We are looking for teaching assistants for BIOS E-1: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology for the Fall 2020 semester. The course will be taught entirely online via Zoom. We are seeking both lab TAs to run mandatory lab sessions that meet a total of five times during the semester, on specific weeks (format still TBD - they will either be simulations or possibly hands-on labs with kits sent to students) and discussion TAs to run weekly optional problem-solving sessions.
Because this course has normally been taught as a face-to-face course and is being taught as a web conference course for the first time, there are opportunities for TAs to contribute to transitioning the course into its online format if that is of interest.
Course Information
Instructors: Casey Roehrig, PhD; Zofia Gajdos, PhD
Dates: August 31st to December 16th (some responsibilities before and after)
Lectures: Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:40-9:40pm (Zoom), except during lab weeks
Laboratory: 5 3-hour sessions throughout the semester (Zoom), exact days/times TBD
Discussion: weekly 1-hour sessions (Zoom), exact days/times TBD
Lab TA Responsibilities
These are the major responsibilities for the lab TAs for BIOS E-1a. Additional responsibilities may develop over the
course of the semester or in the time leading up to the course.
● Run 5 synchronous lab sessions and grade all lab assignments
● Pre-run the exams and provide feedback
● Grade 2 problem sets during the semester
● Grade the final exam
● Attend team meetings as needed
● Monitor the discussion forums for specific class sessions on Canvas and answer student questions that are
posted there within 24 hours (or less on the day before an exam)
● Attend a subset of lectures live to monitor the chat, student hands raised, etc.
● Be available for office hours by request
Discussion TA Responsibilities
These are the major responsibilities of the discussion TAs for BIOS E-1a. Additional responsibilities may develop over the
course of the semester or in the time leading up to the course.
● Run weekly problem-solving sessions
● Grade all 3 exams
● Grade 2 problem sets throughout the semester
● Attend team meetings as needed
● Monitor the discussion forums for specific class sessions on Canvas and answer student questions that are
posted there within 24 hours (or less on the day before an exam)
● Attend a subset of lectures live to monitor the chat, student hands raised, etc.
● Hold 1 office hour per week, and 2 office hours the week before each exam
If you are interested in being a TA for this course, please send a brief statement of interest, including whether you are
interested in being a lab TA, a discussion TA, or either, along with your qualifications, to bios.e1ab@gmail.com