How to Apply
Please submit both a brief statement of interest (short essay) describing your relevant experience, including any relevant courses you've taken, and your CV. Your statement should list the courses for which you would be interested in serving as a GSI (and a ranking of preferences, if applicable).
Responsibilities*
Duties will include teaching either two lab sections, three discussions, or two ULWR discussion sections (for a 0.5 appointment), holding office hours, attending lectures and assisting where directed, grading assignments, and general course preparation and administrative tasks. GSIs will need to attend lectures and be available for the requisite number of sections. Please review the course guide for specific times for each course. GSIs assigned to EARTH 333 or 380, both upper level-writing (ULWR) courses, will be responsible for substantial grading of written materials and first time ULWR GSIs must enroll in WRITING 993.
Required Qualifications*
- This is a limited availability position open only to currently enrolled graduate students in good standing in the College of Literature, Science and Arts at the University of Michigan.
- Possess the ability to effectively teach and evaluate undergraduate students.
- For potential GSIs whose undergraduate medium of instruction was not English, prior satisfactory completion of ELI 994 and the GSI-OET.
Desired Qualifications*
- Previous GSI experience with favorable student evaluations.
- Previous coursework in or familiarity with Earth and environmental sciences.
- Previously taken or served as a GSI for the relevant or similar course.
- For EARTH 225, previous experience with GIS.
Course Description
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is looking to hire approximately three GSIs in the winter 2027 term. We expect the students may support the following courses, though specific course needs and fractions may change through the process:
- EARTH 225 - Geology of Michigan and the Great Lakes (one 0.5 GSI)
- This course is a project-based introductory Earth Science course that focuses on the geologic history of the Great Lakes of North America with an emphasis on the State of Michigan as an example of the processes involved in the formation of these lakes. The goal of the class is to investigate the formation of the Great Lakes Area, the Great Lakes basins, and the current version of the Great Lakes by analyzing the geologic features, rocks, sediments, and mineral, energy, and natural resources available.
- Lectures TuTh 2:30 - 4:00 PM
- EARTH 331 - Climate and Climate Change
This course examines the physical and chemical processes influencing Earth's climate and the methods for quantifying past and present climate change, Emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanisms of climate change from ice ages through the near future. The evidence of human-caused changes in climate is also discussed.
Specific topics addressed include: (1) solar radiation and the atmosphere; (2) atmospheric and ocean circulation; (3) methods of quantifying past and present climate change; (4) glaciers and climate change; (5) greenhouse and icehouse Earth; (6) long-term (geologic) and short-term (historical) changes in Earth's climate; and (7) humans and climate change. Discussion sections will elaborate on lecture topics, have students work with and quantitatively interpret data related to lecture topics, and solve problem sets related to lectures.
- Lectures TuTh 1:00 - 2:30 PM, Discussion sections Tu 2:00 - 3:00 PM and Th 3:00 - 4:00 PM.
- EARTH 380 - Natural Resources, Economics, and the Environment (one 0.5 GSI)
- This course examines the energy and mineral resources on which society depends, and the engineering, environmental, geologic, economic, political and social factors that control our access to them. Students will learn about the geologic processes that form mineral deposits, the politics (local, state, national, and international) that shape regulation and commerce, the environmental footprint of resource extraction and mining, and how all of these issues connect to every member of society. Students will build skills in critical thinking and scientific writing through major writing assignments that undergo instructor review and require substantive and stylistic revision.
- Lectures TuTh 11:30 - 1:00 PM, Discussion sections Tu 1:00 - 2:00 and 2:00 - 3:00 PM, W 4:00 - 5:00 and 5:00 - 6:00 PM, Th 4:00 - 5:00 and 5:00 - 6:00 PM, F 3:00 - 4:00 and 4:00 - 5:00 PM.
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
Contact Academic Program Manager Nathan Sadowsky at [email protected] with questions. Applications are due by 11/04/2026 and we hope to extend offer(s) by 12/11/2026.
Decision Making Process
All positions are assigned by Associate Chair for Graduate Students Yihe Huang. The instructor of record for the course may also be consulted in the process.
Selection Process
We hope to extend offer(s) by 12/11/2026. You may request the status of your application by contacting Nathan Sadowsky at [email protected].
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 Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.