Application for Teaching Assistantships

Section I.  COURSE FORMAT AND TA RESPONSIBILITIES

A.  BIOG 1445: Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, Individualized Instruction

Instructor: Darlene Campbell

This is an individualized instruction course serving biology majors and students requiring majors-level biology. Students learn the course material through readings, demonstrations, small group discussions, and, most importantly, one-on-one tutoring.  An important aspect of this course is that it is based on mastery learning using oral tests as the primary method of evaluation.  Oral tests are created, administered, and assessed by the TAs. Each TA teaches one of the four labs each semester.

Your total time commitment will average 20 hours per week.  This includes time for preparation.  It is expected that you will spend additional time reviewing material in areas where your knowledge might be deficient.  TAs:

1.  must attend orientation and training meetings scheduled during the two days prior to the

       start of each semester.

2.  work three 3-hour sessions in the Study Center per week.

4.   must attend preparatory 2-hour training meetings each week (Monday, 2:30-4:25 pm) and

      special laboratory preparatory sessions (individually scheduled).

5.   are required to teach a maximum of two laboratory sections during each semester.

6.   are expected to be adequately prepared to present the materials and concepts of each of

      the 10 units to students. TAs must write out and submit answers to all unit objectives in

      the course study guide according to a prescribed schedule during the first semester as a TA.

7.   must attend all 50-minute lectures given during the 10:10 a.m. lecture period on Tuesdays

      (4-5 per semester).

8.   grade lab reports and quizzes for students in your lab sections.

9.   proctor the final exam each semester and assist in the grading of essay questions.

10. are given supervisory responsibilities over undergraduate TAs.

B. BIOG 1140: Foundations of Biology

Instructor: Robert Turgeon

BioG 1140 is a 4-credit general biology course that meets the distribution requirements of science students in CALS and Human Ecology. Many students in other colleges take the course for general interest or to fulfill a science requirement. The course does not fulfill requirements for pre-meds, pre-vets or the major in biological sciences. The emphasis is on cell biology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. The goal is to provide students with a common, basic background that other courses in their discipline can build on. We do not deal very much with biological systems, for example the nervous system or xylem transport, unless we use those systems as examples to illustrate more fundamental concepts, such as membrane transport. There is no laboratory, but the students attend weekly Discussion sessions led by the TAs. These sessions constitute one of the 4 course credits. This is a good course in which to develop teaching skills since you will be introducing fundamental concepts to a varied group. It is a 15-hour per week TA assignment. 

TAs are responsible for the following:

1. Teach two 50-min Discussion Sessions per week. See the Course and Time Roster online for session times. There are 4 TAs and 8 sessions. The TAs work out the most convenient session times among themselves. A few of the discussion sessions require grading.
2. Attend all lectures (Tuesday, Thursday; 11:40 – 12:55, probably in Riley-Robb 125).
3. Attend a TA meeting once per week, usually held on Friday.
4. Hold office hours (1 hr/week)
5. Review the 2 in-class quizzes and final exam before they are printed. Monitor the quizzes and final exam. 
6. Grade the 2 in-class quizzes, which are part multiple-choice and part essay, and the final exam which is multiple-choice only. 

C.  BIOMG 1350: Principles of Cell and Developmental Biology 

Instructors: Doina Tumbar and Martin Graef, fall semester; Kelly Liu and Chris Fromme, spring semester.

This is one of the core “choice” introductory biology courses for students majoring in biology and a few other life science majors. Students planning to major in biology will be encouraged to take this course within their first three semesters.  Students will attend two lectures and one active-learning section per week.  TA applicants should have taken basic courses in biochemistry, cell biology and genetics; coursework in developmental biology is helpful, but not required. This is a 15-hour per week TA assignment.

TA duties are as follows:

1. Attend two 50-minute lectures per week
2. Attend a weekly ~2-hour meeting with instructors to plan section activities
3. Teach three active learning sections per week (50-minute duration, maximum 20 students in each)
4. Score homework and in-class assignments
5. Keep records of attendance and homework completion by students in your sections
6. Hold review sessions prior to each of the three prelims (fall)/four prelims (spring) and final exam.
7. Proctor exams

D. BIOG 1440: Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology

Instructors: TBD from the pool of Linda Pesciotta, Cole Gilbert, Vimal Selveraj,

Nicolas Buchon, Paul Soloway, and John Helmann

This course is another of the introductory biology “choice” courses in the core curriculum for students majoring in Biological Sciences and some other life sciences.  Students will be primarily freshmen with interests in medical or veterinary school, or graduate school in the life sciences.   Students attend two lectures and one discussion/mini lab section per week. TA applicants must have a general background in life sciences (animal, plant or microbes) with a keen interest in mastering the principles of comparative physiology.The possibility also exists of doing a “double TAship” in one semester, thereby earning a full year of support in one semester. This is a 15-hour per week TA assignment.

