Information for TA's

Our Longitudinal Methods Course offers an exceptional opportunity for graduate students to serve as funded Teaching Assistants (TAs) while gaining experience in course development, instruction, and interdisciplinary engagement. We are looking for six qualified students to join our team as Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) for MCAP’s Summer Institute on Longitudinal Data Analysis. 

Why Apply? 

• 2-month summer funding opportunity
• Count the TA position as your Capstone experience for the AMAP certificate
• Collaborate with a diverse cohort of interdisciplinary students and faculty
• Enhance your teaching and consulting skills in advanced longitudinal statistical methods

Who Should Apply? 

• Have completed advanced quantitative methods courses (e.g., multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, or categorical data analysis)
• Are interested in careers involving methods instruction or consultation
• Must be available from July 13th through July 18th

What to Expect? 

Before the Course: 

• Training: Prior to the course, TAs will complete the 1-hour Responsible Conduct of Research CITI course and a 1-hour training on neurodiversity and disability in the classroom, ensuring they are equipped to support a diverse learning environment. 

• Collaborative Course Development: TAs will participate in weekly team meetings and one-on-one sessions with faculty instructors during the six weeks leading up to the institute. Together, they will co-create course materials, including review sessions that they will lead, while learning best practices for teaching complex statistical topics to an interdisciplinary audience. They will also help clean and develop example R code. 

During the Course: 

• Help with instruction and Support: Each TA will lead one review session and "float" during lectures to provide one-on-one support, helping students troubleshoot with their datasets and modeling. 

• Experiential Learning: TAs will gain hands-on experience in teaching and classroom management. 

• Leadership and Networking: TAs will participate in informal, "after-hours" activities, including networking meals and evening gatherings, fostering leadership skills and professional connections in interdisciplinary environments. 

Post-Course: 

• Ongoing Support: For one month following the course, TAs will offer consultation services to course participants. 

• Critical Reflection: TAs will participate in post-program surveys and reflections to access course’s success and learning about course evaluation methods. 

• Feedback and Growth: Faculty instructors will provide detailed feedback on the TAs' teaching performance, identifying strengths and opportunities for growth. 

How to Apply? 

Applications will open in January. We will make final decisions for funding by February.