Student Positions


GSI Positions

The Statistics Department often has GSI positions available. People from outside the Statistics Department are encouraged to apply. It is good if you have already been a GSI in a quantitative subject; but it is not necessary. For example, a graduate student in History or English who likes mathematics, and did well in an undergraduate calculus course, would have a good chance of being hired. However, regardless of qualifications, an applicant must be enrolled as a student at UC Berkeley. Most GSI's are graduate students, but undergraduates may apply as well.

Click to apply for a GSI position.

Teaching Assistants Duties

(Payroll titles of Graduate Student Instructor or Undergraduate GSI)
This document gives a general outline of typical duties of Teaching Assistants. Note that the general term of Teaching Assistant can refer to the titles Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), and Undergraduate GSI. Instructors are free to vary the duties, subject to not exceeding the number of hours specified in (4). It is very important that Teaching Assistants and instructors meet at the beginning of the semester to clarify the instructor's requirements.

  1. If you are a Teaching Assistant in either Statistics 2 or Statistics 21 (200-300 students) you:

    1. Meet Sections and hold office hours. To prepare for section, you review the subject matter, solve problems, put together and copy handouts. A 25% TA meets one section for two hours per week and holds two office hours a week. A 50% TA meets two sections and holds four office hours. Typically, there are from 25 to 35 students in a section.

    2. Prepare quizzes and give them in section (every three weeks or so.) You grade these quizzes.

    3. Maintain paper records of students' scores on weekly homework assignments, computer assignments, quizzes, midterms, and the final examination. (TAs do not grade homework; Readers handle that.)

    4. Attend weekly meeting with the instructor of the course.

    5. Students often request that TAs hold extra review sessions just before midterms and the final examination. These are usually scheduled in the late afternoon or early evening, not in section time. TAs are not required by the Statistics Department to hold these sessions, but they often do--or hold extra office hours around exam time.

    6. Proctor midterms and finals.

    7. Grade, in conjunction with the instructor, the midterms and the final examinations for the course. The grading takes a lot of time. You have to make certain to clear your own schedule so that you can be ready to grade when the instructor is. For example, you cannot ask to be excused from grading because you have to prepare for an exam of your own. Of course, if you have a scheduled examination during the time of the grading session, you can leave the session for the length of time of that exam.

      Be careful with travel plans at the end of the semester. You must be present--no substitutes--throughout both the grading of the final examination and the assignment of letter grades for the course. This process can take two days.

    8. Students occasionally want to review a final examination, or their overall score for a course. TAs meet these students, and, if any changes are called for, make a recommendation to the instructor in course.

  2. If you are a TA for any other undergraduate course (20 to 60 students):

    1. Same as item 1 above.

    2. The instructor may ask you to set up computer assignments for the course. You and/or the instructor will grade these. The instructor may also have you prepare and give quizzes. You will grade these.

    3. Maintain paper records of student's scores on weekly homework assignments, computer assignments, quizzes. (TAs do not grade homework; Readers handle that.)

    4. Attend meetings with the instructor of the course.

    5. Same as item 5 above.

    6. Same as item 6 above.

    7. Same as item 7 above.

  3. If you are a TA for a graduate course:

    Most graduate courses do not have a TA. However, the three first-year Ph.D. courses (205, 210, 215) always have one. In all three courses you hold office hours and grade assignments. The assignments consist of problem sets, which are a key ingredient of the course. These can only be graded by graduate students who have a sure grasp of the subject matter, so you probably won't be asked to be a TA for a graduate course until you have been here for a couple of years.

    A few other graduate courses do have TAs; in these the duties are about the same as in an upper division course.

    In graduate courses, TAs do not take part in either the grading of examinations or the assignment of letter grades.

  4. The average number of hours worked per week should not exceed 10 hours (25% appointment) or 20 hours (50% appointment) during the semester. If you find your work exceeds this limit, consult the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, contact Roger Purves (lower division courses) or the Vice Chair (other courses).

