Graduate Teaching Assistant (TCBES)

Job description

Temporary/Permanent:

Temporary - Not to Exceed: 7/31/27

Other Conditions: Appointment to begin approximately August 2026, pending position clearance and availability of funding.

Graduate Assistants will be given initial one year terms, appointments may be extended based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

Priority will be given to students in their 1st and 2nd year of the TCBES program.

Graduate Assistants will be under the direct supervision of the Graduate Assistant Coordinator of the TCBES program, as well as the supervisor of the specific academic unit under which the candidate will be functioning.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Teach or assist programs in the department to which the candidate will be assigned.

Work closely with the appropriate departmental Graduate Assistant Coordinator throughout the semester.

Duties could include, but not limited to data gathering, course planning, preparation, grading, classroom management, student advising.

Work with students to enhance their comprehension of assigned reading materials or advise on academic matters.

Conduct informal discussion groups to ensure understanding of lectures and lab assignments.

Supervise students in the laboratory, as well as on field excursions.

Train and monitor laboratory users for compliance with basic safety and scientific procedures.

Ensure proper maintenance of laboratory and field equipment and supplies.

Transport students in a 12- or 15-passenger van, if needed.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Accepted to or currently enrolled in the UH Hilo TCBES MS Program.

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Marine Science, Geography, Agriculture, or a related Environmental Science or Environmental Studies field or equivalent education/training or experience.

Significant knowledge of, and ability to teach topics in biology, environmental science, marine science, agriculture, and/or geospatial techniques (GIS) at the undergraduate level.

Demonstrated ability to communicate well.

Desirable Qualifications

Previous experience teaching, leading discussions, record keeping, or supervising undergraduate students in a classroom, laboratory, or field setting.

Previous experience in grading and evaluating student work.

Previous experience with curriculum development, tutoring and/or outreach either in formal or informal education.

Previous experience with community building, conflict resolution, and people management.

Previous experience with quantitative methods such as statistics, advanced GIS, remote sensing, and/or computer programming.

Previous experience conducting independent scientific research.

Previous experience with website management.

Valid driver’s license.

Specifics to Departments

1.

Biology: GA position provides support for BIOL 280, BIOL 281L, and BIOL 481L.

Duties for BIOL 280 include, but are not limited to: 1) Grading homework assignments and exams.

2) Giving a guest lecture.

3) Holding office hours.

4) Preparing exam review study sessions.

5) Assisting students with obtaining and using software (Minitab, R), including troubleshooting or providing directions.

6) Providing guidance to students on their group research project.

Duties for BIOL 281L include, but are not limited to: 1) Attending each lab and assisting with driving students to the field site in an 12-passenger van.

2) Assisting students on lab assignments and data collection in the field and data analysis.

3) Holding office hours.

4) Helping grade lab handouts.

Duties for BIOL 481L include, but are not limited to: 1) Helping out with the field work by preparing field materials for surveys/experiments.

2) Driving the 12-passenger van with students to and from field sites.

3) Assisting with project development, data collection in the field and data analysis.

4) Providing feedback on their draft manuscripts.

5) Holding office hours.

6) Giving one lecture and one lesson in the lecture portion of the course.



2.

Geography & Environmental Science: GA position provides academic support and technical assistance for the Spatial Data Analysis & Visualization (SDAV) geospatial teaching facility.

Duties may include, but not limited to: 1) Providing undergraduate and graduate tutorial support for students enrolled in various geospatial classes (including GEOG201, GEOG280, GEOG328, GEOG470, GEOG480, GEOG 481, CBES 670, CBES681), and for students needing to use GIS and geospatial techniques in class or independent research/thesis projects.

2) Holding regular office hours and being familiar with geospatial software and relevant course assignments to effectively answer student questions.

3) Providing technical troubleshooting support for computer and software licensing issues in the SDAV teaching facility.

4) Providing and facilitating student and faculty check out of equipment (GPS units, field tapes, cameras, weather data collectors, etc.) from the SDAV laboratory.

5) Assisting with SDAV-related community and K12 outreach events, including demonstrations of geospatial datasets and technologies for local schools, etc.

This position may also provide support to the TCBES Graduate Program.

Possible tasks include maintaining and updating the TCBES website and social media accounts, assisting with TCBES vehicle maintenance, rentals, and payments, assisting with managing the TCBES workroom, and assisting with the TCBES Newsletter.

Duties will vary on a weekly basis, but the GA will spend the majority of their time supporting undergraduate and graduate student geospatial learning.

The Geography & Environmental Science GA position is housed in the SDAV laboratory.



3.

Marine Science: GA position provides support for MARE 171L and MARE 201L.

Duties for MARE 171L and MARE 201L include, but are not limited to: 1) Shadowing 1 section of MARE 171L or MARE 201L (first semester) and independently teaching additional sections.

2) Collaborating/ working closely with the supervising instructor in Marine Science on course planning, preparation, grading, supervision of a lab assistant, and classroom management in the lab and in the field.

3) Ensuring the posting and grading of assignments is consistent with that of the supervising instructor, and return assignments promptly.

4) Holding office hours and conducting informal discussion groups/study sessions to ensure understanding of content and assignments.

5) Responding appropriately and professionally to students outside of class.

6) Supervising students in the laboratory as well as in the field.

7) Training and monitoring laboratory users (including in the field) for compliance with safety and scientific procedures.

8) Ensuring proper maintenance of laboratory equipment and supplies.

8) Transporting students in a 12- or 15-passenger van.

9) Performing other duties as assigned.

Relevant coursework for MARE 171L: a 100-level or higher Marine Biology course and lab.

Skills for MARE 171L: must be able to swim and snorkel.

Relevant coursework for MARE 201L: 200-level or higher Oceanography course and lab.

Skills for MARE 201L: experience working on a boat, handling lines on a boat.



4.

College of Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources Management.: GA position provides support for AG 230.

Duties include, but are not limited to: 1) Maintaining assigned greenhouse benches for growing seedlings.

2) Maintaining an inventory of tools and equipment.

3) Keeping tools and equipment in good working condition.

4) Acquiring and preparing supplies for the class.

5) Collecting, grading, and providing feedback on the students’ weekly journal.

6) Teaching 1-2 classes on topics related to thesis or sustainability.

7) Co-supervising and providing technical assistance in the development of garden plots on campus or farm.

8) Substitute teaching the class when the main instructor is absent.

9) Providing assistance to another CAFNRM class, if needed.

This position may also provide support to the TCBES Graduate Program.

Possible tasks include maintaining and updating the TCBES website and social media accounts, assisting with TCBES vehicle maintenance, rentals, and payments, assisting with managing the TCBES workroom, and assisting with the TCBES Newsletter.

Required Skill Profession

Other Educational Instruction And Library Occupations