Graduate and Teaching Assistantships

Graduate students serve as teaching assistants and may have duties including teaching a laboratory section, lab preparation, driving vans, aiding students in field experiences, and grading. Undergraduate courses with which teaching assistants work may include Modern Biology, Investigative Biology, Genetics, and other courses depending on departmental needs. For students who express an interest in being educators, we try to make sure that the student has an opportunity to teach lessons and gain constructive feedback on lesson planning and execution. 

Contact: Dr. Dan Stich, Daniel.Stich@oneonta.edu

The graduate assistant will support faculty who are responsible for teaching undergraduate and graduate courses with research, technology integration into teaching, and when appropriate attending to ancillary tasks associated with the delivery of the programs offered by the department such as coordinating field trips, and meeting and guiding students through group tasks associated with courses. This position is remote.

Contact: Dr. Ginny Smith, Ginny.Smith@oneonta.edu

Responsibilities of graduate assistants may involve classroom and/or research support. These positions are remote.

• Assist faculty in preparing for undergraduate-level literacy courses. This includes helping faculty in creating class presentations and gathering course materials such as journal articles
• Assist faculty in undergraduate classroom support. Under direct supervision of the faculty a GA will assist faculty in providing feedback and holding online study sessions.
• Assist faculty in conducting research. Research responsibilities will be provided by the faculty supervisor.
• Perform other duties or work on other projects based on the needs of the department/program. 

Contact: Dr. Barbara Vokatis, Barbara.Vokatis@oneonta.edu

These remote graduate assistantships will provide:

Research Support (90%):

• Conduct literature reviews and gather data
• Assist with tasks relate to conference presentation
• Analyze data and create reports or presentations
• Help with editing research papers, articles, or conference proposals

Administrative Tasks (10%):

• Organize and manage class materials
• Assist with generating presentations, posters, surveys for the program
• Assist with tasks relate to transition to online program
• Data entry/collection for program assessments

Contact: Dr. Ying Tang, Ying.Tang@oneonta.edu

Graduate assistants at the Cooperstown Graduate Program are assigned to work with a faculty member on activities that support the program and expand its reach into the community.

Graduate assistant positions include:

• Social Media,
• Technology,
• Citizen Science,
• Oral History,
• Public Events,
• Teaching Materials Collections,
• History Day,
• Management,
• Alumni Connections, and
• Academic Affairs.

Graduate assistants are vital to programs including:

• CGPcommunitystories.org,
• New York State History Day,
• Buckley Lectureship,
• Alumni Forum,
• Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Conference and Building Museums,
• citizen science projects,
• strategic planning projects, and
• CGP science film series.

They also work with:

• oral history and teaching materials collections,
• maintain the program’s social media presence,
• coordinate field trips,
• live stream lectures,
• troubleshoot in the computer lab, and
• manage the 3-D printer.

Contact: Dr. Gretchen Sorin, Gretchen.Sorin@oneonta.edu

The Graduate Academic Coordinator will support programs and services designed for English Language Learners (ELLs) and international students at SUNY Oneonta. This role primarily involves overseeing all aspects of our small but growing English and bilingual tutoring program, including recruitment, training and monitoring progress. The Academic Coordinator may also work one-on-one with students needing general academic support in addition to language or content area reinforcement. In requires flexible hours that can include evenings or weekends.

Job Responsibilities:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the English and bilingual tutoring program, ensuring its effectiveness and responsiveness to student needs.
• Recruit qualified peer tutors with a focus on language proficiency, cultural sensitivity, and academic/content area knowledge.
• Design and facilitate onboarding, orientation, and ongoing development for tutors.
• Develop tutoring schedules that align with student availability and demand for specific content areas or language skills.
• Monitor and evaluate tutor performance through observations, feedback sessions, and student evaluations.
• Maintain accurate records of tutoring sessions, tutor hours, and student attendance for assessment and reporting purposes. Assist in evaluating and refining tutoring services based on student and tutor feedback, and campus needs.
• Provide direct academic support to ELL and international students through individual or small-group sessions focused on study strategies, assignment planning, academic communication, and campus resources.
• Serve as a liaison between tutoring services and other campus departments such as the Office of Global Education, AOP programs, and the Student Learning Center.
• Assist with outreach and promotion of tutoring and support services through workshops, classroom visits, interdepartmental collaboration and digital communication.
• Attend meetings with program leadership and participate in relevant training to stay informed of best practices in language support, peer tutoring, and academic success for multilingual learners in higher education.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: M.S.Ed, M.S.T. C.A.S, preferred but not required.

