Teaching Assistantships (TA)

The typical first appointment for a beginning graduate student is a Teaching Assistantship (TA). A teaching assistantship is both a teaching position and a means of support for graduate study. It is normally advantageous for a graduate student to hold a teaching assistantship for at least a semester during graduate studies, since the teaching activity solidifies and deepens the teaching assistant’s undergraduate education in physics and also helps prepare for a possible career in teaching.

Teaching assistants and project assistants with combined graduate assistant appointments of one-third time or greater receive a remission of all in-state and out-of-state fees, except for the segregated fees. Tuition is also waived. TA appointments are done for a semester at a time. The rates are either the standard rate or senior rate (see the funding guide from the Graduate School for further details). See TA Details for additional information on the appointment responsibilities and evaluation process of teaching assistants.

TA positions available for Spring 2024

Physics TA positions are available for Spring 2024 in General Physics courses (click on link to see syllabus:  103, 104, 201, 202, 207, and/or 208).

Most TA positions are at appointment levels 33.4% – 50% time (average of 13-20 hours/week of work).  These positions would include salary and benefits.

People who have not been Physics TAs before are invited to go through the Physics TA interview process, which includes taking quizzes pertaining to the material taught in the General Physics courses.  Quiz requirements are here:  GeneralPhysicsTAQuizRequirements.

Successful candidates must plan to be in Madison by 16 January for Physics TA training, and to stay as students through the end of the semester.  International TAs must be able to pass the UW SPEAK test.

If interested, contact Jim Reardon (jcreardon@wisc.edu) by Thursday, December 28, 2023.

Other Support Available

Research Assistantships