Graduate Teaching Assistant GTA - Informatics 2024-25

Job Description

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), Department of Informatics

We are now recruiting Teaching Assistants (TAs) for the academic year 2024/25 for both first and second-year modules (Levels 4 and 5), as well as some third-year and Master?s level modules (Levels 6 and 7). Please be aware, that all activities will be in person and on campus in the 24/25 academic year.  

Teaching Assistants are an integral part of a departmental teaching team; they are highly valued by the student community and academic staff they work with. Being a Teaching Assistant can involve a wide variety of different roles, including: 

 Demonstrating in labs and practical sessions 

 Leading seminars/small group teaching 

 Taking tutorials/surgery sessions 

 Delivery feedback 

 Marking student?s work  

Becoming a TA offer vital teaching experience as well as other transferable skills, essential for careers in both academia and industry. These are paid positions, in line with the College?s GTA Framework (as detailed below). 

Successful candidates will deliver an agreed delivery package of teaching activities to a high standard, under the direct supervision of a member of academic staff. These activities may include seminars, classes, tutorials, lab sessions, other small group work, and marking.  

 The allocation of duties will be specifically determined after the recruitment process however working hours will not exceed 6 hours per week (on average). 

 

Your Module Convenor will be your Line Manager, if you have any queries or questions, please make your enquiry with them first. If you have any other query regarding your employment, please email Informatics-ta@kcl.ac.uk.  

 

Please be aware, all activities will be in person and on campus in the 24/25 academic year. 

 

Responsibilities 

- Delivery of agreed package of teaching activities to a high standard, under the direct supervision of a member of academic staff. These activities may include seminars, classes, tutorials, lab sessions, other small group work to develop student skills, demonstration for experiments/techniques in lab-based science and computing, and/or mentoring support for UG or PGT project work. Students will not normally be involved in lecturing, but in some cases may be asked to lead lectures if the topic falls within their specialist field. 

- Participation in appropriate training including mandatory courses/sessions (e.g., courses, induction sessions.) 

- Careful and proportionate preparation for teaching activities. In some instances, materials will be provided by departments/ faculties. 

- Marking and assessment (formative and summative) under supervision of module leaders or other appropriate academic staff. 

- Provision of timely and useful formative and summative feedback to students, holding weekly office hours or similar to provide students with opportunities for face-to-face meetings, and providing feedback and guidance via e-mail where needed. 

- Maintenance of information and resources on KEATS and interaction with students via the VLE. 

- Attendance at lectures where needed/requested to ensure consistency of module delivery. 

- Routine administration and correspondence associated with teaching delivery. 

- Liaison with senior colleagues regarding contributions to module development (e.g. course material, content development), planning of teaching and monitoring student progress.  

 

Variation will exist across academic departments and disciplines in relation to specific requirements of GTAs. Roles and responsibilities may also be subject to change. If you are required to complete additional marking, these hours will be added to your assignment and your hours and contract length will be changed accordingly with your agreement after you have started. 

 

GTA framework tariff of activities: https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/hr/gtas/principles-gta-framework  

 

GTAs will not be expected to: 

- Lead lectures, unless they have accepted to do so on a very occasional basis, in their specialist field 

- Provide pastoral support to students or act as a personal tutor 

- Be involved in Open Days or admissions activities - Provide students with references 

- Set assessments 

- Be available to students at all times 

- Carry out unremunerated additional work on an ad hoc basis  

 

Mandatory training 

All mandatory training (specific to the delivery of teaching, rather than generic training which all PhD students should already be undertaking as part of their studies) will be remunerated. Under the new model, all GTAs will receive 6 hours of remunerated training for every academic year in which they teach at King's, regardless of whether they have taught before or not. It is envisaged that this would constitute 6 hours of jointly delivered training with King's Academy and academic departments. Some faculties may decide that they wish to include more mandatory training and to pay their GTAs for this. It is also up to departments and faculties to work with King's Academy to decide what constitutes mandatory training, which element of this can be delivered online, and what constitutes professional development training for all PGRs. You will be informed by your GTA Lead about mandatory training. You can also visit the King's Academy GTA Development page for more information, resources and additional workshops that are available to you as a GTA. 

