How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached and uploaded as the first page of your CV/resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position, provide a brief statement of interest, discuss relevant teaching experience and knowledge of introductory astronomy, and discuss any course preferences you may have.
If you have held a GSI position at U-M, as part of your cover letter, please provide the course title, number, term, and faculty instructor for each course taught. Please also attach a copy of your UM transcript.
Course Description
ASTRO 104: Alien Skies: A Tour Through the Universe
In this course, we shall be ?traveling? through space and time to ?visit? firsthand some of the remarkable features of our Universe. Our ?spacecraft? will be built from our imagination, but its destinations will reflect what astronomy and physics have revealed about the nature of our Universe. We will see the Solar System from different planets, look back at the Sun from neighboring stars, and travel throughout our home Galaxy even as we prepare to embark to distant galaxies and beyond. As we travel extremely far from home, we will find that we also have to move back in time to see how the galaxies, stars, the Sun, and the Earth came about in the first place. The physical concepts that we require to understand what we see will be introduced as we go along, and some of these will be used many times during the course. Online notes will be available during the course of the term, though students may use any number of standard modern Astronomy textbooks to supplement these notes and the class lectures.
Responsibilities*
This is a 25% grader GSI appointment. The class meets every Monday and Wednesday from 4- 5:30 pm.
The GSI should expect to hold 1.5 hours of office hours every week. Some office hours must be held in person in the Astronomy Help Room on Wednesdays from 1-4pm.
Required Qualifications*
1. Currently enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Michigan (for Fall 2025)
2. Completed courses or have experience in astronomy/astrophysics
3. To be appointed as a GSI or GSSA, a graduate student must be in good standing in their degree program and for Terms I and II, must be registered for not less than six (6) credit hours. With written approval of the student's faculty advisor, five (5) credit hours may be acceptable.
Desired Qualifications*
LSA student enrolled in a graduate program
Previous experience teaching courses in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics
Previous experience as a GSI with favorable student evaluations
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Contact Information
Please contact Eric Bell, [email protected], for questions about the position.
Decision Making Process
Applications are reviewed, and decisions are made based on each applicant?s knowledge, experience, and past teaching record. Preferential consideration will be given to applicants:
Previous experience teaching courses in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics
Previous experience as a GSI with favorable student evaluations
The decision-making procedures shall include the role of applicant preferences for course placement, procedures, and criteria for late appointments.
The Graduate Program Chair will make the hiring decision.
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed, and decisions are made based on each applicants knowledge, experience, and past teaching record. Preferential consideration will be given to applicants:
Previous experience teaching courses in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics
Previous experience as a GSI with favorable student evaluations
The estimated date by which offers will be extended, and a reminder that an applicant may request the status of their application from the appointing unit. (Appointing units will make reasonable efforts to extend offers to successful applicants within six (6) weeks after the application due date. Offers will typically be extended at least twenty-one (21) calendar days prior to the start of employment.)
GEO Contract Information
The University will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression (whether actual or perceived), sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, HIV antibody status, political belief, membership in any social or political organization, participation in a grievance or complaint whether formal or informal, medical conditions including those related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, arrest record, or any other factor where the item in question will not interfere with job performance and where the employee is otherwise qualified. The University of Michigan agrees to abide by the protections afforded employees with disabilities as outlined in the rules and regulations which implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://oie.umich.edu/ and for the University Ombuds at https://ombuds.umich.edu/
Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. In the event that an employee does not receive their preferred assignment, they can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agents(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.
This position, as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.
Standard Practice Guide 601.38, Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Felony Convictions applies to all Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs). SPG 601.38 may be accessed online at https://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 , and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU 10 of your employment contract.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.