Become a TA for Introductory Biology 151/3-152!

Our spring two-semester Introductory Biology course sequence for bioscience majors includes both 151/153 (Cell Biology, Genetics, and Animal Physiology) and 152 (Plant Physiology, Evolution, and Ecology). For both courses there are discussion TA and lab TA positions available, while 152 also has Independent Project (IP) TA positions.

Benefits:

Employee benefits, tuition remission, paychecks
Flexibility to fit your class and work schedule

Weekly group meetings that prepare you for your sections
Training in active learning and inquiry based pedagogies
Building your teaching resume before graduating
Developing and critiquing scientific writing skills.
Working alongside like-minded peers that support you

Discussion TAs lead small groups of students through lecture material using active learning techniques, homework, quizzes, and exam review. Lesson plans and all materials are provided weekly.

Lab TAs lead small groups of students through a variety of inquiry-based lab sessions ranging from microorganisms, forensic analysis, genetics, sleep, tropisms, evolution, and water quality. Bio 152 TAs also manage students in Independent Projects.

Independent Project TAs guide students through a semester-long mentored research
project or a library meta-analysis project.

Schedules and Workloads

A typical 50% position in these courses requires 360 hours during the contract period of 8/19/24-1/1/25; you are expected to work starting 8/26/24. Workloads are adjusted for lower % positions. TAs must be available for the following scheduled items.

TA Training:
The campus has not yet posted final times for the Grad School Welcome Week activities for new grad students. The following is based on what we did in 2023 and should be treated as provisional

All TAs	New 151/3-152 TAs
151/3-152 TA training sessions. Both: 2-5PM Wednesday 8/28/24 and 9AM-5PM Friday 8/30/24	151/3-152 TA training sessions. Both: 1-5PM Wednesday 8/28/24 and 9AM-5PM Friday 8/30/24
	Integrative Biology TA training session: afternoon of Monday 8/26/24
	CommB training sessions through the Writing Across the Curriculum Program. Both: 9AM-noon Monday 8/26/24 and 9AM-noon Wednesday 8/28/24

Weekly schedules: Except for the first week of classes, Discussion TAs and Lab TAs must be available to teach a certain number of classes in addition to their grading, exam proctoring, and other duties.

For a 50% Discussion or Lab TA position, assigned classes and workloads are:

All Discussion TAs	Five 75-minute discussion sections; these can occur on Monday and/or Tuesday starting as early as 9:30AM, with the last section starting at 7 PM.
151 Lab TAs	Three 3-hour labs; these can occur on Monday-Thursday starting at 8:50AM, 1:20 PM, or 5PM.
152 Lab TAs	Two 3-hour labs; these can occur on Monday-Thursday starting at 8:50AM, 1:20 PM, or 5PM. 152 lab TAs also manage 15 Independent Projects.
Office hours and TA meetings	TAs also must schedule weekly office hours and attend weekly TA meetings. Discussion TA meetings are on Wednesday afternoons from 1-4PM, while Lab TA meetings are on Friday mornings from 8AM-12PM.

For a 33% Independent Project TA position, assigned classes and workloads are:

Independent Project TAs

Management of 33 Independent Projects and attendance during our four IP-based labs (the first three weeks and the final week of lab).
IP TAs also attend six 90 minute TA meetings per semester.