Performs weekly setup and preparation of all instructional labs throughout each academic quarter and maintains lab spaces.
Assists in course logistics, including monitoring assignment grading and assigning laboratory experiments.
Collaborates with the staff to ensure that all apparatus used in the physics instructional lab courses are repaired and maintained in good working conditions.
Collaborates with the staff to design, build, and implement new scientific apparatus for use in the physics instructional labs.
Monitors the building environment and takes measures to ensure that problems are addressed, either through direct action or by contacting specialists.
Assists with lecture demonstrations as needed.
Instructional:
Serves as instructional support for students in the advanced undergraduate physics lab courses.
Assists students with experimental techniques, data processing, and reporting.
Trains graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants to operate equipment and teach effectively in the physics instructional labs.
Creates and maintains instructional material for student use in the instructional labs including lab manuals, supplemental course materials, and other digital resources.
Intellectual:
Collaborates with the staff and course instructors to develop and implement new scientific pedagogy for use in the physics instructional labs.
Stays up to date with the latest developments in physics education research through attending relevant conferences, reviewing literature, and participating in campus and departmental pedagogy workshops.
Additional:
Provides support for a wide variety of public outreach programs and summer courses.
Prepares and tests lecture demonstrations to ensure consistency with course content. Works with faculty or staff to determine the suitability of demonstrations for specific lectures. Informs faculty of new demonstration developments and materials.
Acts as a resource for and instructs faculty on the proper usage of technical scientific apparatus. Uses best practices and laboratory knowledge to promote safety in handling hazardous equipment and materials.
Performs other related work as needed.
Requirements
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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MA/MS or PhD in Physics or related field.
Experience teaching, tutoring, or mentoring, especially in a university setting.
Experience in a research or teaching laboratory, especially in a university setting.
Experience supervising and training student employees.
Experience working safely in a lab environment, including experience with high voltage, lasers, chemicals, and radioactive sources.
Preferred Competencies
Passion for teaching and a desire to develop skills in experimental physics education.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent time management and the ability to handle multiple simultaneous projects.
Demonstrated resourcefulness and initiative in seeking out necessary information.
Ability and desire to work both independently and collaboratively.
Technical Knowledge or Skills:
Physics Education Research (PER) strategies, including active learning techniques, introductory or advanced lab pedagogy, inclusiv
Additional Information
Department
PSD Physics: Administration
About the Department
The Department of Physics at The University of Chicago was established in 1893 by A. A. Michaelson. As then, the Physics Department continues to pride itself on cross-disciplinary research which is carried out over several multi-disciplinary institutes and centers: the Enrico Fermi Institute, the James Franck Institute, the Institute for Molecular Engineering, the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, the Kadanoff Center for Theoretical Physics, and the Computation Institute. The Physics Department values the benefits that diversity brings to life and science. We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive environment that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry encouraging diverse perspectives, intellectual engagement and exchange.
Job Summary
The Teaching Support Specialist works alongside a team of professional staff within the Department of Physics to maintain, operate, and improve instructional laboratory spaces and experiments, and to train graduate laboratory tutors to work safely and teach effectively. The Teaching Support Specialist provides instructional support for students in the advanced undergraduate physics lab courses and offers mentorship and support to students on special projects. The Teaching Support Specialist contributes to and implements improvements for teaching laboratories, including designing and improving lecture demonstrations and developing laboratory manuals.
Uchicago · Hyde Park Campus