Undergraduate Student Employment Opportunities

Every term the Physics Department hires graders, undergraduate TAs, and mentors. Listed below are the various positions and their details. There is one application for all positions.

Important Things to Note:

  • You may hold more than one position at a time; each program coordinates their operations.
  • The combined time commitment for UG student work cannot exceed 20 hours/week. This limit also includes positions students may hold with other departments.

Spring 2023 Student Employment Opportunities Application form is live.
Deadline to apply: January 16, 2023.

Subjects that hire graders:

  • Fall Classes: 8.012, 8.021, 8.03, 8.033, 8.04, 8.05, 8.07
  • IAP Classes: 8.20, 8.223, 8.S228
  • Spring Classes: 8.011, 8.022, 8.03, 8.04, 8.044, 8.06, 8.21, 8.282

Responsibilities: Grader will receive 15-20 p-sets to grade on a weekly basis using Gradescope or another system. Graders are given the solutions and usually about a week turnaround time. Access to a tablet and stylus is ideal but the need varies by class. Graders are expected to check their inbox daily for important emails, keep all student information confidential, and maintain an open communication with the graduate TA and instructor of the class.

Qualifications: Applicants are expected to have taken the class (or earned credit another way) and demonstrated a solid understanding of the material.

Time Commitment: 3-7 hours weekly (flexible, vary by class, your own schedule)

Compensation: $19/hr (pay rate increases by $0.50 cents for each semester that you work in the same job category as a grader).

Application Link: https://forms.gle/FSaHYjtDMfPMownp8
Deadline: January 16, 2023

Subjects that hire UTAs:

  • Fall Classes: 8.01, 8.01L (extends to IAP), 8.02, 8.13
  • IAP Class: 8.01L
  • Spring Classes: 8.011, 8.02, 8.13, 8.14, 8.S228
8.01 & 8.02 Undergraduate TA [Fall Term Only]:
  • Responsibilities: Each UTA will be assigned to 1-2 sections, and have between 9 -12 students in each section. They will need to attend all synchronous classes in a section (including Friday Problem Solving). UTAs will help their students during group activities and grade their problem sets on a weekly basis. They will attend weekly staff meetings. There is also one mandatory training session at the start of the term.
  • Qualifications: Applicants are expected to have taken the class (or earned credit another way) and demonstrated a solid understanding of the material. They will need to exhibit a willingness to help others learn using patience and effective communication skills.
  • Time Commitment: 8-10 hours weekly (5 class hours, 1-3 grading hours, ½ hour staff meeting)
  • Compensation:  $19/hr (pay rate increases by $0.50 cents for each semester that you work in the same job category as a UTA).
8.01L Undergraduate TA [Fall Term Only]:
  • Responsibilities: UTAs will need to attend all synchronous classes in the section they are hired for. UTAs will help their students during group activities and grade their problem sets on a weekly basis.
  • Qualifications: Applicants are expected to have earned credit for 8.01 and demonstrated a solid understanding of the material. They will need to exhibit a willingness to help others learn using patience and effective communication skills.
  • Time Commitment: 5-7 hours weekly (4 in-class hours, 1-3 grading hours)
  • Compensation:  $19/hr (pay rate increases by $0.50 cents for each semester that you work in the same job category as a UTA).
8.011 Undergraduate TA [Spring Term Only]:
  • Responsibilities: UTAs will need to attend all synchronous classes in the section they are hired for. UTAs will help their students during group activities and grade their problem sets on a weekly basis.
  • Qualifications: Applicants are expected to have earned credit for 8.01 and demonstrated a solid understanding of the material. They will need to exhibit a willingness to help others learn using patience and effective communication skills.
  • Time Committment: 5-6 hours weekly (4 in-class hours, >1 grading hours)
  • Compensation:  $19/hr (pay rate increases by $0.50 cents for each semester that you work in the same job category as a UTA).
8.13/14 Undergraduate TA [8.14 Spring Term Only]:
  • Responsibilities: TBA
  • Qualifications: TBA
  • Time Commitment: TBA
  • Compensation:  $19/hr (pay rate increases by $0.50 cents for each semester that you work in the same job category as a UTA).
8.S228 Undergraduate TA [Spring Term Only]:
  • Responsibilities: TBA
  • Qualifications: TBA
  • Time Commitment: TBA
  • Compensation:  $19/hr (pay rate increases by $0.50 cents for each semester that you work in the same job category as a UTA).

Application Link: https://forms.gle/FSaHYjtDMfPMownp8
Deadline: January 16, 2023

Subjects that need peer tutors:

  • Fall Classes: 8.03, 8.033, 8.041
  • Spring Classes: 8.03, 8.04, 8.044

The Peer Tutoring program matches individual undergrads or grad students with undergraduates in our core sophomore subjects (8.03, 8.033, 8.041 in fall; 8.03, 8.04, 8.044 in spring).  The goal of the program is to provide support to undergraduate majors at risk of failing one of our core subjects.  Peer Tutors are connected with tutees at mid-term, after initial exams have provided feedback about who could most use this additional academic support.

Peer Tutors need to have earned a B+ or better grade in the subject they hope to tutor.

Peer Tutors have access to all class materials and are hired to work for up to 5 hours per week.  Depending on demand and tutor availability, Peer Tutors may tutor a single student or a group of two to three; details of scheduling are set up by mutual agreement between tutors and tutees.

For questions, please contact Michal Holland, Undergraduate Advising and Program Coordinator.

Application Link: https://forms.gle/FSaHYjtDMfPMownp8
Deadline: January 16, 2023

Mentorship information has moved to a new page: https://physics.mit.edu/academic-programs/mentoring-programs/.