College/Department:
College of Natural & Social Sciences
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Position:
Graduate Assistant Chemistry and Biochemistry
Starting Date:
On-going. Position will be filled as needed for each academic semester.
Minimum Qualifications:
Degree-seeking graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Passed CHEM 500 with a grade of B or better. Graduate Assistants must be registered in a CSU graduate degree program and must be enrolled in courses towards the completion of that graduate degree during the appointment period. Applicants should have the ability to relate well to others within the academic environment, and demonstrate ability and/or interest in working in a multiethnic, multicultural environment.
As a University dedicated to engagement, service and the public good, the successful candidate will be expected to join faculty, staff, students, and administrators in our University’s shared commitment to the principles of engagement, service, and the public good.
Preferred Qualifications:
Desire for a career in college teaching.
Hiring Criteria:
BS Degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry; passed CHEM 500 with a grade of B or better; compatible schedule with course to be assisted.
One Graduate Assistant per lab section of quantitative analysis, organic chemistry, biochemistry lab, instrumental analysis (201, 302A/B, 432A/B, 462) is necessary to achieve the necessary levels of safety and soundness of their experience. Graduate Assistants are required to be familiar with all of the equipment, techniques, and experiments of the course, focusing on the safety aspects of each. The Graduate Assistant provides assistance to the students in the setting up of reaction glassware and in the proper use of laboratory instruments and equipment. Graduate Assistants answer a myriad of questions from the students regarding the experiments and equipment and also assist the instructor in various capacities including the retrieval of chemicals, solvents, and supplies that may run out during the course of the day’s experiments. The Graduate Assistant grades products turned in by the laboratory students, including weighing and quality evaluation. One laboratory course may generate hundreds of samples. These product evaluations are used in the ultimate determination of the course grades by the instructor.
Duties:
Safety is of primary importance in the chemistry laboratory. The laboratory environment in the courses listed is one in which several potentially hazardous materials and pieces of equipment are used in the normal course of instruction. Safety techniques are always stressed during the laboratory period, but the high student to faculty ratio precludes the simultaneous observation of all of the students, most of who are in different stages of the same experiment or are working on different experiments altogether. The presence of a Graduate Assistant in the laboratory greatly reduces the possibility that a small problem in the laboratory will become a situation where injuries to students, staff or faculty occur.
Salary:
The University:
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is one of 23 campuses within the California State University system. The University is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the U.S. for the upward mobility of its students, and is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good. We offer nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, ethnic studies, and the humanities. Our faculty have a strong commitment to scholarship, research, creative pursuits, community engagement, and service.
Our 240,000 alumni reflect the City and County’s dynamic mix of populations. The University has one of the most diverse student populations of any college or university in the nation. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, and Asian-American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, Cal State LA recognizes the transformative power of education and embraces its duty to identify and serve the needs of all of its students. The University is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can live, work and learn in an atmosphere of civility and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual.
Required Documentation:
Standard documentation includes: letter of application, curriculum vita, GET print-out verifying enrollment in a program of graduate study in this department, three letters of recommendation and the University’s Application for Academic Employment Form.
Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
Application:
Address applications and required documentation (preferably in pdf format) and/or requests for information to:
Krishna Foster, Chair
[email protected]
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Note: The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Beginning January 1, 2022, campuses may not hire or reappoint an Employee to perform CSU-related work outside of California. Requests for exceptions are very limited based on CSU Policy and must have prior written approval from the University President.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.
In addition to meeting fully its obligations under federal and state law, Cal State LA is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can live, work and learn in an atmosphere of tolerance, civility and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual. To that end, all qualified individuals will receive equal consideration without regard to economic status, race, ethnicity, color, religion, marital status, pregnancy, national origin or cultural background, political views, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, age, disability, disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran status.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/TITLE IX EMPLOYER
Upon request, reasonable accommodation will be provided to individuals with protected disabilities to (a) complete the employment process and (b) perform essential job functions when this does not cause undue hardship.