UNC-CH Physics and Astronomy TA Assignment Descriptions and Expectations

The Department of Physics and Astronomy hires approximately 40 full-time equivalent Teaching Assistants (TAs) each semester to serve as laboratory and recitation instructors, graders, tutors, and instructional assistants.  These TA assignments are made by the Director of Undergraduate Laboratories, who matches TA requests with department needs and circumstances.  In making TA assignments, priority is given to continuing graduate students within the department (based on experience and seniority), but graduate students from other departments (especially CAMS) and undergraduates are sometimes hired to fill the teaching needs of the department.

Weekly TA workloads vary depending on the assignment, but a typical full TA during the fall or spring semesters requires approximately 17 hours per week for 12 weeks, or about 200 hours over the course of a semester.  A summer session TA requires approximately 11 hours for 5 weeks, or a total of 55 hours. Each of the assignments described below is based on these TA workload standards to maintain equity among TAs. If either the student or faculty supervisor finds that a particular assignment requires significantly more or less time than expected, the Director of Undergraduate Laboratories should be contacted to rectify the situation.  
 
A101L (Laboratory Instructor for Astr101, formerly Astr31 - Descriptive Astronomy):  Teach 3 lab sections of up to 16 students each for 12 weeks. Typical weekly workload: 6 hours teaching + 2 hours lab preparation + 5 hours grading lab reports + 3 office hours = 16 hours. (Fall, Spring, and Summer. Supervisor: Dan Reichart)
 
A101P (Planetarium Instructor for Astr101 - Descriptive Astronomy):  Teach 2 sections of up to 200 students in the Morehead Planetarium.  The same TA usually holds this assignment for several consecutive semesters.  Typical weekly workload: 5 hours in planetarium (every other week) + 15 hours grading (every other week) + 3 office hours + 1 hour preparation = 14 hours average. (Fall, Spring. Supervisor: Dan Reichart)

A101PT (Planetarium Technician "Zeist Pilot" for Astr101):  Operate the Morehead Planetarium dome theater projector for each Astr101 planetarium lab, usually 2 lab sections every other week:  5 hours per week for 6 weeks.  (Fall, Spring.  Supervisor:  Morehead Planetarium staff).

AGN (Astronomy Guest Nights):  Give a guided tour of the heavens each Friday night to about 30 public guests of all ages.  Typical weekly workload: 1 hour preparation + 3 hours at observatory. (Fall, Spring. Supervisor: Dan Reichart)
 
A519A (Teaching Assistant for Astr519, formerly Astr137 - Observational Astronomy):  Assist course instructor as needed.  Workload varies depending on semester: 0 to 0.7 TA.  (Fall or Spring. Supervisor: course instructor)

P52A (Laboratory Assistant for Phys52, formerly Phys6B - Freshman Seminar on electronics: "Making the Right Connections"):  Assist course instructor with laboratory instruction.  Typical weekly workload: 8 hours for 0.5 TA.  (Variable offerings. Supervisor: course instructor)
 
P100D (Demo Assistant for Phys100, formerly Phys16 - How Things Work):  Prepare and assist with presentation of lecture demonstrations for Physics 100 course, which meets 3 times each week. The same TA usually holds this assignment for several consecutive semesters. Typical weekly workload: 6 hours for 1/3 TA. (Fall, Spring. Supervisor: course instructor)
 
P131L (Laboratory Instructor for Phys131, formerly Phys18 - Physics of Energy):  Teach 3 lab sections of up to 12 students each for 12 weeks. Typical weekly workload: 5 hours teaching + 2 hours lab preparation + 6 hours grading lab reports + 3 office hours = 16 hours. (Fall or Spring. Supervisor: course instructor)

P101L (Laboratory Instructor for Phys101, formerly Phys20 - Conceptual Physics):  Teach 3 lab sections of up to 16 students each for 11 weeks. Typical weekly workload: 6 hours teaching + 3 hours preparation + 6 hours grading lab reports and homework + 3 office hours (2 in PTC) = 18 hours. (Fall or Spring. Supervisor: Duane Deardorff)
 
