Employment

Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics, 2026

Application deadline, February 28, 2026

Job Description:

The YSPA Teaching Assistants (TAs) are the primary one-on-one mentors for the YSPA students during the program, especially in the dorm and in the observatory during evening work or observing sessions. TAs live in the dorm with the students and are expected to enforce all of the dorm and program rules throughout the program in collaboration with the Program Coordinator. They are also expected to participate in the small group tutorial sessions and observing sessions at the observatory in the afternoons and evening, in collaboration with the Academic Director. In collaboration with the Program Manager, the TAs are also responsible for the health and safety of the students, especially in the dorm, when traveling between the dorm and the observatory, and on field trips off campus. TAs may also be asked to help grade problem sets or programming assignments as needed by the Teaching Fellow or Academic Director.

TAs must also complete a short (~1 week of part time study), guided, self-study project based on the students’ research project about a month before the on-campus component of the program. 

Being a YSPA TA is a unique teaching and mentoring experience. Just as many YSPA students find the program to be a formative learning and growth experience, instructors at YSPA find the experience to be a formative teaching experience. We especially invite applications from candidates who seek careers in science teaching and mentoring. 

Requirements for Teaching Assistant Position:

• Must be at least 19.5 years old by July 5, 2026.
• Must be on campus and live in the residential college (in own room in a shared suite with another TA) from July 3 through August 2, 2026.
• Must be willing to serve as RA in the dorm, enforcing the dorm and program rules and checking on the health/safety of YSPA students, in coordination with the Program Manager. 
• Must be available for some lab tutorial sessions at LFOP some afternoons from July 6 through July 31, 2026.
• Must be available to assist with some late-night observing sessions at LFOP most evenings from July 6 through July 31, 2026.
• Must be available to chaperone students on all field trips off campus during the program, normally on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Experience in grading problem sets, tutoring, and/or mentoring desirable.
• Experience using the telescopes and detectors at the Leitner Observatory desirable.

Compensation:

• Stipend commensurate with qualifications and experience (base stipend = $6000 - includes travel). 
• Housing in shared suite (own room) in the residential college with students, July 3 through August 2, 2026.
• Dining in dining hall and catered meals at LFOP, July 5 through August 1, 2026.
• At will employment, employee of the Astro Dept., no benefits.

Online Application Form for YSPA Teaching Assistant Position

Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics, 2026

Application Deadline: February 28, 2026

Job Description:

The YSPA Program Manager (PM) is the person primarily responsible for logistics and student health and safety during the program. The PM must be very well-organized and must have high attention to detail. They are expected to communicate regularly with the parents of the students before and during the program, and she or he is expected to handle any student health or disciplinary issues that may arise during the program. In collaboration with the Academic Director, the PM is also responsible for reading student applications and making admissions decisions for the program.

Requirements for Program Manager Position:

• Must be at least 25 years old by July 5, 2026.
• Must be willing to assist with student admissions and program planning before the start of the program.
• Must be available around the dorm or observatory most evenings and weekends during the program to help students with res-life, health, and other personal issues.
• Must be willing to communicate regularly with parents before and during the program about health or discipline issues.
• Must be willing to cover most logistical details during the program, including scheduling guest speakers, reserving buses or rooms when needed, picking up food for breakfasts or lunches at LFOP when needed, or designating these tasks to other staff.
• Must be available to chaperone students on all field trips off campus during the program, normally on Wednesday and Saturdays.
• Experience in mediation and/or conflict resolution in organizations highly desirable.
• Experience in teaching or mentoring high school students highly desirable.

Compensation:

• Stipend commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Travel compensation to and from New Haven.
• Dining in Yale dining hall and catered meals at LFOP, July 5 through August 1, 2026.
• At will employment, employee of the Astro Dept., no benefits.

If interested in this position, please contact the Academic Director, Michael Faison, at michael.faison@yale.edu. 

Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics, 2026

Application Deadline: February 28, 2026

Job Description:

The YSPA Assistant Instructor (AI) is a member of the academic staff who does a significant amount of classroom teaching in support of the Academic Director during the residential component of YSPA. They may be expected to:

• Teach up to half of the morning classes over the course of the program;
• Teach or supervise some of the afternoon computer lab tutorials;
• Teach or supervise one or more of the special project lab sessions;
• Lead some evening tutorial sessions on specific topics in the curriculum, as directed by the Academic Director;
• Be available some afternoons and evenings for one-on-one consultation and mentoring with students;
• Grade some fraction of student problem sets and projects and provide students with feedback on their academic work;
• Work with the Academic Director to fulfill any other academic needs of the program.

In addition to these responsibilities, the AI may be asked by the Academic Director or Program Manager to participate in these program activities: 

• Attend YSPA dinners and facilitate discussion with the students during dinner;
• Participate in some YSPA field trips;
• Attend most YSPA guest lectures and sometimes facilitate Q&A with the speaker;
• Participate in pre-program planning and preparation (can be done remotely). 

Requirements for the assistant Instructor position:

• Must be at least 25 years old by July 5, 2026.
• Must have PhD or equivalent experience in astronomy or physics.
• Must have experience teaching in higher education.
• Experience teaching observational astronomy with small telescopes and digital CCD cameras highly desirable.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring high school students highly desirable.

Compensation:

• Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Travel compensation to and from campus.
• Housing accommodation may be negotiated as part of compensation.
• Dining in Yale dining hall and catered meals at LFOP, July 5 through August 1, 2026.
• At will employment, employee of the Astro Dept., no benefits.

If interested in this position, please contact the Academic Director, Michael Faison, at michael.faison@yale.edu.