The ABC's of RA's and TA's

While in graduate school, you will be looking towards enhancing your study experience, building up your résumé and preparing for the post-graduation career world. One of the best ways of achieving these goals is by becoming a Research or Teaching Assistant. Assistantships will provide you with an education beyond your classrooms, and will prepare you for your qualifying examinations and senior thesis while earning you future letters of recommendation – so make a good impression!

• What is a Research Assistant?
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  A Research Assistant (RA) is a student who assists a faculty member with his or her research. Though the criteria for this position varies by school, department and subject matter, overall the valuable opportunity and benefits to you will be the same. You can expect to gain unique knowledge in your field of research, work closely with a faculty member for mentoring and future recommendations, and develop skills that will carry you far beyond your studies. Your experiences and performance as an RA will be an essential part to your future success.
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  What will be expected of you as an RA will also vary, though overall your general tasks will probably include collecting, reviewing and entering data, developing new research ideas, utilizing computer skills and programs, assisting the faculty with preparing presentations, conducting library and literary research and possibly operating and maintaining laboratory equipment. By taking on these responsibilities, you are also benefiting the faculty by helping expand their research and taking on some of the labor-intensive parts that are a huge help to them. Take your commitment seriously and you are sure to reap the benefits only a faculty member can provide you.
  
  
• What is a Teaching Assistant?
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  A Teaching Assistant (TA) assists professors and other faculty members with their classes and research. As with RA’s, TA’s duties and responsibilities will vary, but invaluable experience and important faculty relationships will be a consistent factor regardless. In addition, the monetary benefits of being a TA can include a yearly stipend, free tuition and other benefits that are determined by the individual schools and departments.
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  The main duties of a TA will be teaching or lecturing, which will be essential to understanding your own subject matter more thoroughly and ultimately benefiting your graduate studies. You may also be required to grade student papers and exams, hold office hours to meet with students, provide administrative support for professors, organize reference materials, run laboratory sessions and/or conduct review and study sessions, and so on. You will be expected to be fair when grading, be available to the students when necessary, and be thorough and organized when presenting your research.
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  The experiences and skills you obtain from being an RA or TA will be an important contribution to your life in many ways. You will gain knowledge and expertise to round out your field of study, you will learn communication and presentation skills that will benefit you in job interviews and future careers, and you will build relationships and earn credibility with faculty who will ultimately represent you in their recommendations. And, of course, it looks great on your résumé.

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