P104L or P105L (Laboratory Instructor for Phys104 or 105, formerly Phys24 and 25 - General Physics I, II):  Teach 3 lab sections of up to 16 students each for 11 weeks. Grade lab reports and return with comments to students by the next lab period. Attend weekly TA meetings with Lab Director. Typical weekly workload: 6 hours teaching + 2 hours preparation (including TA meeting) + 7 hours grading lab reports + 3 office hours (2 in PTC)  = 18 hours. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisor: Duane Deardorff)
 
P116L or 117L (Laboratory Instructor for Phys116, formerly Phys26: Mechanics, or Phys117, formerly Phys27: E&M, optics):  Teach 3 lab sections of up to 12 students each for 11 weeks. Grade lab reports and return with comments to students by the next lab period. Attend weekly TA meetings with Lab Director. Typical weekly workload: 6 hours teaching + 2 hours preparation (including TA meeting) + 7 hours grading lab reports and exams or homework for P104 or 105 + 3 office hours (2 in PTC)  = 18 hours. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisor: Duane Deardorff)
 
P116R or P117R (Recitations for Phys116 or 117):  Facilitate 3 recitation sections of approximately 20 students each. Recitations meet once per week for 14 weeks. Recitation TAs work directly with the corresponding course instructors to coordinate instructional content and grading schedules. Typical weekly workload: 3 contact hours teaching + 4 hours preparation (including TA meeting) + 3 office hours (2 in PTC) + 4 hours grading homework and tests = 14 hours. (Fall, Spring. Supervisors: course instructors)
 
P128L (Laboratory Instructor for Phys128, formerly Phys28 - Modern Physics):  Teach 3 lab sections of up to 12 students each for 10 weeks. TAs are required to take a radiation safety course and be registered as Radiation Workers with the Cesium-137 source that is used in this lab. The same TA usually holds this assignment for several consecutive semesters. Typical weekly workload: 9 contact hours + 3 hours preparation + 4 hours grading lab reports + 3 office hours = 19 hours. (Fall, Spring. Supervisor: course instructor, Senior Lab Manager)
 
P331L (Teaching Assistant for Phys331, formerly Phys61 - Numerical Techniques):  Guide and assist students in 2 lab sections of up to 10 students each with their course assignments using MatLab, and implementing numerical methods learned in the lecture to solve physical problems and analyze scientific results using common computational techniques. The TA must have strong math and physics knowledge and be familiar with basic numerical methods and MatLab. Willingness to learn new things and patience to scan someone else's code for mistakes is beneficial. Expect to work late night hours assisting students in the computer lab (especially the day before homework is due). Typical weekly workload: 4 hours teaching + 4 hours preparation + 2 office hours + 8 hours additional student assistance = 18 hours. (Fall or Spring. Supervisor: Paul Tiesinga)
 
P351L (Laboratory Instructor for Phys351, formerly Phys101 - Electronics I):  Assist students in 3 lab sections of up to 12 students each as they work on 11 analog electronics labs and Electronics Workbench. Each lab section has 2 TAs: usually one graduate student and one undergrad who has already taken the course. Typical weekly workload: 9 hours in lab + 3 hours preparation + 2 hours grading labs + 4 hours grading homework = 19 hours. (Fall. Supervisor: course instructor)
 
P352L (Laboratory Instructor for Phys352, formerly Phys102 - Electronics II, digital):  Assist students in 3 lab sections of up to 12 students each as they work on 7 digital electronics labs and grade LabView homework for first 6 weeks of semester. Experience with LabView is required. Typical weekly workload: 20 hours. (Spring. Supervisor: Hugon Karwowski)
 
P481L/491L (Teaching Assistant for Phys481/491, formerly Phys142: Advanced Lab and Phys148: Materials Lab):  Advise and assist undergraduate junior and senior physics majors and material science students as they perform independent experiments. A working knowledge of advanced physics research laboratory equipment is required.  Typical weekly workload: 8 contact hours + 4 hours grading + 4 hours preparing labs = 16 hours. (Fall. Supervisor: Lu-Chang Qin)

