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HOME > University Programs > Summer 2012 > General TA information > Summer 2012 TA's

Summer 2012 Teaching Assistant positions available

Application Deadline March 1, 2012

The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) is accepting applications for Teaching Assistant positions for 2012 Summer courses. BMSC is operated and supported by the Western Canadian Marine Sciences Society, whose members are the University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, Simon Fraser University and University of Victoria. BMSC is located in Bamfield, a picturesque village on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Nearby, Barkley Sound's abundant marine life and rich diversity of habitats afford many unique opportunities for teaching and research in the marine and coastal sciences.

Ideal TA applicants are currently registered graduate students familiar with the ecology, biology, and species local to Barkley Sound. Applicants from member universities will be given priority. For field courses that require students to be transported by boats, Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) certification is required. Courses at BMSC are immersion-based requiring an intense commitment from students and instructors. Courses run Monday – Saturday, with occasional commitments on Sundays. TAs are expected to work ~60-70 hours/week. In addition, TA’s are expected to arrive on the Friday before the course starts for safety and boating orientation and to remain after the course ends to ensure proper clean-up.

The ability to make significant contributions to teaching of course material is desirable. Please see detailed Summer 2012 course descriptions.

Duties for all TAs include:

• Aiding primary instructor(s) in teaching during labs and field trips; helping in design and implementation of student projects.
• Facilitation of courses by organizing equipment and scheduling.
• Student transportation to field sites (boating experience is desirable).
• Overseeing student safety on field trips.
• Lab set-up and clean-up.
• Perform other duties as specified by instructors (see below for course-specific needs).

Compulsory Requirements:

• SVOP (if course requires transporting students in boats)
  NOTE: A valid SVOP also requires:
  • Marine Emergency Duties A3 (MED A3)
  • Restricted Operator's Certificate (Maritime) with DSC endorsement
  • marine first aid course
• Current Level One First Aid training (contact your local first aid training provider, e.g. Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, etc.).

Salary (as of June 2009):
Compensation is in two parts: salary and scholarship. The scholarship portion is only available to graduate students. It is expected that graduate students who TA fall courses will reside at BMSC for the full semester.

• Summer (per 3 weeks) $3000 Salary: $1000 Scholarship
• Fall (per 3 weeks) $4000 Salary: $2000 Scholarship

Benefits:

• Free accommodation (shared room with a shared kitchen and bathroom).
• Staff rates for meals taken in the cafeteria.
• Travel expenses reimbursed to a maximum for a single round trip to Bamfield from home university.

Selection Process:

1. BMSC generally offers TAships to candidates recommended by course instructors.
2. If an instructor does not have a TA in mind, the position is posted.
3. All applications received by the deadline are forwarded to the instructor for selection.
4. In June 2009, Management Council requested preference for fall TAships be given to graduate students at the five member universities.
5. In June 2009, Management Council approved the hiring of TAs for summer courses who may not be graduate students. These include recent graduate students, and instructors working at BMSC in Public Education. Preference for summer TAships is given to candidates living in Bamfield who are familiar with BMSC, and the ecology, biology and species local to Barkley Sound.

Please complete and submit the Summer 2012 application form along with CV and cover letter by the application deadline to: , University Programs Coordinator

All applications must be electronic (word or pdf). CV and cover letter must be in a SINGLE FILE titled with the applicant’s LAST Name.

TAs are not typically hired for more than one TAship during the summer semester.

Deadlines:
Summer Courses: March 1, 2012.
Fall Program Courses: March 31, 2012.

BLOCK I

Biological Oceanography (3 weeks)
30 April - 18 May
Instructor: Dr. Ed Buskey
Requirements: Graduate student in Marine Science or related field with SVOP and boat-driving experience. Background in biological oceanography, familiarity with oceanographic methods and some knowledge of local plankton. Preferred: Student with expertise in phytoplankton, protozoa and/or zooplankton, and familiarity with or interest in learning use of a FlowCAM imaging particle analyzer. Familiarity with analytical methods for measuring chlorophyll and inorganic nutrients.

Block II

Marine Ecology (6 weeks)
11 Jun - 20 July
Instructor: Dr. Mike Berger
Requirements: Graduate student in ecology or related field with SVOP and small boat-driving experience.
Preferred: Background in marine ecology. Familiarity with intertidal habitats, marine ecological field work, and previous experience at BMSC. Class 4 license desirable.

Crustacean Biology (3 weeks)
11 June - 29 June
Instructor: Dr. Greg Jensen
Requirements: Graduate student or equivalent with experience in marine invertebrates and interest in crustaceans; SVOP and small boat experience.
Preferred: Familiarity with Bamfield and the crustacean class; experience in experimental design and field sampling.

BLOCK III

Coastal Field Archaeology (6 weeks)
23 July - 31 August
Instructors: Ms. Nicole Smith, Mr. Iain McKechnie
Requirements: Graduate student in Archaeology or Anthropology. Background in Northwest Coast Archaeology and experience with coastal archaeological excavation and survey techniques.
Preferred: Graduate student with active research interest in Nuu-chah-nulth Archaeology, Small Vessel Operator's license (SVOP) and coastal boating experience, Marine Basic First Aid, Marine Emergency Duties (A3) and Restricted Operator’s Certificate (Maritime). A class 4 driver's license would also be an asset. Applicants are requested to submit an archaeological CV detailing their experience and level of responsibility held on each project.

Comparative Biomechanics (6 weeks)
2 July - 10 August
Instructor: Dr. Tim Higham
Requirements: Graduate student in biomechanics or related field with SVOP certification. Must be comfortable with topics related to hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, and terrestrial biomechanics (including muscle mechanics, kinematics, and related topics).
Preferred: Ability to conduct experiments related to comparative biomechanics. Experience working in intertidal habitats and previous experience at BMSC

Marine Terrestrial Interactions (6 weeks)
23 July - 31 August
Instructor: Mr. Dennis Morgan
Requirements: Graduate student in ecology with background in Northwest coastal ecosystems. Small vessel operator's license (SVOP).
Preferred: Experience with statistics including R. Previous experience at BMSC.

Statistics for Biologists (3 weeks)
13 - 31 August
Instructor: Dr. Edd Hammill
Requirements: All the analytical techniques covered are carried out using R. The TA must therefore be capable of using the R language. The TA must understand which statistical tests are most appropriate for different situations, and perform all the statistical tests used in the course. Time will also be spent outside and the TA must be comfortable advising students about how to collect data in the field.
Preferred: Experience in teaching ecological methods courses.

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