discussion sections/ homework/ exams/quizzes/ review sessions
• Proctor and grade exams
• Meet regularly with the instructor
• Assist with course management
• Mentor undergraduate instructional assistants
• Other applicable duties as assigned by the instructor

Undergraduate IAs:

• Attend lectures
• Facilitate discussion or lab section, using written content generated by the instructor or graduate IA
• Hold office hours
• Provide feedback to instructors on exam drafts
• Proctor and grade exams
• Meet regularly with the instructor
• Other applicable duties as assigned by the instructor

Performance Evaluations and Standards

Tutors/TAs are evaluated by the instructor of the course and by the students enrolled in the course.

Summer session assignments vary based on the course and associated workload.  Typical assignments vary from 15-35 hours per week.

Most of these hours are accrued in the five-week summer session (I or II) and final exam (plus grading) period (see Schedule of Classes). If required, instructors will inform Tutors/TAs of the need to work hours in the pre-session week.

Lower-Division and Upper-Division Lecture Courses: Graduate Teaching Assistants lead two or more discussion sections; Undergraduate Tutors lead one or more sections

Upper-Division Lab Courses: Graduate Teaching Assistants lead one lab section each

BILD 4:  IAs lead one or more lab sections each

• A Division of Biological Sciences’ team member will contact you by email if you must attend an employee hiring session. 
• Graduate students employed in Teaching Assistant title code 2310 and Undergraduate Tutors employed in title code 2860 are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between UC San Diego and the ASE/UAW. 
• Names and addresses of all ASEs are released to the UAW as a condition of employment in the represented title codes.
• See the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE).