Jobs in the Swarthmore Biology Department

Academic Year Positions

Biology 001 or 002 Catalyst

• Hours per week: 7-10 hours per week average during Fall/Spring semesters
• Qualifications: Selection criteria include compassion, comprehension and communication skills. Completion of BIO 01 and/or BIO 02 or AP credit required. Previous or concurrent enrollment in at least one intermediate-level biology course preferred
• Position Description: Catalysts conduct evening peer assistant help sessions, also called Reaction Centers (RC's) that focus on collaborative problem-solving using lecture-based material. They attend lectures, assist during active-learning exercises, work collaboratively with a team of catalysts, and attend weekly content meetings led by faculty. New catalysts are required to attend a weekly NSE pedagogical workshop. These are part-time, hourly paid positions
• Application: The Bio 1 or 2 catalyst, lecture grader, and lab teaching assistant application (depending on semester) can be found here. Interested students are directed to apply the semester preceding employment at posted times (typically March for Bio1, October for Bio2)

Laboratory Teaching Assistant (Lab TA)

• Hours per week: 5-8 hours per week average during Fall/Spring semesters
• Qualifications: Selection criteria include prior experience in the course, laboratory expertise and communication skills
• Position Description: Laboratory Teaching Assistant (Lab TA) positions are available for Biology 001 and 002 and certain intermediate-level courses (Genetics, Marine Biology, and Animal Physiology, for example). Each semester, approximately 5 students are selected by faculty and instructional staff members to assist in Biology 001 and Biology 002. Each Lab TA attends one preparatory meeting per week and assists in one laboratory section per week. Biology 001 and 002 Lab TA's also assist laboratory instructors with Friday afternoon report help sessions. Responsibilities for intermediate-level courses vary and will be described by individual faculty. These are part-time, hourly paid positions
• Application: The Bio 1 or 2 catalyst, lecture grader, and lab teaching assistant application (depending on semester) can be found here. Interested students for Bio1/Bio2 positions are directed to apply the semester preceding employment at posted times (typically March for Bio1, October for Bio2). Applications may also be obtained from the Biology Department not during the posted hiring times by contacting the Administrative Coordinator

Lecture graders

• Hours per week: 1-4 hours per week during Fall/Spring semesters
• Qualifications: Graders must be comfortable with lecture content, demonstrate professionalism and maturity, be communicative, and be reliable
• Position Description: Students submit weekly challenge questions for a grade. Graders will only grade lecture challenge questions. Graders will meet with the lecturing faculty once a week to discuss answers to the challenge questions and will have a deadline for completing grading each week
• Application: The Bio 1 or 2 catalyst, lecture grader, and lab teaching assistant application (depending on semester) can be found here. Interested students are directed to apply the semester preceding employment at posted times (typically March for Bio1, October for Bio2)

Biology department support positions

Frequently, there are positions available to help support the department in our greenhouse, media room, shop, intermediate and upper level courses, and other aspects of the department operations. Contact the Administrative Coordinator to learn more.