Teaching Assistants

BMSC hires Teaching Assistants for both its Summer and Fall Program courses.

Applications for BMSC Teaching Assistant positions for 2024 have closed. TA opportunities for our 2025 courses will be posted in Spring 2025.

Deadline to submit applications:

Summer – CLOSED
Fall – CLOSED

Ideal TA applicants are currently registered graduate students, are familiar with the marine life of Barkley Sound and the waters around BMSC and Barkley Sound. The ability to make significant contributions to teaching and/or preparing course material is desirable. TAs must possess a valid First Aid certificate (see “Certifications” below for details).

Field courses that require TAs to transport students by boats have additional mandatory requirements, see “Certifications” below.

Applicants registered at a WCUMSS member university will be given priority. Please see detailed course descriptions for more information about individual TA positions.

TA positions available:

We are not currently seeking TAs for BMSC courses. TA opportunities for courses in 2025 will be posted in Spring 2025.

Selection process:

We hire TAs to ensure the safety of our students, offer the highest possible quality of instruction to our students, and support the research mission of BMSC by supporting students that do research here.

BMSC generally offers TAships to candidates recommended by course instructors.
If an instructor does not have a TA in mind, the position is posted.
All applications received by the deadline are forwarded to the instructor for selection keeping the following criteria in mind.
In June 2009, Management Council requested preference for fall TAships be given to graduate students at the five member universities.
In June 2012, Management Council approved the hiring of TAs for summer courses who may not be graduate students. These include recent graduate students, and instructors working for BMSC Field Trips. Preference for summer TAships is given to candidates who are familiar with BMSC, and the ecology, biology and species local to Barkley Sound.

Salary:

Compensation for TAs is in two parts: a salary and a teaching scholarship. Teaching scholarships are only disbursed to TAs that are current graduate students.

Summer (per 3 credit units) $3,000 Salary, $1,000 Teaching Scholarship
Fall (per course) $4,000 Salary: $2,000 Teaching Scholarship

Please note that TA salaries and scholarships are subject to change.

Benefits:

On-site accommodations (accommodations vary seasonally, please inquire for details).
Staff rates for meals taken in the cafeteria.
Travel expenses reimbursed for a single round trip to and from the BMSC.

General duties for all BMSC TAs include:

For organizational purposes, TAs report directly to the University Programs Coordinator(s)
Aiding primary instructor(s) in teaching during labs and field trips; helping in design and implementation of student projects.
Facilitation of courses by organizing equipment and scheduling.
Student transportation to field sites using BMSC boats (See “Certifications” for details).
Overseeing student safety on field trips and administering first aid if needed.
Lab set-up and clean-up.
Other duties as specified by instructors (see below for course-specific needs).

Certifications:

All TAs must possess a valid First Aid certificate. This certificate must at minimum come from completing a 16-hour First Aid course (in-person or blended) that is recognized by a Canadian province or territory. First Aid certificates that come from completing more advanced First Aid programs (e.g., Wilderness First Aid, First Responder, or Advanced First Aid) are an asset.

Many BMSC courses ask TAs to transport students to field sites using BMSC boats – for these courses, experience operating 20′ (or larger) watercraft is strongly desired. Experience operating watercraft in coastal or offshore marine waters is an asset.

To transport students on BMSC boats, TAs must:

Hold a Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) certification (Obtaining SVOP typically involves 4 days 32 hours of training)
Complete Small Domestic Vessel Basic Safety SDV-BS (formerly MED-A3);
Hold a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate (ROC-M);
Complete a 16-hour first aid course (in-person or blended) with CPR-C, equivalent to Marine Basic First Aid;
Complete a boat checkout and safety briefing by BMSC Foreshore staff before transporting students.

Click here for more details on boating at the BMSC.

BMSC Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre