Volunteer: STEM Outreach at Local Elementary Schools

Scientific Thinkers is a student organization and volunteer program at OSU. Through the organization, volunteers have the opportunity to travel to local elementary schools and engage students with fun, interactive science lessons. The schools the organization serves are comprised largely of underrepresented minority students in STEM. Scientific Thinkers gives volunteers the chance to gain leadership skills, communicate science topics to a variety of age groups, and excite young children about STEM!

Scientific Thinkers will visit two schools this semester: Parkmoor and Mansion Day. Visits to Mansion Day will take place on Wednesdays from 3:30pm–5:30pm from January 31–March 6. Visits to Parkmoor will take place once a month on Wednesday from 10:15–12:15. Dates are still being confirmed with Parkmoor. All times include travel times to and from campus.

If you are interested in volunteering, program orientation will take place on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:00pm in the Physics Research Building room 1080. If you cannot attend the orientation but are still interested in the club, you can contact club president Elly Yoder at yoder.459@osu.edu or reach out to scientificthinkers@gmail.com.

Apply to be a General Chemistry TA in Spring 2024

Application Deadline: November 3, 2023

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is currently accepting applications for General Chemistry TA positions for Spring 2024. A TA position provides the opportunity to improve your knowledge, gain teaching experience, and help students.

In order to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Completed General Chemistry Sequence (1210/1220; 1610/1620; or 1910H/1920H) with an A or A- (preferred)
  • Cumulative GPA > 3.2
  • Enrolled in classes during Spring 2024
  • No other paid monthly student appointment during 2023 (this includes paid research)

Appointment details are as follows:

  • Salary: $13/hour
  • Hours: 10-12/week
  • Responsibilities: teach one 3-hour lab; grade assignments and prepare for teaching responsibilities; 1 office hour/week; proctor all exams; attend weekly staff meeting

Training will take place in January during business hours. Please describe any potential conflicts with training on your application.

If you are interested, you may apply here: https://go.osu.edu/sp24gcta

After you apply, you will be asked to submit your schedule here: https://go.osu.edu/sp24gctaschedule

This does not guarantee a TA position. If your schedule changes, please update it by November 13 and notify chemlabsupervisor@osu.edu. If you make a change to your schedule after this date, you will be responsible for switching your assignment with another TA or forfeit your position.

Applications and schedules are due by 11:59 pm on November 3rd, 2023. Hiring decisions will be made by mid-December.

Please contact chemlabsupervisor@osu.edu with any questions.

Course Spotlight: MOLGEN 4581S – BioEYES Hands-On STEM Learning

Offered in Autumn 2023
Instructor: Dr. Sharon Amacher, trained BioEYES educator
1 credit hour

Project BioEYES is a K-12 science education program which provides classroom-based learning opportunities through the use of live zebrafish. The program is designed to foster enthusiasm for science by giving students opportunities to explore science through watching life develop firsthand.

In partnership with the Department of Molecular Genetics and Project BioEYES, MolGen 4581S gives Ohio State undergrads an opportunity to share their passion for STEM with 4th and 5th graders in Columbus schools.

Besides two class gatherings, one at the beginning and one at the end of the course, the class does not meet regularly on campus. Instead, enrolled students will choose 4 elementary school visits throughout the semester that work with their schedule.

Transportation is provided.

Additional information is available in the MOLGEN 4581S syllabus and the Frequently Asked Questions document.

Reminder: Applications due June 1, 2023

Application Deadline: June 1, 2023

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is currently accepting applications for General Chemistry TA positions for Autumn 2023. A TA position provides the opportunity to improve your knowledge, gain teaching experience, and help students.

In order to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Completed General Chemistry Sequence (1210/1220; 1610/1620; or 1910H/1920H) with an A or A- (preferred)
  • Cumulative GPA > 3.2
  • Enrolled in classes during Autumn 2023
  • No other paid monthly student appointment during 2023 (this includes paid research)

Appointment details are as follows:

  • Salary: $13/hour
  • Hours: 10-12/week
  • Responsibilities: teach one 3-hour lab; grade assignments and prepare for teaching responsibilities; 1 office hour/week; proctor all exams; attend weekly staff meeting

Training will take place in August during business hours. Please describe any potential conflicts with training on your application.

If you are interested, you may apply here: https://go.osu.edu/au23gcta

After you apply, you will be asked to submit your schedule here: https://go.osu.edu/au23gctaschedule

This does not guarantee a TA position. If your schedule changes, please update it by July 1 and notify chemlabsupervisor@osu.edu. If you make a change to your schedule after this date, you will be responsible for switching your assignment with another TA or forfeit your position.

Applications and schedules are due by 11:59 pm on June 1st, 2023. Hiring decisions will be made by late July – early August.

Please contact chemlabsupervisor@osu.edu with any questions.

Apply to be a General Chemistry TA in Autumn 2023

Application Deadline: June 1, 2023

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is currently accepting applications for General Chemistry TA positions for Autumn 2023. A TA position provides the opportunity to improve your knowledge, gain teaching experience, and help students.

