"Graduate Assistant - Biology - Teaching - Fall 2026"

Description

To be eligible for the teaching graduate assistant positions, you must first be admitted to the Biology MS program. The Teaching Assistants (TA) are expected to assist and be able to direct laboratories in biology (usually Animal Biology, Intro to Sci: Ecology, Anatomy, and Physiology). Normally four 2 hour laboratories per week per semester are assigned. Priority review of applications will begin on March 7, 2026.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include direction of undergraduate students in preparation of assigned laboratories, grading quizzes and reports. At times the TA may be called upon to proctor a major examination or help in the preparation of a laboratory. The TA may be expected to supplement instruction. Duties will include direction of undergraduate students in the understanding of course content, aid in the preparation and distribution of exams, aid in grading of quizzes and class assignments, grade entry, and leading small discussion groups. Priority review of applications will begin on March 14, 2025.

In cover letter, please answer the following questions:

1. Why you are interested in a graduate assistantship with the Biology Program at the University of Central Missouri.
2. Your ability to work with college students (e.g. your experience in advising, mentoring, leadership or supervision).
3. Your experience with issues of diversity and social justice (including any experiences teaching, facilitating, and/or advising).
4. Your ability to address student behavior and/or crisis management.
5. Your experience working with a community focused around a specific interest.

Typical Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree Required
• Currently accepted into the Biology MS program
• 3.0 or higher graduate level GPA if previous graduate level courses have been taken
• 2.7 or higher undergraduate level GPA if no previous graduate level courses have been taken

Supplemental Information

GA Type: Teaching

GA Hour Expectations: 20 hours a week

Start Date of Position: 08/10/2026

End Date of Position: 12/11/2026

Total Stipend for Semester: $4,950

Working Days & Hours: Monday through Friday - TBA

Scholarship: Students filling a Graduate Assistantship (GA) position are eligible to receive a graduate tuition waiver, a graduate non-resident tuition waiver (if applicable), and a graduate mandatory fees waiver. The scholarships are in the form of a waiver and the funds are not deposited into the student's personal account. Instead, the student's bill is reduced by the amount of the scholarship awarded. If the maximum amount of the scholarship is not used, the remainder is not paid to the student in any form and unused scholarship money cannot be carried over to another semester. The scholarship is applied to graduate level courses only; courses taken for undergraduate credit are not eligible to be covered by the GA scholarship. The non-resident fee scholarship only applies to classes taken on the UCM Warrensburg campus. The maximum scholarship amounts are based on the size of assistantship held. For a full (20-hour per week) assistantship, the scholarship covers tuition costs and mandatory fees up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework per semester. Graduate assistantship positions less than full will be prorated accordingly.

Special Instructions:

• Full-time staff & 12-month faculty benefits-eligible position: Benefits include competitive salary; health, dental, vision, life insurance, AD & D, long-term disability; 3 weeks paid vacation per year; 3 weeks of accrued sick leave per year; 13 paid holidays; retirement; and generous education assistance for an employee, spouse and dependent children taking classes at UCM.
• 9-month faculty benefits-eligible position: Benefits include competitive salary; health, dental, vision, life insurance, AD & D, long-term disability; 3 weeks of accrued sick leave per year; 13 paid holidays; retirement; and generous education assistance for an employee, spouse and dependent children taking classes at UCM.
• Part-time benefits-eligible positions: Benefits include generous education assistance for the employee.
• Temporary, adjunct, student employment, or graduate assistant positions: Benefits are not included.

Completed UCM online application for employment required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

A review will begin immediately and continue until filled unless indicated otherwise.

NOTE: A background check is required for the selected candidate of all staff, faculty, adjunct, and temporary positions and any job offer is contingent on the results of this check. Student employees and graduate assistants do not require a background check to be conducted prior to employment.

The University of Central Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.