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Summer Opportunities

The School of Biological Sciences assigns both Graduate and Undergraduate students during summer sessions.

All students who meet minimum eligibility requirements are able to apply.

  • Current UC GPA of at least 3.000
  • Enrolled as a UC San Diego Student for proceeding Spring Quarter
  • Prior completion of the same or equivalent course of the IA assignment. Instructor may require completion of certain courses with stipulated grades (often a grade of A or B expected). See also, Alternative Qualifying Courses
  • Only graduate students are eligible to assist as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in upper-division biology lab courses.
  • Effective Summer 2024: Undergraduate students without prior UGIA experience are eligible to serve as IAs (Reader/Grader). Students with prior UGIA experience will receive priority consideration.

Students may not assist in more than one course per summer session; however, students may assist in both Summer 1 and Summer 2 opportunities.

See the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE) salary rates and benefits.

Graduate Students

Graduate students may apply for paid teaching assistant (TA) positions. Minimum eligibility requirements:

  • 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.
  • Those assisting for the first time will also complete an online training curriculum

Restrictions:

  • Students may not assist in more than one course per summer session; however, students may assist in both Summer 1 and Summer 2 opportunities.

See the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE) salary rates and benefits.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduates may apply for paid Undergraduate Reader/Grader positions. Minimum eligibility requirements:

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 3.000 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.
  • Effective Summer 2024: Undergraduate students without prior UGIA experience are eligible to serve as IAs (Reader/Grader). Students with prior UGIA experience will receive priority consideration.

Restrictions:

  • Students may not assist in more than one course per summer session; however, students may assist in both Summer 1 and Summer 2 opportunities.

See the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE) salary rates and benefits.

IA 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
  • Proctor and grade exams
  • Meet regularly with the instructor
  • Other applicable duties as assigned by the instructor

Performance Evaluations and Standards

IAs are evaluated by the instructor of the course and by the students enrolled in the course.

IA 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 IAs of the need to work hours in the pre-session week.

Employment Information

  • A School 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 Reader/Graders employed in title code 2850 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).
Apply for Summer Session 1 Apply for Summer Session 2
Questions? Send them to biota@ucsd.edu