Become a Teaching Assistant
Penn State provides students with several opportunities to work within the classroom and hone their teaching skills. In particular the department provides the opportunity for students to apply to become Teaching Assistants.
Serving as a teaching assistant is an excellent way to use the knowledge you have already gained in your classes to get others excited about science and to help teach them foundational scientific principles and techniques.
Teaching assistants are paid positions, or alternatively, students accepted as a TA may choose to earn BMB 408 credit for their experience. Students should consult with their academic advisor to learn how this credit can be applied to their degree requirements.
Positions to serve as a Teaching Assistant for the introductory level microbiology and biochemistry lab courses are often available each year. If you are interested in becoming a TA, contact the instructor of the course, who can then inform you if opportunities are currently available for that course.
Eligibility Guidelines: In order to TA for a course students must have already successfully completed a related lab or lecture course offered through the BMB department (microbiology labs required to TA for microbiology, and biochemistry labs required to TA for biochemistry labs) with a grade of an A- or higher. Furthermore, lab TAs need to be familiar with basic lab techniques, and be comfortable interacting with and helping students perform experiments and analyze data.
TA duties may include a combination of the following: weekly meetings with instructors, weekly pre-runs, preparatory work, management of online course materials, sharing of content knowledge during class and/or office hours, and grading.
Become a Teaching Assistant
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is seeking qualified undergraduates to serve as Teaching Assistants (TAs) for introductory level microbiology and biochemistry lab courses, as well as lecture courses throughout Summer 2019 and/or the 2019-2020 academic year. In order to TA for a course, students must have already successfully completed a related lab or lecture course offered through the BMB Department (microbiology labs required to TA for microbiology, and biochemistry labs required to TA for biochemistry labs) with a grade of A- or higher. Furthermore, lab TAs need to be familiar with basic lab techniques and be comfortable interacting with and helping students perform experiments and analyze data. TA duties may include a combination of the following: weekly meetings with instructors, weekly pre-runs, preparatory work, management of online course materials, sharing of necessary content knowledge, and grading. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for at least 2 references (with one being a faculty member of the BMB Department). The cover letter should indicate the course that the applicants is interested in serving as a TA for. The resume should include local address, phone number, semester standing, student GPA, expected graduation date, relevant professional experience, a list of the relevant BMB and MICRB laboratory or lecture courses taken (including semester and instructor), and the grades received in those courses. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until all positions have been filled.
Biochemistry Lab and Microbiology Lab Courses - PSU Students Only
Eberly College of Science
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Job Number: 86922