Graduate Teaching Assistants

There are a number of opportunities to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant whilst you study for your PhD. All hiring is handled by the Student Jobshop, where you can also view any current GTA adverts.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Education (MEE, The Diamond team) need lots of GTAs to help run labs each year. They will send emails out in July/August with information on how to apply

Mechanical Engineering needs GTAs for Group Tutorials, Design classes, Computer classes/labs and some assessment tasks. Look out for emails from Jason Hawley who coordinates this.

To find out more about working as a GTA, you can attend the 'Introduction to Teaching as a GTA' workshop (bookable via LMS)

There is also more information available on the Faculty of Engineering GTA site, and the Elevate GTA site

Restrictions

To ensure you are able to submit your thesis on time, you should not be employed as a GTA in the first or last 6 months of your degree. In exceptional circumstances this may be waived, depending on approval from the PGR Tutor and the Faculty lead. If you have had a Time Limit Extension approved, you must not work as a GTA during this time.

You should not work more than 180 hours per year as a GTA. This will be monitored by the GTA team.

Training

As a GTA, you will be a member of University Staff, and must therefore complete all the mandatory training required of University staff. You may have already completed some of these as a PhD student, but please make sure:

• Equality, diversity and inclusion

• Fire safety

• Protecting information (information security)

• Protecting personal data (information security)

• Cyber safety

• Counter fraud and bribery

• Supporting our students

Additionally, you should attend the 'Introduction to teaching as a GTA' workshop (bookable via LMS). Please ensure you receive a certificate of attendance.

If your work as a GTA includes marking, you should also attend the 'STA Assessment & Feedback' workshop (bookable via LMS).

The Elevate team also provides many other training courses under the Sheffield Teaching Assistant programme, which you may find useful. Details of these can be found on LMS.

Review & Development Scheme

The review and development scheme is an opportunity for you to discuss your role and plans for development with your line manager, as well as to receive effective feedback. Your participation in the scheme is paid, and can have a useful role in developing your career aspirations. Additional information can be found on the Graduate Training Contracts page.

Within the first month of your role, you should meet with your reviewer to:

• Agree and record objectives

• Identify and record any developmental needs in relation to the role of GTA

Between 6-12 months after setting the objectives, a review meeting takes place to:

• Review the highs/lows of the previous period and for effective feedback to be provided

• Review and update or set further objectives

• Update the personal development plan