Physics Instructional Laboratories Teaching Support Specialist

Department

PSD Physics: Administration

About the Department

The Department of Physics at The University of Chicago was established in 1893 by A. A. Michaelson. As then, the Physics Department continues to pride itself on cross-disciplinary research which is carried out over several multi-disciplinary institutes and centers: the Enrico Fermi Institute, the James Franck Institute, the Institute for Molecular Engineering, the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, the Kadanoff Center for Theoretical Physics, and the Computation Institute. The Physics Department values the benefits that diversity brings to life and science. We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive environment that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry encouraging diverse perspectives, intellectual engagement and exchange.

Job Summary

The Teaching Support Specialist works alongside a team of professional staff within the Department of Physics to maintain, operate, and improve instructional laboratory spaces and experiments, and to train graduate laboratory tutors to work safely and teach effectively. The Teaching Support Specialist provides instructional support for students in the advanced undergraduate physics lab courses and offers mentorship and support to students on special projects. The Teaching Support Specialist contributes to and implements improvements for teaching laboratories, including designing and improving lecture demonstrations and developing laboratory manuals.

Responsibilities

• Practical:
• Performs weekly setup and preparation of all instructional labs throughout each academic quarter and maintains lab spaces.
• Assists in course logistics, including monitoring assignment grading and assigning laboratory experiments.
• Collaborates with the staff to ensure that all apparatus used in the physics instructional lab courses are repaired and maintained in good working conditions.
• Collaborates with the staff to design, build, and implement new scientific apparatus for use in the physics instructional labs.
• Monitors the building environment and takes measures to ensure that problems are addressed, either through direct action or by contacting specialists.
• Assists with lecture demonstrations as needed.
• Instructional:
• Serves as instructional support for students in the advanced undergraduate physics lab courses.
• Assists students with experimental techniques, data processing, and reporting.
• Trains graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants to operate equipment and teach effectively in the physics instructional labs.
• Creates and maintains instructional material for student use in the instructional labs including lab manuals, supplemental course materials, and other digital resources.
• Intellectual: 
• Collaborates with the staff and course instructors to develop and implement new scientific pedagogy for use in the physics instructional labs.
• Stays up to date with the latest developments in physics education research through attending relevant conferences, reviewing literature, and participating in campus and departmental pedagogy workshops.
• Additional:
• Provides support for a wide variety of public outreach programs and summer courses.
• Prepares and tests lecture demonstrations to ensure consistency with course content. Works with faculty or staff to determine the suitability of demonstrations for specific lectures. Informs faculty of new demonstration developments and materials.
• Acts as a resource for and instructs faculty on the proper usage of technical scientific apparatus. Uses best practices and laboratory knowledge to promote safety in handling hazardous equipment and materials.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• MA/MS or PhD in Physics or related field.

Experience:

• Experience teaching, tutoring, or mentoring, especially in a university setting.
• Experience in a research or teaching laboratory, especially in a university setting.
• Experience supervising and training student employees.
• Experience working safely in a lab environment, including experience with high voltage, lasers, chemicals, and radioactive sources.

Preferred Competencies

• Passion for teaching and a desire to develop skills in experimental physics education.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent time management and the ability to handle multiple simultaneous projects.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness and initiative in seeking out necessary information.
• Ability and desire to work both independently and collaboratively.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Physics Education Research (PER) strategies, including active learning techniques, introductory or advanced lab pedagogy, inclusive teaching, AI-use in the classroom, and assessment.
• Apparatus fabrication and design, including the use of hand tools and power tools, machine shop tools, computer aided design (CAD), 3D printing, and laser cutting.
• Software and computer databases, including computer programming (e.g. Python, C/C++, Jupyter/Google CoLab), version control (e.g. Git, GitHub), web development, and content management systems.
• Electronics, including circuit design and prototyping, soldering and fabrication, printed circuit board (PCB) design, and programmable microcontrollers (e.g. Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Red Pitaya, FPGA).
• Troubleshooting and repair, including common laboratory equipment (e.g. multimeters, power supplies, function generators, oscilloscopes), lasers and optics, and complex apparatus.
• Digital content creation, including website design, video production and editing, and written scientific communication.
• Specialized research techniques, including video data analysis, vacuum systems or cryogenics, computational physics, and other skills related to analyzing complex physical phenomena.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• 3 Professional References or Letters of Recommendation (required)
• Cover Letter (optional)

Job Family

Academic Affairs

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$70,000.00 - $80,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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