    Lower Division Course Coordinator Purves

    Vice Chair Aldous


Reader Positions

The Statistics Department often has Reader positions for select courses available each semester. Readers grade homework assignments. Solutions to problem sets are normally provided by the Graduate Student Instructor or the Instructor. Undergraduate or graduate students who have taken Statistics courses and have done well in them are encouraged to apply. 

Reader Applications

Fall 2009 Reader Positions have been filled. Applications for Spring 2010 are available here. Please read the information about Reader Appointments below before applying.

Reader Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but the first review for Spring Readers will be November 30, 2009.

In Spring 2010, we will most likely need readers for:

Stat 2 (Introduction to Statistics)
Stat 20 (Introductory Probability and Statistics)
Stat 21 (Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business)
Stat 131A (Statistical Inferences for Social and Life Scientists)
Stat 134 (Concepts of Probability)
Stat 135 (Concepts of Statistics)
Stat 150 (Stochastic Processes)
Stat 200B (Introduction to Probability and Statistics at an Advanced Level)

Please contact Denise Yee (cco@stat.berkeley.edu) if you have any questions.

Reader Appointments
  • All reader appointments are covered by the UAW contract. A reader is an academic student employee (ASE) and must be a registered student to hold a reader appointment, except for Summer Session.
  • Rates: Undergraduate students: $12.18, Graduate students: $12.18
  • Pay Dates: 6th working day of each month

Minimum Qualifications for Readers (Academic Student Employees per the UAW Contract)

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • No more than two Incomplete grades in upper division or graduate level courses
  • Are expected to make satisfactory progress toward their degrees
  • Students on academic probation are not eligible to hold ASE titles
  • Please see additional qualifications per the UAW Contract for Academic Student Employees here.

Department Expectations

  • You are expected to meet with the instructor of the course immediately.
  • You are expected to grade and return homeworks according to the schedule given to you by the instructor or GSI.
  • Solutions to the homework problem sets will be provided by the instructor or the GSI.
  • The department will provide a copy of the textbook.
  • The department will set up a mailbox for you in the Stat Office.
  • You are expected to attend an orientation for Readers (you will be paid to attend).
  • Meet with Administrative Assistant to complete employment documents. You will be required to provide:
    • US passport or
    • Alien Registration card with photograph or
    • a state issued driver's license and Social Security card


Computer Assistant III

  • Salary: $15.00 - $17.00/hr.
  • Hours: 50% Variable. Hours to be arranged.
  • Closing date: open until filled

Provide a diverse user community with assistance with the Linux, Mac, and Solaris operating systems and environments, and communications. Design, implement, and maintain utilities written in C, Python, Perl, and Java. Assist users in working with their desktop environment and with PC and Mac connectivity issues. Install and maintain workstations, X-terminals, printers, and communication equipment and related wiring. Identify equipment in need of repair and as necessary repair or send equipment out for repair. Perform routine system maintenance tasks such as filesystem back-ups and the restoration of files. Maintain and supervise the SCF computer labs.

This is a student position only open to currently enrolled UCB students and requires a minimum 1 year commitment. The successful applicant must be actively registered throughout the term of employment. We are hoping to fill this position as soon as possible.

Qualifications

Detailed understanding of UNIX operating system, Perl or Python, C programming language, shell scripts (csh, sh, awk), and X Windows required. Knowledge of UNIX system administration is a plus. Experience working with UNIX on multiple hardware platforms desired. Good communication skills and the ability to interact effectively within a challenging heterogeneous user community. Ability to initiate, organize, and prioritize tasks.

Application Process
Please contact the SCF Systems manager at 510-643-7407 or send email to jobs@stat.Berkeley.EDU. Please send resumes in either PDF, PostScript, HTML, or text format. (Do not send a resume in a Micorsoft Word format.) This position is listed at the CAL Career Center as Job #630074.