In order to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Completed General Chemistry Sequence (1210/1220; 1610/1620; or 1910H/1920H) with an A or A- (preferred)
  • Cumulative GPA > 3.2
  • Enrolled in classes during Autumn 2023
  • No other paid monthly student appointment during 2023 (this includes paid research)

Appointment details are as follows:

  • Salary: $13/hour
  • Hours: 10-12/week
  • Responsibilities: teach one 3-hour lab; grade assignments and prepare for teaching responsibilities; 1 office hour/week; proctor all exams; attend weekly staff meeting

Training will take place in August during business hours. Please describe any potential conflicts with training on your application.

If you are interested, you may apply here: https://go.osu.edu/au23gcta

After you apply, you will be asked to submit your schedule here: https://go.osu.edu/au23gctaschedule

This does not guarantee a TA position. If your schedule changes, please update it by July 1 and notify chemlabsupervisor@osu.edu. If you make a change to your schedule after this date, you will be responsible for switching your assignment with another TA or forfeit your position.

Applications and schedules are due by 11:59 pm on June 1st, 2023. Hiring decisions will be made by late July – early August.

Please contact chemlabsupervisor@osu.edu with any questions.

Indianapolis Teaching Fellows

Indianapolis Teaching Fellows (ITF) is an opportunity for individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines to obtain teaching certification in one year while working full-time at one of its 70+ partner schools in Indianapolis. Since 2007, TIF has trained over 700 teachers reaching 56,000 students in schools across center township.

Fellows receive in-depth coaching, grounded in research and evidence-based practices that impact teacher practice and increase student achievement.

Why Indianapolis? Indianapolis is a growing community recognized for the food, sports and attractions it offers. It’s also recognized for being on the cutting edge of education transformation.

The winter application deadline is January 10, 2023.

Campus Job: DLC Undergraduate Academic Coach

Application Deadline: November 14, 2022

The Dennis Learning Center is hiring academic coaches to start in spring semester 2023. Undergraduate students in all majors and years are welcome to apply.

Academic Coaches work with other undergraduate students to understand their academic concerns and develop strategies to help them be successful. Academic Coaches also facilitate workshops for groups of students on a variety of topics, such as study strategies, test taking, procrastination, time management, and resilience.

The DLC is looking for a few key qualities:

  1. Genuine empathy for all students
  2. An interest in the topics relevant to academic coaching: motivation, study skills, academic stress and anxiety, procrastination, time management, etc.
  3. The confidence and interest to develop as public speakers (with training)
  4. Professionalism and conscientiousness to work independently

Academic Coaches receive training in all aspects of the position and will be expected to work 10-15 hours per week for $13/hour.

Learn more about the position and apply: go.osu.edu/dlcapplication. The deadline to apply for Spring 2023 is November 14, 2022. Submitting an application early gives you a better chance of being interviewed – apply today!

Southern Teachers Info Table

This Friday, October 7, a representative from Southern Teachers will be here at OSU to talk with students about teaching jobs in K-12 private/independent schools.

The rep will have an information table in the Ohio Union (Great Hall room, Friendship table) from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.


Southern Teachers helps college graduates find great jobs in college-preparatory schools around the South.

The teaching environment in these private/independent schools can be wonderful because of their small class sizes and their close-knit communities. At independent schools, quality isn’t just about test scores and college acceptances; it’s also the unique way that teachers maximize the potential of their students.

While successful progress through a teacher-education program is essential for some of these jobs (e.g., for elementary teachers), for many positions a teaching certificate is not required. Math majors can be hired to teach math; Spanish majors can teach Spanish, etc. Candidates do, however, need a strong academic record and the personal characteristics that will enable them to manage and motivate K-12 students. To summarize:  Teacher certification is not required for most jobs.

K-12 Chemistry Teaching Jobs

Southern Teachers is an education recruitment firm working with over 750 K-12 private schools in the South. Their personalized teacher placement service helps you run an efficient job search and discern the best opportunities for you. The agency will learn about your experience and the parameters of your search (position type, schools type, and geography), and make referrals based on that information and their knowledge of their schools. Southern Teachers’ placement services are free for candidates.

Private/independent schools often have greater flexibility in their hiring than do public schools. As a result, teacher certification is not required for most middle and high school teaching positions. Generally speaking, candidates applying for private school teaching jobs should have a bachelor’s degree in the same field as their teaching field (e.g., a math major could be hired to teach 9th-grade algebra).

The agency currently has 1800 jobs listed at 750 K-12 private schools, including many, many science jobs. Schools are trying to fill these 2022-23 positions as soon as possible. They are seeking new grads with majors or minors in Chemistry. Apply now.

MAEd in Science Teaching at Baldwin Wallace

Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio has an intensive on-campus program that prepares students who have a bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry (or related science degree) to become highly-effective science teachers for grades 7-12. This program provides students with an initial teaching license and Masters of Arts in Education degree.

The features of this program include…

  • Inquiry-based learning, research-based teaching, and technology integration
  • 12-month, full-time program starts in May, with MAEd and license completion at the end of the following spring semester, so students are eligible to teach in the fall
  • Cohort model where students form close professional relationships
  • Individualized mentoring by supervising faculty
  • Extensive field and clinical work in classrooms
  • Comprehensive program price includes tuition, books, and fees for professional association memberships and background check

More information can be found here and application information can be found here.