opportunities 🤝🏻

On this page, I’ll post any current open oppourtunities to work with me as a TA, PLA (formerly IA), or RA (research assistants).

peer learning assistants (PLAs)

Whether you end up in academia or industry, you will likely encounter opportunities to teach, mentor, or support others. The PLA role a structured way to practice these skills. Under my guidance, you will gain hands-on experience in evidence-based pedagogy, course facilitation, and academic mentorship by helping shape an effective learning environment for one of my courses. You will also deepen your understanding of the course material (the best way to learn is to teach!), strengthen your communication and leadership skills, and see firsthand how courses are intentionally designed and taught with students in mind.

If you’d like to be considered for a PLA position in one of my courses, please do the following:

Check that you meet the basic PLA requirements
Read my PLA “syllabus” in its entirety to get a sense of the general role and responsibilities (may vary depending on the course you are PLAing for).
Fill out my PLA application anytime before the end of Week 7 in the quarter prior.
You will hear from me by the end of the quarter prior. If offered a PLA position, you will be contacted by the COGS advising team to enroll in COGS 195P (you’ll receive a 4-unit course credit for being a PLA).

teaching assistants (TAs) and readers (graders)

I typically already have TAs/readers in mind to appoint for my courses each quarter. However, sometimes there will be an opening that I need to fill.

If you are a COGS PhD student or a PhD student working in a COGS lab, please:

Send me an email with brief answers to the following:
- Tell me a little about yourself and your academic background
- Which course and quarter are you interested in TA-ing?
- Do you have any prior teaching experience? If so, briefly describe your role and responsibilities.
Apply through the official TA application, which opens several weeks before the start of each quarter.

If you are a PhD or Master’s student in another department, it is less likely that we will be able to extend appointments. However, if you are still interested in exploring TA/reader options with me, please also apply through the official TA application. You do NOT need to send me an email (I will reach out to you if there is an opening).

research assistants (RAs)

I am not recruiting research assistants at the moment (but stay tuned in case that changes!).

SGTS

I am more than happy to mentor COGS PhD students interested in teaching and pedagogy through the Summer Graduate Teaching Scholars program. SGTS is a great oppourtunity to gain mentored teaching experience as an instructor-of-record for a UCSD Summer Session course. The deadline is in December of each year.

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