Bio151 (Francis) Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship Spring 2025

Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs) for Bio151 develop their teaching and leadership skills and deepen their understanding of cell and molecular biology by attending lectures, leading or helping to lead discussion sections, facilitating review sessions, tutoring students during office hours, providing feedback on student work, and meeting weekly with me and other TAs.

This upcoming spring semester I will have two categories of UTAs.

  1. Lead UTAs will lead their own 50-minute discussion section, these will be paid positions. In addition to leading discussion section(s), these UTAs will be expected to attend class (MWF 1:25-2:15pm), provide feedback on student work (discussion work and open response exam questions) and attend weekly meetings. These positions will be 8 hours per week at $18 per hour ($2160 for the semester) if leading one discussion section, or 10 hours per week at $18 per hour ($2700 for the semester) if leading two discussion sections (preferred).  Those with prior experience assisting in Bio151 discussion sections or other extensive cell/molecular biology uTA experience will be preferred for this position.
  2. Supportive UTAs will help with a 50-minute discussion section, attend class (MWF 1:25-2:15pm), hold office hours and review sessions, help grade completion of student work, and provide feedback on exam open-response questions. Supportive UTAs will earn course credit (3 credits of BIO 398A, graded P/F).  
Name of research group, project, or lab
Bio151 UTA (Francis)
Why participate in this opportunity?

The purpose of being an undergraduate teaching assistant (uTA) is twofold. On the one hand, your work supports student learning in Bio151. Additionally, you are developing skills and gaining transferable experiences that will help you when you are applying for fellowships, jobs, and professional/graduate school in the future. Even if you do not pursue a career that involves teaching college-level courses, you will likely be leading, facilitating, and even supervising others. Your experiences as a TA can provide you with the chance to develop your teaching and facilitation skills.

Logistics Information:
Subject Category
Cellular Biology
Molecular Biology
Student ranks applicable
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Student qualifications

To become a uTA for Bio151, you should have successfully completed Bio151 (my section preferred). You will be required to attend the discussion section(s) every week, attend lecture (MWF 1:25-2:15pm), and for TA meeting once per week. You should be able to explain complex topics in ways that are engaging and understandable, be enthusiastic about working hard, and have good teamwork and communication skills.

  1. Apply for this position through the PROPEL site. See propel.umass.edu
  2. In your PROPEL application materials indicate why you want to be an undergraduate TA for Bio151 and what strength do you believe you'll bring to our Bio151 team.
  3. For your application to be complete, you must also fill out this application form to provide more information and indicate your availability.
Time commitment
8-10 h/wk
Position Types and Compensation
Teaching - Ind. Study Credit
Teaching - Paid, General
Number of openings
12
Techniques learned

Through this work, you will develop your abilities to explain biological concepts, provide thoughtful feedback, facilitate in-class discussions, manage small student groups and answer questions about cell and molecular biology at a level appropriate for an introductory biology course.

Project start
Spring 2025
Contact Information:
Mentor
Laura Francis
lifranci@umass.edu
Faculty (instructor)
Name of project director or principal investigator
Laura Francis
Email address of project director or principal investigator
lifranci@umass.edu
12 sp. | 55 appl.
Hours
8-10 h/wk
Project categories
Molecular Biology (+1)
Cellular BiologyMolecular Biology