Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics, 2024
Application deadline, February 29, 2024
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 7, 2024.
- Must be on campus and live in the residential college (in own room in a shared suite with another TA) from July 7 through August 4, 2024.
- 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 8 through August 2, 2024.
- Must be available to assist with some late-night observing sessions at LFOP most evenings from July 8 through August 2, 2024.
- 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 = $4800).
- Travel compensation to and from New Haven.
- Housing in shared suite (own room) in the residential college with students, July 7 through August 3, 2024.
- Dining in Yale dining hall and catered meals at LFOP, July 8 through August 2, 2024.
- At will employment, employee of the Astro Dept., no benefits.
Online Application Form for YSPA Teaching Assistant Position