GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS: RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTACTS

Each position is different—some guarantee funding for one semester, some for two. Typically assistantships offer tuition remission (10 credit-hours/semester), a stipend, and benefits. The process of finding a position takes time, and in some cases a student may not be offered a position until the last minute.

The first step in seeking an assistantship is to inform the CONS Program Directors that you are seeking support. They will refer your name to the TA coordinator for the Biology Department, and you will be added to a list of students requesting assistantships. Next, contact the persons listed below for information regarding positions with different departments. It’s a good idea to treat this process like you would any job search, and to send along cover letters and your current resume. The best strategy is to start looking for positions early, pursue multiple positions, and to continue to explore options for funding throughout your curriculum at the University of Maryland.

One campus opportunity is Graduate Assistantships with the Department of Resident Life. See www.resnet.umd.edu

Please let the CONS office know when you obtain support for the coming semester.

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS

Listed below is the contact information of UMCP faculty and staff who organize Teaching Assistantships for their respective departments and programs.

Biological Sciences Program
Dr. Marcia Shofner
Assistant Director Biological Sciences
Symons Hall, Room 1326
(301) 405-7678
mshofner@umd.edu
Multiple positions available:
TA Positions include BSCI103, BSCI105, and BSCI106. Positions are offered for one semester and can be extended at the end of the semester.

Biology Department
Lois Reid
Graduate Secretary
Biology Department
Biology-Psychology Building, Room 2231
(301) 405-6905
lreid@umd.edu
Multiple positions available in upper-level BSCI courses.

Environmental Science and Policy Program
Ms. Joyce Brown
University of Maryland
Symons Hall, Room 0102
301/405-8571
jbrown@deans.umd.edu
Two positions available: Year-long TA positions which include ENSP101 (Intro. to Environmental Science), Fall and /or ENSP102 (Intro. to Environmental Policy), Spring.
Application Deadline: usually in April.

Entomology Department
Dr. Galen Dively
4124 Plant Sciences Bldg.
Gd7@umail.umd.edu

Biometry
Animal Sciences Department.
Only suitable for those with a good background in statistics.

Chemistry Department
Dr. Herman Ammon (please start by contacting David Inouye, not Dr. Ammon)
B214 Chemistry Bldg.

Plant Biology and Microbiology
Dr. Todd Cooke
3105A H. J. Patterson Hall
tc23@umail.umd.edu

Animal Sciences Department
Dr. Inder Vijay
1415 Animal Science Building

Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
Nancy Williams
Graduate Secretary
nwilliams@umd.edu

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTSHIPS

In addition to Teaching Assistant opportunities, there are also a number of Administrative Assistantships available in various offices on campus. These positions are similar to TA positions in pay, benefits, and time involved, but job duties vary from position to position. If you do not want to be a TA, or are not qualified to be one, an AA position may be a good alternative for you.

Finding an administrative assistantship will take some footwork. Here are some good places to start looking.

Personnel Services Department; Division of Administrative Affairs – lists individual positions:
http://www.uhr.umd.edu/employment/listings.cfm?listing=30%20Graduate%20Assistant

Graduate School – Suggestions for funding your graduate education:
http://www.vprgs.umd.edu/fellowship/funding.htm

Offices that Offer Graduate Assistantships
The following is a list of offices that regularly offer assistantships. Other offices on campus may offer GAs as well—call the offices and check out websites to see if any positions are available.

• Division of Letters and Sciences – Employment is under “News and Events”
http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/UgradInfo/UgradStudies/LettersSciences/
Regarding Graduate Assistant Academic Advisors for undergraduates in Letters and Sciences--although you have to start working 20 hours a week in June, it's possible to do another job (or internship!) during the same time.

• Office of Information Technology
http://www.oit.umd.edu/Employment/GA/

• Study Abroad Office
http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/UgradInfo/Opportunities/StudyAbroad/

• Undergraduate Admissions
http://www.uga.umd.edu/

• Undergraduate Studies http://www.inform.umd.edu/UgradStudies/
http://www.inform.umd.edu/UgradStudies/

• Stamp Student Union – has a number of administrative and events offices that hire graduate assistants, if you can’t find GA listings on their page, give them a ring and ask!
http://www.union.umd.edu/home.html

• CONS Office
The CONS Program sponsors two half-time graduate assistantships, who run the program office. Contact the Program Directors for more information.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON CAMPUS

The Campus Writing Center hires graduate students at an hourly wage to assist undergraduate students with writing and thinking skills.

The campus libraries have some student positions. To be considered for a position, applications are made available in the Library Personnel and Budget Office, RM 6119 McKeling Library. They can be turned into Library Personnel and Budget Office or any library service desk advertising a vacant position.

Remember to let the CONS Office know when you have found support!
consoffc@umail.umd.edu

Off-campus Scholarship