Opportunity to Become an Instructor Trainee for VSP 2016

What are we looking for? Individuals who want to develop their teaching skills and are passionate about teaching biochemistry.

microscopicWhat will you receive?  Formal mentorship throughout the program from one of two BMB Instructors. You will develop material and deliver content to an anticipated class size of 40-60 international undergraduate students. You will gain experience regarding pedagogical approaches during the course design phase, become familiar with teaching tools, learn to evaluate student learning, and manage TA’s. In other words, your training will teach you how to run a full course at a university level! Furthermore, you will receive a stipend.

What is VSP? The Vancouver Summer Program offers international students an opportunity to take 2 non-credit courses over a one-month period in the summer. During their stay, the visiting students will have opportunities to experience Vancouver and other tourist attractions. This coming summer (July 16 – Aug 16, 2016) the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will again offer a 2-course package taught by several instructor trainees. For more general information and other program offerings please see: http://vancouversummerprogram.ubc.ca/july/program-details

spraying.About our VSP courses? Environmental Biochemistry will examine biochemical processes in the world at large and the impact on human health. Molecular Mechanism of Disease will explore key principles of biochemistry and molecular biology in the context of human health and disease. Each course is approximately 39 hours of class time and will include a mix of interactive case based problem solving, traditional lectures and in-class activities. Evaluation may include quizzes, participation and a final exam.

Instructor trainee applicant guidelines: A completed PhD or current postdoctoral fellow from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Candidates holding advanced degrees in related fields or with relevant experiences may also be considered.

Interested candidates should send inquiries to krisinge@interchange.ubc.ca

Instructors:

covey.scott.vsp krisinger.mike.vsp2
Scott Covey  Michael Krisinger

Schedule

November 18, 2015 Information night: 5:30pm in LSC 1330 (all welcome), VSP Poster
January 2016 Informal discussions on hiring
April 1st, 2016 Start date for the positions (subject to budgetary approval)
April to mid-July, 2016 Course design & content development
Mid-July to mid-August, 2016 Program instruction

QUOTES from our 2015 instructor trainees:

“I’d done years of TAing and a number of guest lectures throughout the course of my PhD, but having to develop and teach an entire course from scratch taught me skills and gave me experience teaching that I would have never otherwise been able to get. Teaching for the VSP was an invaluable experience.”  

Kristina McBurney, Sept, 2015

“Through this experience, I had the privilege of being guided by experienced mentors who shared valuable advice on creating course material as well as teaching techniques that greatly accelerated the learning curve. Throughout the process, the mentors provided both structure and critique that kept course development on a steady track, while at the same time allowing us to have creative freedom over style and content.”  

Solmaz Sobhanifar, Sept, 2015