Teaching Assistantships

The Department of Biology and Marine Biology offers teaching assistantships to students enrolled in the biology master's and marine biology master's and Ph.D. programs based on continued availability of funding. Students must request these assistantships on the application, and selection will be based on an evaluation of academic records, recommendations, experience, and relevant criteria. Each teaching assistant will be assigned duties by the lab coordinator and graduate coordinator.

The duties of assistantships include classroom instruction, professional development that is a critical component of becoming an effective teacher, and other duties as assigned by the chair. These instructional duties will require no more than 20 hours per week, including time spent in laboratories and in preparation.  Duties will generally involve preparing for and helping in the teaching of two or three 100, 200 or 300 level laboratories and/or performing preparation work for the laboratory. Other duties may be assigned as appropriate. Teaching Assistants are expected to be on campus and available for work assignments by registration, and to remain on campus through the period of final examinations. Arrival delays or early departures must be approved by the department chair. When the 30-hour degree requirement has been met, the assistantship may be maintained by enrolling for GRC 600.

If you were not awarded a teaching assistantship upon admission, you may be considered for a teaching assistantship as positions become available. You should notify the department graduate coordinator of your interest in being considered for a teaching assistantship.

Teaching assistantships are awarded for one academic year. Masters students may normally expect to be continued for a second year and Ph.D. students for four years if performance is satisfactory. Continuation of the teaching assistantship past those time periods is permissible (but not guaranteed) providing performance as a teaching assistant is acceptable and that satisfactory progress towards the appropriate degree has been made. Students failing to perform their duties satisfactorily may have their assistantship revoked any time.

Lab Descriptions

Biology 105 - Concepts of Modern Biology

Nonmajors Course. Biological facts and principles concerning the human mind and body, genetics, and the environment. Labs are inquiry-driven and rely on the application of the scientific method.

Biology 204 - Principles of Biology

Core Course. Introduction to principles governing living systems, especially the cellular and molecular basis of life. Laboratory exercises introduce basic laboratory and investigative skills.

Biology 205 - Plant Biology

Core Course. Morphology and physiology of seed plants and a phylogenetic survey of vascular and nonvascular plant groups.

Biology 206 - Animal Biology

Core Course. Phylogenetic survey of animals, and structure and functions of major body systems, especially of humans.

Biology 240/241 - Human Anatomy and Physiology

A comprehensive introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the human organism.

Biology 246 - Microbiology of Human Diseases
An introduction of microorganisms that affect humans, emphasizing pathogenic and related microorganisms.

Biology 325 - Molecular Biology of the Cell Laboratory

Molecular biology and experimental biological systems used to elucidate cellular function. Experiments demonstrate basic phenomena underlying cellular function.

Biology 335 - Genetics

Demonstration of Principles of Mendelian heredity, linkage, mutation, population genetics and gene action through study of Drosophila and other genetic systems.

Biology 345 - Animal Physiology

Introduction to the equipment and techniques for computer-based acquisition of physiological data, includes data analysis and presentations.

Biology 362 - Marine Biology

The coastal and oceanic biota and their relationship to the marine environment.

Biology 366 - Ecology

Introduction to ecological sampling techniques and data analysis, field sampling, laboratory and computer modeling, and scientific writing.

Biology 425 - Microbiology

Techniques used to identify, culture and stain selected microorganisms.

Research Assistantships

Research assistantships will be offered by the department through individual faculty who have funds available from research grants or contracts. Selection criteria will be similar to that required for teaching assistantships, but will emphasize the suitability of an applicant for a particular research program. Duties will be assigned by the professor administering the particular research project.

Research assistantships are typically awarded for one academic year. However, under certain circumstances, research assistantships are awarded for a given semester or for the summer based on funds allocated in federal, state or private research grants of the faculty.