Support Information
Teaching Assistants
Percentage receiving TA support: 63%
During the academic year, Associate Instructors (AIs) typically assist
professors in undergraduate courses including holding office hours, grading
exams and problem sets, and keeping course records. During the summer,
Associate Instructors teach their own small sections of introductory astronomy
courses for non-majors. All AIs receive training in pedagogy. Numerous seminars or workshops on teaching are offered each year either by the department, the
Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning
or the University Graduate School. All new AIs are expected to attend 3 of these
seminars; all continuing AIs are required to attend at least one of these
seminars every year. In addition to these seminars, all new AIs are required
by the University to attend a workshop on diversity offered before the start
of the Fall semester. When students receive their first summer teaching
assignment, they participate in an on-the-job training program involving
visitations and feedback by a faculty member.
Percentage receiving RA support: 25%
Students may be supported as research assistants once they have identified a faculty advisor with available funding. Examples of current research projects supported by the department are listed on the department research page.Fellowships
Percentage receiving Fellowship support (partial or full): 13%
The department encourages students to apply for fellowships from the National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In addition to national and international fellowship opportunities, graduate students may be nominated by the department for university-based fellowships. Many of the university-based fellowships provide complete support for one year of graduate study and partial support for several additional years.
