Employment Opportunities
Each year PGSS hires individuals for Residence Life Staff and Faculty positions. Both the staff and faculty are critical to the overall success of the program and have a significant impact on the students' lives. Per Pennsylvania state law and CMU's policies, all employees of PGSS must obtain their Child Protection Clearances in accordance with Act 153.
Applications for Residence Life Staff and Faculty positions are typically available in November. Hires are made on a rolling basis until program needs are met, usually concluding in April.
In addition, we employ a Chemistry Storeroom Assistant to aid the chem lab and chem team projects. This position is typically filled by a current CMU chemistry major.
Residence Life Staff Positions
Residence life staff fall under one of two categories: Teaching Assistant/Counselor (TA) and Residence Life Director (RLD). We look to hire at least two TAs for each subject area with a total number of 14-16 TAs. We hire 1-2 RLDs or co-RLDs.
TAs take on a joint role of assistanting in the classrooms and in the dormitories. TAs are responsible for taking attendance during classes, grading homeworks, and holding homework help sessions in the evenings. In addition to rigorous academics, PGSS has social programming to help the students relax, form a community, and grow as people. Outside of the classroom, TAs live in the dorms with the students and are responsible for organizing social activities and enforcing PGSS policies.
The RLD or co-RLDs are responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the Residence Life Staff and dormitory living for the students. They work with the program Director to ensure PGSS provides a safe and equitable learning and living environment for everyone involved with the program.
For questions, please reach out to pgss@cmu.edu.
Faculty Positions
PGSS employs Pittsburgh-area professors and industry professionals to teach the core courses, electives, labs, and lead team projects. All courses and projects will have TA support. Commitments would include:
- Your specific teaching or mentoring responsibilities
- Attend two Faculty/Staff meetings the week before the program start date
- Attend the Opening Ceremony on the first Sunday of the program
- Attend faculty/staff lunch meetings on Mondays
- Attend the PGSS Scientific Symposium on Thursday and Friday of Week 5 of the program
- Attend the Certification Banquet and Closing Ceremony on Friday of Week 5
- Provide evaluations of student performance in your crouse(s) and/or project(s)
Teaching in PGSS is a great opportunity to work with exceptionally motivated young people and engage the next generation of scientists. We also can support DEI-related initiatives for grants, such as Broader Impacts for NSF funding. For questions, please reach out to pgss@cmu.edu.
Chemistry Storeroom Attendant
The Chemistry Storeroom Attendant is present in the chemsitry lab space before and during the chemistry lab course and wetlab chemistry team projects. Their primary role is to prepare the materials needed for benchwork. In this position, the individual is responsible for
- Preparing reagents for chemistry experiements
- Ensuring the lab is clean at the end of experimental work and that all material have been appropriately stored and/or disposed of
- Release equipment from the chemistry storeroom
- Coordinating with the Chemistry Teaching Lab staff and PGSS chemistry faculty to ensure that all needs are met for the lab course and Team Projects
The person in this role may also be asked to assist with other setup activities outside of the lab, such as setting up or tearing down for the Scientific Symposium.
For questions, please email pgss@cmu.edu