Physics Postings
These postings are updated by SFU's departments. Applicants should make sure that they can meet the departments' requirements and application deadlines. Please apply directly to the department where the job posting is located. Please check your department's job posting website as well.
Research Assistant Postings
Sessional Instructor Postings
There are no openings at this time.
Teaching Assistant Postings: Fall (1267)
Application period: June 29 - July 13
Appointment period: September 2 - December 24
| Course | Course Name | Instructor | Needed | Estimated BUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS100 | Introduction to Physics | Erol Girt | TA | 4.17-5.17 |
| PHYS100S | Introduction to Physics (SURREY CAMPUS) | Eldon Emberly | TA | 4.17 |
| PHYS101 | Physics for the Life Sciences I | Sarah Johnson | TA | 4.17-5.17 |
| PHYS102 | Physics for the Life Sciences II | Sabine Betts | TA | 4.17-5.17 |
| PHYS120 | Mechanics and Modern Physics | Jeff Sonier | TA | 5.17 |
| PHYS125 | Mechanics and Special Relativity | Matthias Danninger | TA | 2.17-3.17 |
| PHYS132 | Physics Laboratory I | Steve Dodge | TA | 3.17 |
| PHYS140S | Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics (SURREY CAMPUS) | Daria Ahrensmeier | TA | 3.67 |
| PHYS190 | Introduction to Astronomy | Ryley Hill | TA | 3.17-4.17 |
| PHYS233 | Physics Laboratory III | Jeff Sonier | TA | 4.17 |
| PHYS255 | Vibrations and Waves | Eundeok Mun | TA | 2.17-3.17 |
| PHYS326 | Electronics & Instrumentation | Erol Girt | TA | 3.17 |
| PHYS344 | Thermal Physics | Simon Watkins | TA | 2.17-3.17 |
| PHYS384 | Methods of Theoretical Physics I | Malcolm Kennett | TA | 1 |
| PHYS385 | Quantum II | Daria Ahrensmeier | TA | 1 |
| PHYS413 | Advanced Mechanics | Igor Herbut | TA | 1 |
| PHYS421 | Electromagnetic Waves | Eundeok Mun | TA | 1 |
| PHYS490 | General Relativity and Gravitation | Andrei Frolov | TA | 1 |
Semester Fall 2026 (1267). All classes are held at the Burnaby campus unless otherwise indicated and require Teaching Assistants. Offerings are contingent upon final budgetary authorization and enrolment numbers.
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.
Policies
Equity
The University is committed to the principle of equity in employment. (See Policy GP 19.)
Privacy
The information submitted with your application is collected under the authority of the University Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c.468, s. 27(4)(a)), applicable federal and provincial employment regulations and requirements, the University's non-academic employment policies and applicable collective agreements.
The information is related directly to and needed by the University to initiate the employment application process. The information will be used to contact references supplied by you, evaluate your qualifications and complete the employment process by making a hiring decision. Applicant information may also be disclosed to the Teaching Support Staff Union in accordance with Article XIII F.3.1.b of the Collective Agreement.
If you have any questions about the collection, use and disclosure of this information please contact the Associate VP, Human Resources, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6. Telephone 778-782-3237.