Assistantships
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) is a union representing Caltech Grad Researchers and Postdocs. The two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between UAW and Caltech can be found here.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
General Expectations/Duties/Responsibilities
A Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) is primarily responsible for supporting the instructor in the delivery of a course. In general, teaching obligations are confined to the 12 weeks of the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. Summer term GTA appointments are rare.
GTA duties may include:
- Lead discussion sections
- Grade assignments
- Proctor exams
- Schedule and hold office hours
- Prepare course materials
- Develop course content
- Provide feedback to students
- Assist with laboratory work and ensure safety protocols are followed
- Set up and use Canvas
- Maintain course records
- Attend planning meetings
- Attend faculty meetings
- Other duties as assigned
Teaching Requirements
All students with teaching responsibilities, are required to attend teaching-assistant training. Training sessions are conducted by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach (CTLO) and occur in the first week of the Fall term, typically during orientation, and at least once per term. Graduate Teaching Assistants must familiarize themselves with Caltech's policy on harassment and follow other policies related to teaching discussed in the required training. Classes should foster academic achievement in a "hassle-free" environment. Teaching Assistants should not attempt to date a student in their class and should disqualify themselves from teaching a section in which a spouse or current partner is enrolled.
A student may not be a Teaching Assistant for a course in which they are enrolled. Only students who have fulfilled the Institute's English proficiency requirement are permitted to be appointed as a Teaching Assistant.
Unpaid Teaching Experience for Fully Funded Students
When a Caltech graduate degree program requires its students to have teaching experience as part of their academic and professional training, and when that student is simultaneously funded at a level that meets or exceeds the minimum stipend rate by another appropriate source of funding, the student may be engaged in a mentored teaching experience without appointment to a GTA position.
In providing mentored teaching experiences, divisions should ensure appropriate mentorship, and that the same treatment is applied to all students in the program who are undertaking similar teaching assignments.
Some sources of external fellowship funding may have restrictions on what the recipient of their support may do by way of additional employment or other activities. In all cases, any student receiving external funding must comply with the requirements of the source of that funding.
Graduate Research Assistant
General Expectations/Duties/Responsibilities
A Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) is primarily responsible for supporting research activities in the lab to which they have been assigned or selected. Aside from significantly contributing to the success of the lab, a Graduate Research Assistant will develop research and collaboration skills, as well as gain knowledge in the academic and research field(s) the lab covers.
GRA duties may include:
- Participate in group meetings on a weekly or other regular basis
- Understand and carry out all safety protocols the lab requires, including completing training courses
- Assist in the development and implementation of research projects, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, and presentations for scientific conferences and publications
- Assist in the preparation of grant applications and other funding documents
- Assist in the preparation of research protocols, study designs, and questionnaires
- Attend conferences and meetings to present research findings
- Assist in the development and maintenance of research databases
- Assist in the development and maintenance of research equipment
- Monitor academic literature in the field of study
- Mentor high school students and volunteers
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Academic Eligibility
Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant appointments are subject to regular review by the Graduate Studies Office and are contingent upon meeting and maintaining all academic eligibility standards, including:
- Maintaining full-time enrollment as a Caltech graduate student
- Satisfactory academic progress towards degree objective (see Satisfactory Academic Progress)
Work Authorization
Employment is contingent upon an employee's ability to prove that they are authorized to work in the United States, as required by the Immigration and Reform Act of 1986. All students who earn wages are required by law to complete Form I-9 within three business days of the start of employment. The documentation must be reviewed for authenticity by Human Resources or ISP in the case of international students.
Policy Compliance
As Caltech employees, all Graduate Teaching and Research Assistants will be required to comply with all applicable Caltech policies.
Resources
Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS)
Graduate Teaching or Research Assistants who are disabled or become disabled should notify Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS) to request reasonable accommodations, in advance of their start date or any time during their appointment. CASS will make every reasonable effort to provide academic adjustments and other reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified students with known disabilities, consistent with Caltech's obligations under applicable law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Center for Teaching, Learning and Outreach
The Center for Teaching, Learning and Outreach and Caltech Project for Effective Teaching (CPET) offer workshops and seminars and are valuable resources for students interested in learning more about effective teaching styles and pedagogical techniques.