Important Notice: Fall enrollment for continuing students has been moved to mid-July, due to the upcoming transition to the new Triton Student System (TSS). For questions about how this may impact fall enrollment, please contact the Registrar’s office. Additional information from campus will be shared as it becomes available.
Instructional Assistants
The School of Biological Sciences offers practical teaching experience to UC San Diego students. Graduate students may participate as Teaching Assistants. Undergraduates may participate through experiences as a Pedagogy and Learning Apprentice effective FA25 (formerly UGIA) or Reader. Under the mentorship and direction of the course instructor and the Faculty Advisor to Instructional Assistants, undergraduates receive an introduction to the pedagogy of teaching, along with supervised, applied experience in teaching science at the collegiate level. Graduate student Teaching Assistants also benefit from mentorship and supervision in an applied practicum experience, while at the same time exploring more in-depth professional development and independent application of teaching and content development skills.
- Graduate Teaching Assistants exist for both PhD and MS level students to assist in the development of the participant's understanding of teaching and learning.
- Undergraduate Pedagogy and Learning Apprentices afford students the opportunity to receive academic credit by participating in an introduction to science teaching at the collegiate level through supervised experiences.
- Undergraduate Readers support instruction in the School through service as a grader, exam proctor, or exam scribe.
- Summer Opportunities give eligible students the chance to extend their experience.
Information for IAs who are currently assigned is also available.
Excellence in Teaching Award
Excellence in Teaching Awards are presented annually to Instructional Assistants whose student and instructor evaluations reflect an exemplary level of performance as an Instructional Assistant. See a list of past recipients.
Questions? Send them to biota@ucsd.edu