Subject: Job: BSCI UTA Program, Spring 2016

Description:
Biological Sciences Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Fellows Program Spring
2016

The Biological Sciences Program, within the College of Computer, Mathematical
and Natural Sciences, will employ Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs)
Spring 2016 in a program designed to develop teaching and communication
skills, organization ability, knowledge, and leadership. Each UTA will be
supervised by the lab or discussion coordinator for the course they are
assigned to, and will be required to perform the duties typically expected of
a teaching assistant.

UTA duties will include:
-Attend weekly prep meetings as scheduled by the lab or discussion supervisor
(see below for times)
-Attend lectures.
-Teach one lab or discussion section per week (except for BSCI207, see below)
-Adequately prepare for teaching the lab or discussion
-Grade papers & assignments as assigned by the lab or discussion supervisor,
or the faculty instructor
-Hold office hours as directed by the lab or discussion supervisor
-Help to proctor lecture exams as needed
-Be available one week prior to the beginning of classes for scheduled TA
meetings
-UTA’s who have not previously done so will register for and attend a
1-credit weekly seminar course on teaching skills and issues, BSCI279P, which
meets on Tuesday evenings (prep UTAs are exempt from this requirement).

New UTAs teaching labs must attend a lab safety training session prior to or
during the first week of classes. This work will require 10 - 15 hours per
week, depending on the course requirements.  The stipend is $1500.00 for the
semester, paid in an hourly wage.  Undergraduate students will be hired for
only one UTA position in any given semester, but will be allowed to apply for
a position in a later semester, assuming their performance is satisfactory.

Interested students fill out the application found here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bsciutaspring2016

UTA applications are due November 23, 2015.

Most UTA positions will be awarded between December 1-16, 2015. Hiring will
continue during the winter break until all UTA slots are filled.

Minimum application requirements:
-Second year student
-Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
-Have taken the course they wish to TA at UMCP and earned a grade of B or
higher.
-Students with AP credit for a course will have completed the next higher
level course with a grade of B or higher
-For the non-majors courses a UTA will have earned a grade of B or higher in
either BSCI105 or BSCI06, taken at UMCP.
-Sufficient time free for the UTA position
-At least one four hour block of time available to teach a 2 or 3 hour lab or
discussion
-Time free to attend lectures for course
-Time free to attend prep meeting.  Prep meeting times are provided below.
-Time to attend the 1-hour per week teaching skills seminar course. The
teaching seminar course will be held:  Tues. 5-6 pm (new UTAs; prep-lab UTAs
are exempt from this requirement)

The courses available for UTAs and the typical prep meeting times for each
course are listed below.  It is not assured that UTA applicants will be hired
for any particular course.  UTA positions will be filled based on staffing
needs and applicant backgrounds.

BSCI103 The World of Biology. An introduction to modern biology for the
non-science major
Prep meetings:  Wednesday 8 - 9:30am

BSCI105 Principles of Biology I; Basic principles of biology with special
emphasis on cellular and molecular biology.
Prep meetings:  Friday 2 - 5pm

BSCI106 Principles of Biology II. Basic principles of biology with special
emphasis on ecology, evolution, and animal behavior.
Prep meeting:  TBA

BSCI125 Plant Biology Laboratory.  An introduction to the biology of plants
with emphasis on the processes by which plants function, the diversity of
plants, and the importance of plants to humans. Non major course
Prep meeting: Friday afternoon

BSCI 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I. Anatomy and physiology of the
skeletal, muscular, neural, endocrine, and sensory systems.
Prep meetings: Friday 1 – 3pm

BSCI202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II. Anatomy and physiology of the
cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, digestive, urinary and reproductive
systems.
Prep meetings:  Thursday 2 - 4pm

BSCI207 Principles of Biology III. The diversity, structure and function of
organisms as understood from the perspective of their common physicochemical
principles and unique evolutionary histories.
Prep meeting time TBA

BSCI222 Principles of Genetics. Principles and mechanisms of heredity and
gene expression.
Prep meetings: Friday 8-9am

BSCI330 Cell Biology and Physiology. Biochemical and physiological mechanisms
underlying cellular function. Properties of cells which make life possible
and mechanisms by which cells provide energy, reproduce, and regulate and
integrate with each other and their environment.
Prep meetings: Friday 2-5pm


Interested students fill out the application found here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bsciutaspring2016




Contact Person: Francisca Saavedra, Ph.D.
Contact Email: [log in to unmask]