Call for Fall 2013 NR1 Lab Instructors —
Professor Walt Poleman will host info-sessions in Aiken 311 on:
Wed. April 3, 5:30 -6:30 AND
Tues. April 9, 5:30 – 6:30
Initial announcement and application are attached. These are PAID opportunities with ACADEMIC CREDIT.
The Rubenstein School is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for upper-level undergraduates to serve as lab instructors in NR 1 (Natural History and Field Ecology) during the upcoming fall 2013 semester. Though graduate students will continue to play key roles in delivering the content of the course, we are hoping to attract 10 outstanding undergraduate alumni of NR 1 to lead lab sections and share their passion for the Vermont landscape with the School's incoming class. The Lab Instructor position will be a paid job, as well as a credit-bearing experience. Successful applicants will earn $10/hour, as well as two academic credits through enrollment in NR 185 (Teaching Practicum). Being an NR 1 Lab Instructor will be a demanding, yet rewarding experience. We expect the Lab Instructors to represent the very best of what the Rubenstein School has to offer, since they will be role models for younger students. As you know, a good mentor can make a powerful and lasting impression on students. The duties for the position of Lab Instructor include: *leading weekly field trips and implementing lab activities *managing and responding to student blog postings on Blackboard *grading homework assignments *attending mandatory weekly NR 1 staff meetings (likely on Monday mornings) *meeting with a graduate student mentor on a weekly basis *participating in a 3-day training session the week prior to the fall semester Lab instructors will also enroll in a two-credit teaching practicum (NR 185) that will feature mentoring skills, natural history interpretation, leadership development, and educational design. This course will not have a regularly scheduled meeting time other than the staff meetings. Rising juniors and seniors are both welcome to apply, though you will need to have taken NR 1. Previous teaching experience is certainly valuable though not required. As you can imagine, serving as a lab instructor makes a very nice entry on your resume, showing your experience as a teacher and as a member of an academic community. It is also a great thing for references to write about when you need letters of recommendation. To Apply: Send an email with attached cover letter and resume to Walter Poleman <wpoleman@uvm.edu> no later than April 12th at Noon. Put "Lab Instructor Application" in the subject heading. In your cover letter, please include: *1-2 paragraphs about why you want to be a lab instructor *A description of the natural history and field ecology skills you possess *The days of the week (M,T,W,T, F) (1 – 5 PM) that you would potentially be available to teach a lab *How best to contact you via phone and email *The name of one UVM faculty member as a reference with their email address We will hold interviews during the period of April 15 - 26, and make decisions by April 29. We look forward to receiving your applications!