Required: 

• Experience with curriculum or program design, tutoring, or teaching.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks with attention to detail.
• Must be in person to do this job

Preferred: 

• Bilingual (Spanish, French, Japanese or Korean)

Supervisor: Julie Condon, Julie.Condon@oneonta.edu

Required Application Materials by May 1 deadline: Resume, cover letter, 2 references submitted to Julie.Condon@oneonta.edu

This is primarily an in-person position in Oneonta as it requires direct interaction with students, staff, and faculty. Remote hours to create social media content are negotiable.

In-person responsibilities include:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of students registered with Accessibility Resources
• Assisting with administration of exams in the testing center
• Answering phones and providing basic information to parents, students, and faculty about services offered by Accessibility Resources
• Helping students connect with other campus resources
• Assisting with event planning, including faculty and staff trainings and student activities

Remote responsibilities include:

• Creating social media content for students about services available through Accessibility Resources
• Creating social media content to raise disability awareness and celebrate disability as an aspect of diversity

Qualifications:

• Special education, school counseling, educational technology specialist, or literacy education students preferred, but not required.
• Candidate should be knowledgeable about developing social media content, Canva and Microsoft word.
• Previous knowledge of disability law and FERPA preferred, but not required.
• Desire to learn about disability services and enthusiasm for working with college students is essential.

Supervisor: Jeannine Webster, jeannine.webster@oneonta.edu

Required Application Materials: This position is filled for 2026-2027

This graduate assistant in-person position will work closely with the Coordinator of Science Outreach Activities to administer and grow the AJ Read Science Discovery Center (SDC), SUNY Oneonta’s own hands-on science center. This position is ideal for someone interested in informal science learning, science communication, or museum administration. This position will be largely in-person in Oneonta, at the SDC, with mandatory weekend hours. Projects may include exhibit development, public event design and implementation, fundraising, and more. Ideal candidates will be comfortable working with children.

Supervisor: Robin Hebert, Robin.Hebert@oneonta.edu

Required application materials: This position is filled for 2026-2027

Interested in learning how to operate the SUNY Oneonta Planetarium? Want to create your own planetarium content and hone your skills in science communication and public outreach? Apply to be our next Planetarium Graduate Assistant!

The planetarium graduate assistant will be trained on how to operate the planetarium and run both pre-recorded and live-sky shows for the general public and school groups. During the academic year, the intern will work 10 hours/week creating and practicing their own show content, and present live planetarium shows for the public on Saturday mornings (~10am-1pm). Interns will gain a working knowledge of constellations and popular objects in the night sky and create their own planetarium visuals to share this knowledge with visitors of all ages.

Following the graduate assistantship, this position provides the graduate student with full-time paid work during the summer (end of May through mid-August) after their initial term. During the summer, the intern will work full time (Tu-Sat, ~35 hrs/week) running planetarium shows for school groups, and work with SUNY Oneonta faculty on a project of the student’s choosing. This project could be writing, designing and recording a full-length planetarium show, creating scientifically accurate visuals or sonifications of new astronomical discoveries, creating custom content geared towards K-12 science standards, or another project. The intern’s final project will be featured in shows during the following Fall semester and will be shared with planetariums around the world through the Digistar cloud. The student may also have the opportunity to travel to the annual Digistar Conference and present their work. Free summer housing on the SUNY Oneonta campus is also included with this position. This portion of the internship also fulfills the summer internship requirements for the Cooperstown Graduate Program.