TA duties are as follows:

1. Guide student discussion in two 50-minute lectures per week and attend a 1-hour weekly meeting of the course staff to plan section activities. 
2. Review the materials and concepts of each lecture and lab prior to all meetings.
3. Teach three 50-minute discussion/lab sections each week (maximum 20 students in each), keep records of student attendance and participation, and grade lab homework.
4. Help write and proctor four prelims and “retake” exams during finals week.  
5. Hold office hours (1 hour/week).
6. Hold a review session before each prelim.

E. BIOEE 1610: Ecology and the Environment

Instructors: Justin St. Juliana and TBD, contact Justin St. Juliana for information about the course

This is the third “choice” introductory biology core course for students majoring in biology and some other life sciences. It is designed to introduce the core concepts of the science of ecology.  A fundamental knowledge of the relationship between organisms and their environment is critical for understanding the intricacies of the natural world and for solving many of the environmental problems that confront us today. Our goals are for students to gain an understanding of: 1) major principles underlying the ways organisms interact with their physical and biological environments, 2) how complex ecological systems function, 3) approaches and tools employed in ecological research, 4) application of ecological concepts to solving environmental problems and conserving biodiversity.  We aim to engage different learning styles with a combination of readings, lectures, and section activities.  Lectures will highlight the major points about each topic through the use of active learning. This is a 15-hour per week TA assignment.

TA duties are as follows:

1. Attend two 50-minute lectures per week and a 1.5-hour weekly TA meeting to review instructional plans for section activities. 
2. Teach three discussion/lab sections each week (maximum 20 students in each), grade section activities and keep grading records of attendance and homework completion by students in your sections.
3. Run pre-exam review sessions and help review, proctor, and grade two or three prelims and one final exam. 
4. Hold office hours (1 hour/week).

F. BIOG 1500: Investigative Biology Laboratory

Instructor: Mark Sarvary

This is a two-semester assistantship; however the course content is identical each semester. A single semester assistantship is not offered. Your total time commitment will average 20 hours per week. This includes time for preparation. Teaching assistants gain real teaching experience and can improve their pedagogical skills in this course. Per week, they teach two 18 student lab sections of 3 hours duration each, with the help of at least one undergraduate teaching assistant. Grades are based on two in-lab practical exams, quizzes, paper discussions and writing assignments.  Lab topics are organized into three-week-long modules, emphasizing the scientific process in biological investigations. Students design their own experiments, conduct statistical tests using the statistical software R, write a scientific paper and produce a poster. The course staff includes a lecturer, a teaching postdoc, 12 graduate teaching assistants, 12-16 undergraduate teaching assistants, two lab preparators, and one administrative assistant.  As a TA, you will:

1.   Participate in a brief Lab Instructor training program during the week preceding the first week of laboratory teaching.

2.   Teach two laboratory sections (3 hrs duration, 16-18 students in each).

3.   Attend the Monday afternoon preparatory meeting from 1:30 to around 4:30 p.m., and the lecture on Tuesday at 9:05 a.m. each week. It is recommended that new TAs attend a lab section taught by an experienced TA each week before their first section.

4.   Hold office hours (2 per week) during which you can meet with and tutor students. Rooms 1109 and 1122 in Comstock Hall are available for office hours.

5.   Be adequately prepared to present the materials and concepts of each laboratory sequence to your students.

6.   Grade practical exams and writing assignments for students in your lab sections.

7.   Hold a review session near the end of each semester to help your students prepare for the practical exam.

8.   Keep accurate written records on all grades received by your students.

9.   Mentor one or two undergraduate teaching assistants.

G.  BIOMG 2801: Laboratory in Genetics and Genomics 

Instructor: Kristina Blake, fall and spring semesters

Offered: fall and spring semesters 

Course Description: This course is a general introduction to laboratory experimental genetics. Topics include gene and chromosome transmission, gene mapping, gene structure, CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, PCR, DNA Sequencing, recombinant DNA design and construction, and genome browser bioinformatics.   

The course is required for all biological sciences majors. The students in the course range from sophomores to seniors.   The course has a large and supportive teaching team: 1 instructor, 2 lab technicians, 8 graduate TAs, and ~30 undergraduate TAs each semester. 

TA applicants are preferred to have taken an introductory genetics course. This is a 15-hour per week TA assignment. 