 

GTA One Stop Shop Training: https://keats.kcl.ac.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=2554510&chapterid=186267  

King?s Academy GTA Development Page: https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/kingsacademy/professional-development-and-recognition/gta-development-programme  



Qualifications

Essential qualifications: 

1. Currently studying towards a first degree in a relevant subject area (or have equivalent experience) 

or 

2. Currently studying towards a PhD in a relevant subject area (or have equivalent experience)  



Skills

Experience / Skills Required: 

1. Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances - essential 

2. A good understanding of the HE sector ? desirable 

3. Ability to provide advice to students on study skills and assist with any learning problems ? desirable   

 

Personal characteristics / other requirements: 

1. Ability to self-reflect on teaching design and delivery and act on feedback for future improvements ? essential 

2. Effective interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, to support and liaise with staff and students at all levels - essential 

3. Ability to work as part of a team - essential 

4. Ability to motivate high performance in others ? desirable 

 

Role specific requirements: 

1. Ability and willingness to engage in relevant departmental training and introductory pastoral support training - essential 

2. Keep abreast of current literature in subject areas being taught - essential 

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Graduate Teaching Assistant roles for the MSc Developmental Psychology & Psychopathology programme 2024-25



We are inviting applications for teaching opportunities on the DEV-PP MSc programme this coming year.



We are looking to employ PhD students as graduate teaching assistants on many of the DEV-PP modules, as described below.



If you have any questions about the role or the modules, please contact Kitty Jones (catherine.2.jones@kcl.ac.uk)




  • Developmental Psychopathology 1: Perinatal period and Infancy

  • Teaching October-November 2024

  • Introduction to Statistics

  • Teaching October-November 2024

  • Nature & Nurture 1: Approaches to Addressing Key Questions in Psychopathology

  • Teaching November-December 2024

  • Nature & Nurture 2:  Genomic Approaches in Psychopathology

  • Teaching February-March 2025

  • Psychological Approaches to Treatment

  • Teaching February-March 2025

  • Placement

  • Main placement period February-April 2025

  • Dissertation

  • Main dissertation period April-August 2025



 



Key Responsibilities




  • Delivery of agreed package of teaching activities to a high standard, under the direct supervision of a member of academic staff. These activities may include seminars, classes, tutorials, lab sessions, other small group work to develop student skills, demonstration for experiments/techniques in lab-based science and computing, and/or mentoring support for UG or PGT project work. Students will not normally be involved in lecturing, but in some cases may be asked to lead lectures if the topic falls within their specialist field.

  • Participation in appropriate training – including mandatory courses/sessions (e.g. courses, induction sessions).

  • Careful and proportionate preparation for teaching activities. In some instances, materials will be provided by departments/faculties.

  • Maintenance of information and resources on KEATS and interaction with students via the VLE.

  • Attendance at lectures where needed/requested to ensure consistency of module delivery.

  • Routine administration and correspondence associated with teaching delivery.

  • Liaison with senior colleagues regarding contributions to the module.



 



GTAs are not expected to:




  • lead lectures, unless they have accepted to do so on a very occasional basis, in their specialist field

  • provide pastoral support to students or act as a personal tutor

  • be involved in Open Days or admissions activities

  • provide students with references

  • set assessments

  • be available to students at all times

  • carry out unremunerated additional work on an ad hoc basis.



 



{The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.}



Qualifications

Education / qualification and training



Excellent subject knowledge of Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology as appropriate to the specific teaching role – For example, as evidenced by excellent performance in a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree in a psychological science



Undertaking psychological research at King’s College London, either as a PhD student or as a postdoctoral researcher.



Skills

Skills required



Knowledge / skills



Effective interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, to support and liaise with staff and students



Ability to provide advice to students on study skills and assist with any learning problems



Experience



Experience of facilitating or leading group work, activities or discussion.



Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances.



Personal characteristics/other requirements



Ability to self-reflect on teaching design and delivery and act on feedback for future improvements.



A commitment to delivering high quality education as part of a team.



Diligent in preparing for teaching sessions and assessment activities; including undertaking preparatory reading, planning, and familiarization with assessment briefs and marking criteria.



Role specific requirements



Ability and willingness to engage in relevant departmental training and introductory pastoral support training.



Keep abreast of current literature in subject areas being taught.

The Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences is seeking to recruit a technician. This key Professional Services role will support the Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, one of three research Centres within the Faculty.

The Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology is one of the leading centres for Craniofacial Biology worldwide with research focusing on craniofacial and stem cell biology, innovative approaches to regeneration and repair and big data approaches to understand the complexity of development and disease. Our research spans basic, clinical and translational sciences. It offers a vibrant, collaborative, and interactive research and teaching environment in the heart of London.

The primary purpose of this role will be to provide molecular biology support to the Centre and to help maintain the research laboratories in a clean, safe, and tidy manner. Work closely with the Technical Operations Manager and the lead academics to ensure that technical support is professional, well-executed, and timely, complying with university policies and funders terms and conditions and adopting best practices.

The post holder is expected to contribute to several technical objectives, including health and safety compliance, good laboratory practice, equipment maintenance, maintenance of lab consumables stocks, waste and genotyping service and ordering. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic and motivated team player who works well with a technical team, is willing to explore new innovative approaches, and is committed to continued personal development.

Technical Support

  • Responsible for providing a range of molecular biology services, such as Genotyping, where there are established standards and requirements. 
  • To provide colleagues with advice and guidance as required
  • The postholder will maintain stocks of consumables in the research Laboratories.
  • The postholder will begin to undertake additional responsibilities as determined by the operations manager and to demonstrate job based acquired knowledge to enable more in-depth laboratory support.
  • Provide a range of technical support, normally following an established pattern, with limited supervision, and with a clearly defined objective, both following established guidance and procedures and applying knowledge and skills.
  • To be responsive to changing priorities and an evolving environment/context, maximising the efficiency of the technical support being provided and resolving problems as they arise
  • Assist others in managing and prioritising day-to-day work to meet agreed objectives
  • Resource management: install, monitor and maintain technical equipment, systems and software, with control over small budgets, stocks/ stores equipment and supplies 
  • Engage in appropriate professional activities to keep knowledge-base and skills up-to-date and to develop them further. 
  • Maintain local facilities and operations, ensuring efficient use of resources and undertaking purchasing/receipt of goods, equipment maintenance (personally, or through a service contractor) and wider facilities maintenance as required
  • Resolve problems as they are arise and put things in place to minimise future, foreseeable problems
  • To be responsive to changing priorities and an evolving environment/context, maximising the efficiency of the technical support being provided and resolving problems as they arise
  • Keep up to date with all mandatory training, including local Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  • To forge relationships with colleagues in the Centre, Faculty, and university, to deliver the required support as well as to contribute to process development and the adoption of best practice.
  • Actively engage with the Centre and Faculty?s contribution to the King?s Vision 2029 and Research/Education strategy
  • To actively engage in Continuing Professional Development and training initiatives, in line with the Technician Commitment.

 

There is a potential that the post will be extended or become permanent. 

 

 



Qualifications

Minimum level 4 qualification, e.g., higher apprenticeship, HNC or other Level 4 award, plus work experience in relevant technical/scientific posts OR Considerable knowledge and skills gained through work experience in relevant technical or scientific posts.



Skills
  • Methodical approach to work with good attention to detail, focused on solution and ability to trouble-shoot laboratory problems.
  • Experience and understanding of health and safety issues within a laboratory Competent computer skills including Microsoft Office packages
  • Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and independently to identify and address operational issues.
  • Good time management and organisational skills. 
  • Good communication skills- orally and in writing, 
  • Willingness to learn new techniques, follow instructions and apply learnt techniques/ skills to the work context.
  • Some experience in running and optimising PCR.

We are looking to recruit a research assistant to work on a project that aims to explore inclusive assessment in the bioscience curriculum. The role is for 120 hours to be undertaken from March to July 2025. The hourly paid gross salary is ?14.88/hour. The work can be undertaken flexibly with some on campus activity required. The role will be focused on analysing KEATS content available to students in relation to assessment using a standardised template and liaising with module leaders. You will be supported by staff from the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine. If you would like further information please contact Dr Andrea Cockett andrea.m.cockett@kcl.ac.uk



Qualifications

NONE



Skills

We are looking for students who have experience of: 

Inclusive assessment 

Qualitative data analysis  

This is an exciting opportunity that will allow you to develop your research skills.   

 

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