Qualifications:

• All first-year CGP Museum Studies students (science-track preferred), or first-year students in a science-based Master’s program are eligible to apply.
• This position is in person on the SUNY Oneonta campus. Intern will need reliable transportation to come to the SUNY Oneonta campus at least twice a week during the academic year, and daily during the Summer. Free summer housing on the SUNY Oneonta campus is available, if needed.
• If accepted for this internship, you agree to work most Saturday mornings during the academic year, and full-time during Summer on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule.
• Prior knowledge of astronomy is not required for this internship, but a willingness to learn the constellations and information about objects in space to use during planetarium shows is a must.

Supervisor: Dr. Valeria Rapson, Valerie.Rapson@oneonta.edu

To apply for this position, please email a resume and cover letter to Valerie.Rapson@Oneonta.edu. In your cover, letter please include the following information:

• Your interest and past experience in museums, planetariums or informal science education.
• Your future career ambitions and how you think this internship will help you achieve those goals.
• Whether or not you have knowledge of astronomy and/or the night sky.
• An acknowledgement that you understand that, if granted the internship, you are committing to working most Saturdays during the semester, and full time on the Oneonta campus over the summer after your first year.

Required application materials due April 10

This graduate assistant position assists with financial data analysis, reporting and visualization, and the improvement of digital workflows and administrative processes. This is a hybrid position, which requires some in-person meetings throughout the semester. The on-campus office location is in Lee Hall.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with budget tracking, monitoring, and reconciliation across multiple funding sources and projects.
• Perform financial data entry and validation to ensure accuracy and completeness of records.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance datasets, dashboards, and reports to support decision-making and enhance institutional communication
• Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, efficiencies, and reporting insights.
• Review and suggest improvement of budgetary and financial workflows, including identification of opportunities for automation and efficiency.
• Assist with the development of digital tools, templates, and standardized reporting processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including finance, administration, and program staff.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of departmental goals.

Qualifications:

• Open to all master’s degree programs but would fit best for students with an academic background in finance, accounting, business analytics, public administration, or other related fields.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail, Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, pivot tables), ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work independently. Strong written and verbal communication skills, familiarity with budget management, financial reporting, or data analysis.
• Preferred experience with Power BI, but not required.

Supervisor: Kathleen Feit, Kathleen.Feit@oneonta.edu

Required application materials due by May 31: Submit resume, cover letter & three references to Kathleen.Feit@oneonta.edu

The Graduate Assistant in Student Life will work with Fraternity & Sorority Life to support the overall educational, administrative, and leadership efforts of the university’s fraternity and sorority community. This position is ideal for a graduate student—especially one studying Education or a related field—who is interested in leadership development, student engagement, policy education, and working with student organizations. 

The GA will:

• Assist with daily operations, communication, program planning, and chapter support while gaining professional experience mentoring students and managing projects.
• Serve as a resource for fraternity and sorority chapter leaders, advisors, and members.
• Provide guidance on chapter operations, goal-setting, membership development, and community-building.
• Attend council or chapter meetings as needed (IFC, CPC, MGC, NPHC, etc., depending on campus structure).
• Assist in planning and implementing leadership workshops, officer training, risk-prevention education, and community-wide programs.
• Support development of educational resources for chapters (handouts, presentations, trainings).
• Help coordinate recruitment and intake processes, including orientations and logistics.
• Draft and distribute weekly updates, emails, and announcements to chapter leaders and stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate records related to rosters, grades, event registrations, and chapter performance.
• Assist in updating the FSL website, social media, and marketing materials.
• Support data tracking and assessment related to community engagement, academic performance, and program outcomes.
• Assist with planning major events such as recruitment, Greek Week, service initiatives, award ceremonies, or educational campaigns.
• Help manage event logistics, check-in, risk management protocols, and communication with campus partners.
• Support enforcement of university policies, FSL guidelines, and risk management expectations.
• Help review event registrations and ensure chapters meet minimum standards.
• Assist in collecting required forms and monitoring chapter compliance.

Qualifications: Students from any degree program are encouraged to apply. Having been an undergraduate member of a fraternity or sorority is preferred but not required.  

