What does a chemistry teaching assistant do?
Chemistry teaching assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real chemistry teaching assistant resumes:
- Utilize digital technology for educational purposes by managing blackboard page.
- Assist with preparation for distillation, titration, redox, and synthesis experiments.
- Prepare course materials such as syllabus, homework assignments, workshops, and handouts.
- Instruct students in the processes of crystallization, distillation, chromatography, and organic synthesis.
- Maintain students' instruments such as SpectroVis and UV-Vis.
- Calibrate IR spectroscopy and GC/MS machinery for use by students.
- Present findings in written thesis, chemistry department lunch seminar and in thesis defense.
- Prepare and deliver lectures in organic chemistry for students preparing for the MCAT exam.
- Assist in promoting proper laboratory techniques, safety, and analysis of NMR and GC/MS data.
- Assist with lab techniques such as filtration, distillation, serial dilution, crystallization, etc.
- Design the syllabus according to the requirements for the class as set forth by the department.
- Develop structure of recitations, run labs, meet with students, proctore exams, and grade all written work.
- Set up and run labs, meet with students, proctore exams, and grade all written work including final exams.
- Supervise and instruct undergraduate TA 's
- Mentore TA graduate students in effectively teaching and supporting undergraduate students.
Chemistry teaching assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Chemistry Teaching Assistants are proficient in Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Lab, and TA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Chemistry Teaching Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 13%
Directed the daily activities of thirty students in the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory.
- Chemistry Lab, 12%
Managed general cleanliness and organization of the chemistry lab, prepared chemical solutions, and set up equipment for laboratory exercises.
- TA, 8%
Mentored TA graduate students in effectively teaching and supporting undergraduate students.
- Lab Experiments, 8%
Supervised 60 undergraduate students performing lab experiments, conducted group help sections and assisted students individually on problem solving.
- Lab Equipment, 6%
Prepared labs by formulating stock solutions, organizing lab equipment, calibrating lab equipment and technology.
- Lab Safety, 5%
Supervised laboratory experiments (16 students per lab) and emphasized the importance of lab safety and proper synthetic organic technique.
Common skills that a chemistry teaching assistant uses to do their job include "organic chemistry laboratory," "chemistry lab," and "ta." You can find details on the most important chemistry teaching assistant responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a chemistry teaching assistant to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "postsecondary teachers need to work well with others for tasks such as instructing students and serving on committees." Chemistry teaching assistants often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "instructed six credit-hours of communication courses (com 101: public speaking & com 102: interpersonal communication) per semester. "
Speaking skills. Another essential skill to perform chemistry teaching assistant duties is speaking skills. Chemistry teaching assistants responsibilities require that "postsecondary teachers need good communication skills to present lectures and provide feedback to students." Chemistry teaching assistants also use speaking skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "designed and presented pre-lab lectures to students. "
Writing skills. chemistry teaching assistants are also known for writing skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to chemistry teaching assistant responsibilities, because "postsecondary teachers need strong writing ability to publish original research and analysis." A chemistry teaching assistant resume example shows how writing skills is used in the workplace: "created original curriculum taught argumentative writing skills held regular office hours taught basic grammar and critical thinking graded all class assignments"
The three companies that hire the most chemistry teaching assistants are:
- University of Kentucky2 chemistry teaching assistants jobs
- The College of St. Scholastica1 chemistry teaching assistants jobs
- PSEA1 chemistry teaching assistants jobs
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Compare different chemistry teaching assistants
Chemistry teaching assistant vs. Sciences dean
An Assistant Professor of Chemistry is expected to contribute to the teaching and research in a university's chemistry department. Duties include teaching chemistry programs for undergraduate and postgraduate, supervising students undertaking Master's and Ph.D., conducting research, and generating scholarly publications that fulfill an international standard. An Assistant Professor of Chemistry also assists in developing research links for the university, such as affiliating to Research Institutes and working collaboratively to build a strong profile.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a chemistry teaching assistant are more likely to require skills like "organic chemistry laboratory," "chemistry lab," "ta," and "lab experiments." On the other hand, a job as a sciences dean requires skills like "scholarship," "mathematics," "math," and "professional development." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Sciences deans tend to reach higher levels of education than chemistry teaching assistants. In fact, sciences deans are 21.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 12.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Chemistry teaching assistant vs. Assistant professor of chemistry
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, chemistry teaching assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "chemistry lab," "ta," "lab experiments," and "lab equipment." Meanwhile, an assistant professor of chemistry has duties that require skills in areas such as "general chemistry," "undergraduate research," "semester," and "lab courses." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Assistant professors of chemistry earn a higher average salary than chemistry teaching assistants. But assistant professors of chemistry earn the highest pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $63,383. Additionally, chemistry teaching assistants earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $37,508 annually.In general, assistant professors of chemistry achieve higher levels of education than chemistry teaching assistants. They're 6.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 12.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Chemistry teaching assistant vs. Associate professor of chemistry
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a chemistry teaching assistant is likely to be skilled in "organic chemistry laboratory," "ta," "lab experiments," and "lab equipment," while a typical associate professor of chemistry is skilled in "laboratory courses," "sops," "fda," and "gmp."
Associate professors of chemistry earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $89,174. Chemistry teaching assistants earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $37,508.associate professors of chemistry typically earn similar educational levels compared to chemistry teaching assistants. Specifically, they're 3.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 16.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Chemistry teaching assistant vs. Adjunct professor of chemistry
Types of chemistry teaching assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