TA duties are as follows: 

• Attend weekly organizational meeting (1 hr, Mondays ~4:30 - 5:30)  
• First-time TAs will attend the course lecture on Mondays (50 min) 
• Per week, TA will lead one student lab section (max 24 students) of 2 hours duration, with the help of at least two undergraduate teaching assistants. 
• Per week, hold 1 office hour.  
• Prepare for lab section and office hours by reviewing course material. 
• Grade assignments for your lab section (max 24 students) 
• Grade exams (midterm and final). Done as a group with the instructor and 7 other TAs (lunch provided J) .
• Help with the collection Drosophila (2 x during course of semester)

”Double TAships": There are restrictions to serving a double TAship during a single semester.  Please review and follow the Graduate School’s Code of Legislation.  To view the code in its entirety visit https://test-graduate-school.pantheonsite.io/policies/code-of-legislation/. 

(The below statements are taken from the Graduate School’s Code of Legislation, p. 22-23) Assistantships, Hourly Student Appointments, Outside Employment and Registration Requirements

The time devoted to assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment affects registration status, as follows:

• Up to 20 hours of combined assistantship, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment per week. A student may register in full-time status. (A student who holds a University-funded fellowship, external fellowship, or graduate research assistantship may accept additional assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment of no more than eight hours per week, provided that the terms established by the funding entity allow for such arrangements.) For certification to outside agencies consenting to this interpretation, students on a single graduate assistantship are regarded as full-time students.
• 21 to 40 hours of combined assistantship, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment per week. A student may register in half-time status. Master's students may complete the equivalent of one semester of registration in this way. Ph.D. students may earn a maximum of two registered semesters this way. Students who wish to register in a half-time status must obtain the prior approval of their special committee chair, Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate Dean.  International students are subject to immigration regulations relating to full-time student status and employment and should consult with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) before accepting any combination of assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment that exceed 20 hours per week.

A student with more than one graduate assistantship in a single semester may petition to register in half-time status based on the academic benefit to the student of the proposed arrangements.  Such requests must be submitted with the endorsement of the student’s special committee chair and Director of Graduate Studies through the Graduate School petition process; prior written approval from the dean of the Graduate School is required. International students should consult with ISSO on the implications of such arrangements, as such arrangements may be prohibited by visa requirements.

The time limits for assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment apply to summer registration as well.

With the exception of Employee Degree Program participants, a regular, non-student, non-faculty employee at the University may not register with the Graduate School.  Members of the University Faculty may register with the Graduate School and be candidates for a degree.

Section III.  APPLICATION, SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES

Section III.  APPLICATION, SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES

A.  Application 

The application is a web-based form located at: https://nbb.cornell.edu/core-biological-science-taships-application

 A link can also be found at the OUB website [https://cals.cornell.edu/biological-sciences/forms-petitions].  Fill out the form on-line. Your application will then be vetted to assure that you can serve as a TA, e.g., you are not on some other fellowship, in a graduate degree program that does not allow TAships, etc.

B.    Selection Process

Your application will be reviewed initially by a member of the course indicated as your top choice.  An interview may be arranged if your application file is favorable and, following a successful interview, the instructor may indicate his or her intent to offer you a TAship.

This is not binding – the actual offers and contracts will come from the Office of Undergraduate Biology (OUB) as described below.  Your file may also be reviewed by staff members of courses not listed as your top choice, and if your application is favorable, the instructor again may call you for an interview and may indicate his or her intention to offer a TAship in a course that is your second or third choice. The staff of each course will meet or correspond regularly among themselves and even with instructors of other courses to select TAs.  As best as we can, we will try to match your preference and application to the course of your choice.

C.  Notification Procedures

If your funding situation changes before you are offered a TA contract, e.g., your NSF GRFP proposal is awarded, please let us know immediately so that we can remove your application to make room for others. You may contact Linda Nicholson (lkn2 [at] cornell.edu (lkn2[at]cornell[dot]edu)), the Director of Undergraduate Biology, regarding the status of your application.  If initially, a position is not available, we will retain your application. Quite often slots become available even late in the spring and summer, and we will continue to make offers until all positions are filled. 

To reiterate, only the Office of Undergraduate Biology can make an official offer and supply a contract.  All conversations with course instructors or other members of the Cornell community are purely a preliminary review and those entities cannot make an offer.  Moreover, TAship offers can only be made to students in a research track paying contract college rates of tuition.  If you are in a professional graduate program, e.g., MEng, you will be excluded from consideration. 

If you are offered a TAship, you must accept it or reject it by the deadline specified in the contract letter.  Your failure to accept an offer by the specified deadline may preclude you from being offered the same TAship again.  Once you have signed a contract letter, you are bound to adhere to the contract.  If your situation changes, e.g., your Advisor’s NIH grant is awarded in July, please contact Linda Nicholson (lkn2 [at] cornell.edu) immediately.  We, in conjunction with your Department Chair, DGS, and Advisor, will strive to find an alternate person to fulfill your obligation and release you from the contract. However, the fulfillment of the contract is ultimately the student’s responsibility.