Supervisor: Angie Eichler, angie.eichler@oneonta.edu

Required application material due by May 31: Applicants should email resume and cover letter to Angie Eichler at angie.eichler@oneonta.edu

This graduate assistant will work with the Director of the Biological Field Station (BFS) and the Professor of Collections Care at the Cooperstown Graduate Program to establish a collections policy, create a collections inventory, enhance or revise current displays, and provide appropriate collections care for wet and dry specimens used for teaching and public outreach at the field station in Cooperstown. In addition, the work will include assessing the collection in collaboration with Biology faculty, filling wet specimen jars with alcohol, and marking collections jars with identifying information. In addition to providing invaluable resources for the Biology Department faculty, the graduate assistantship will provide the student with practical experience in science collections care.

Qualifications:

• Completed MUSE 5525-Collections, Acquisitions, Care and Management of Natural History and Science Collections,
• Be a student in good standing in the Cooperstown Graduate Program, and
• Completed 12 graduate credits at SUNY Oneonta. 

This is an in-person graduate assistantship located in the Biological Field Station with flexible scheduling.

Supervisor: Dr. Florian Reyda, Florian.Reyda@oneonta.edu

Required application materials due by March 15: Applicants are required to submit an application that includes a resume, cover letter, and name and contact information for a reference to Florian.Reyda@oneonta.edu.

This graduate assistant will serve as a technical assistant for various Biological Field Station (BFS) operational and programmatic activities for 10 hours each week. Work hours are somewhat flexible. Activities include, but are not limited to:

• Document Management
• Organization and formatting of electronic files, Excel spreadsheets especially
• Formatting of documents to meet web accessibility requirements (Word & PDF)
• SharePoint file management & sharing requests
• Laboratory Tasks
• Assistance with organization of laboratory spaces
• Preparation of basic laboratory reagents
• Organization of storage spaces at the BFS
• Synthesis of lists and inventories
• Outreach & Education
• Support of educational outreach activities for community groups
• Participation at selected community outreach and educational events

Qualifications:

• Enrolled master's student in either the Biology or Lake Management Program.
• Must be able to work at the BFS Main Laboratory located in the lower level of the Cooperstown Campus (5838 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326)
• Proficiency in the Microsoft application suite (or at least Excel and Word)
• Organizational skills
• Previous enrollment in at least two college-level science courses with a laboratory component.

Supervisor: Dr. Florian Reyda, Florian.Reyda@oneonta.edu 

Required application materials due by April 15: Applicants are required to submit an application that includes a resume, cover letter, and name and contact information for a reference to Florian.Reyda@oneonta.edu.  

The Faculty Center provides programming around pedagogy, research and scholarship, and technology. In addition, the SUNY COIL Center is housed in the Faculty Center, which provides intercultural online programming for members around the world. This graduate assistantship will support Faculty Center staff, including staff in its Office of Student Research and Creative Activity, in the creation and implementation of programming in these areas. This graduate assistant will have the opportunity to work with faculty and staff across campus and learn about best practices in the classroom and how to interact with a wide range of constituents. In addition, they will have the opportunity to work with students in faculty-mentored scholarship.

Some specific programming that will be a part of this position is support for our:

• Life of the Mind annual showcase of faculty scholarship
• Student Research and Creative Activity Day event celebrating student scholarship
• Campus-based faculty and student grant programs in conjunction with the Committee on Research and the Student Travel Review Committee.

Qualifications:

• Interest in working with faculty, across disciplines, to support their work in teaching, research, and technology  
• Strong writing skills for creating compelling and effective copy in various formats, such as social media posts and email
• Familiarity with campus communications platforms Campus Connection, etc.
• Proficiency in design programs such as Canva or Adobe preferred
• Experience working with Excel spreadsheets and editing Adobe forms
• Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Time management proficiency to ensure timely execution of marketing campaigns
• Problem-solving skills to address challenges and optimize performance
• Experience in event planning (preferred)
• Interest in working with students well as faculty

Supervisor: Chilton Reynolds

Required application materials due by May 1: Submit resume, cover letter and three references to Chilton.Reynolds@oneonta.edu

Information will be available soon.