Research Assistant Postings

Sessional Instructor Postings

In Fall 2025 we expect to have a sessional position in the following course:

PHYS100 – Introduction to Physics – Course Instructor

Application Closing Date: Friday, July 4th @ 5:00 PM

For more information about this position and how to apply, please visit the Physics department employment page at:

https://www.sfu.ca/physics/about-us/employment.html

Pay Rates

• Teaching Assistant salary per Base Unit (BU):  $ 1242
• Associated scholarship per Base Unit (BU) *
  • GTA1 (MSc): $190
  • GTA2 (PhD): $420

*does not apply to the 0.17

How to Apply

• Login to the Physics TA Application website using your SFU computing ID.
  • If you do not have an SFU computing ID, contact physinfo@sfu.ca for login information.
• If you are not an SFU Physics grad student, please upload a CV, an academic transcript showing physics courses completed, and a schedule of availability.
• Select only the courses you are willing and able to TA. Note that some TA appointments are located at the Surrey campus.

Note:

• By applying for a TA appointment, you indicate your availability for the entire appointment period.
• Requests for leaves are covered in Article 27 of the TSSU Collective Agreement. You must discuss any planned absences with the course instructor in advance, who will determine if an exception is possible.
• If you are taking courses or have other restrictions on your time, please contact the course instructor before applying to ensure you are available when the job requires.
• TA positions in Physics could include: attending lectures; instructing one or more tutorials; instructing one or more laboratories of 2-4 hours in length.
• TAs and TMs must be available to invigilate exams and TMs must be able to collect and return exams and course work to SFU's Burnaby campus.

TA QUALIFICATIONS

All successful applicants must demonstrate completion of the required safety training prior to the start of the course. Safety training requirements for each course are listed here. Retraining is not required if certification is still valid.

https://www.sfu.ca/science/covid-policies/safety/safety-training.html

All Courses

Sufficient knowledge in the discipline of the course to interpret the course material; successful completion of the Department’s TA training workshop; competency in oral and written English.

Lower Division Lab and Studio Courses

Physics 101 (Surrey only), 102 (Surrey only), 132, 133, 140, 141, 190, 233, 234

A bachelor's or master's degree in Physics. PHYS 233 and PHYS 234 require strong understanding of Python fundamentals with experience with NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib. 

OR

A background in physics including successful completion of an upper division undergraduate physics lab course and successful completion of an upper division undergraduate course in quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, or electromagnetism. PHYS 233 and PHYS 234 require strong understanding of Python fundamentals with experience with NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib. 

Lower Division Lectures with TA-led Tutorials

Physics 100, 101, 102, 120, 121, 211, 255, 285

A bachelor's or master's degree in Physics; demonstrated teaching ability as an instructor or teaching assistant in a post-secondary physics course preferred.

OR

A background in physics including successful completion of undergraduate physics lecture courses covering material through intermediate mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics AND demonstrated teaching ability as an instructor or teaching assistant in a post-secondary physics course.

Lower Division, Marking Only

A background in physics including successful completion of undergraduate physics lecture courses covering material through intermediate mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.

Upper Division Lectures with TA-led Tutorials

Physics 321, 344, 384, 385, 395, 421, 445

A background in physics including successful completion of a graduate-level course on electromagnetism comparable in scope, sophistication, and difficulty to those offered by the SFU Department of Physics AND demonstrated teaching ability as an instructor or teaching assistant in a post-secondary physics course. PHYS 395 requires strong understanding of Python fundamentals with experience with NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib. 

Upper Division, Marking Only

A background in physics including successful completion of upper division undergraduate quantum mechanics, mathematical methods and electromagnetism courses. PHYS 391 requires Python knowledge.

Physics 332W

A background in Physics including successful completion of an upper division course in optics or both electrodynamics and quantum mechanics, and an upper division laboratory course with demonstrable knowledge of experimental optics, data analysis, and Python; excellent scientific writing skills.