P711/712R (Recitation for Phys711 and 712):  Schedule and lead optional one-hour session each week to present and discuss mathematical methods associated with electromagnetic theory, including complex variables, Fourier techniques, multipole expansions, tensor analysis, special functions, etc.  Review with students more difficult homework problems after they have been graded and returned, and answer questions related to course lecture, either immediately or the following week.  Only graduate students who have passed the physics PhD qualifying exam are eligible for this assignment.  Typical weekly workload: 1 contact hour teaching + 5 hours preparation = 6 hours for 1/3 TA. (Fall, Spring. Supervisor: course instructor)

P701/722R (Recitation for Phys701 and 722):  Schedule and lead optional one-hour session each week to present and discuss mathematical methods and related problems associated with classical dynamics and quantum mechanics.  Review with students more difficult homework problems after they have been graded and returned, and answer questions related to course lecture, either immediately or the following week.  Only graduate students who have passed the physics PhD qualifying exam are eligible for this assignment.  Typical weekly workload: 1 contact hour teaching + 5 hours preparation = 6 hours for 1/3 TA. (Fall, Spring. Supervisor: course instructor)

Supplemental Instruction (SI):  This program provides optional academic support in a group discussion format for students in certain large-enrollment classes (usually Phys100, 104, and 105).  Each SI leader attends class and holds three weekly SI sessions for a particular lecture section.  The SI leader facilitates group problem-solving, encourages critical thinking, and helps students develop learning strategies appropriate to the course.  Typical weekly workload: 3 hours attending class + 3 hours leading SI sessions + 1 hour preparation and administrative duties = 7 hours for 1/3 TA.  (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisor: Christina Perry, UNC Learning Center)

Physics Tutorial Center (PTC):  Assist primarily Physics 104, 105, 116, and 117 students with questions they have about their homework or lab. This assignment requires a broad and capable understanding of introductory physics and patience to work with students. Assistance with the maintenance and administration of the Tutorial Center is expected during slow periods. Most laboratory and recitation TAs are assigned 2 office hours each week in the Tutorial Center. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisors: Duane Deardorff, Shane Brogan)

Tutorial Center Manager:  Monitors the use of the Physics Tutorial Center and coordinates with the Lab Director and Lab Manager on strategies to best meet the needs of the students who utilize this resource.  Typical weekly workload:  4 hours in PTC + 2 hours administration = 6 hours for 1/3 TA.  (Fall, Spring. Supervisors: Duane Deardorff, Shane Brogan)
 
Lab Development:  Coordinate with the Lab Director and Lab Manager on developing new experiments for the introductory physics labs, revising existing experiments, or editing the lab manuals. The workload for this assignment is flexible. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisors: Duane Deardorff, Shane Brogan)
 
Lab Assistant:  Assist the Lab Manager and Lab Director with activities related to the introductory physics labs. The workload for this assignment is flexible. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisors: Duane Deardorff, Shane Brogan)

Lab Setup:  Coordinate with the Lab Manager to set up and take down the apparatus for each of the introdtory physics laboratories. Work times are flexible, but the equipment must be taken down and set up as soon as possible after all students have completed each lab, usually Friday afternoon. Undergraduate Lab Assistants are usually hired on an hourly basis for this work.  Typical workload is 5 hours/week. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisor: Shane Brogan)
 
Demo Assistant:  Coordinate with the Lab Manager to prepare lecture demonstrations for courses, help maintain demonstration facility, build and repair demos, purchase new demos. Undergraduate Lab Assistants are usually hired on an hourly basis for this work.  Workloads can vary from 0 to 10 hours/week. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisor: Shane Brogan)
 

Grading:  Coordinate with faculty course instructor to grade homework or exams throughout the semester. Most grading jobs require rapid turnaround time (a few days), so the workload can be intense at times and calm in between.  Multiple graders may be assigned to the same course to reduce this intense workload.  Completion and mastery of a course is required before a student can grade for that course. Typical workload: Most courses require 40 to 100 hours of total grading time, but the workload should not exceed 20 hours in any one week. (Fall, Spring, Summer. Supervisor: course instructor).

 

Last revised: 8/8/08, DLD