Summer Opportunities
The Division of Biological Sciences appoints Graduate Student Teaching Assistants and Undergraduate Tutors (serving as a Teaching Apprentice) during summer sessions.
Only experienced IAs are eligible to be considered for summer session positions. Prior qualifying 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 at UC San Diego, is required for consideration for Summer Session positions. Students with no prior qualifying experience are not eligible for consideration for summer session positions. Summer eligibility is also based upon Spring quarter enrollment and student status.
Only graduate students are eligible to assist in upper-division biology lab courses.
Students may not assist in more than one course per summer session; however, students may assist in both session I and session II.Graduate Students
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
- Some instructors may require completion of certain courses with stipulated grades.
Undergraduate Students
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 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.
TA/Tutor Performance Expectations
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.
TA Workload
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
Employment Information
- A Division of Biological Sciences’ team member will contact you by email if you must attend an employee sign-up 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.
- ASE/UAW membership dues information
- See the Graduate Division website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE).