Teaching Positions

Application forms are available here:

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants!

Spring 2026

Life Sciences 1b: An Integrated Introduction to Genetics, Genomics, and Evolution

Topics: Mendelian genetics, epigenetics, quantitative genetics, and population genetics

Time commitment: 0.4 FTE

Compensation: $11,720 ($1,116 bi-weekly); For G3 and above: $13,150 ($1,252 bi-weekly)

Course Description:

Life Sciences 1b is a spring-semester course that integrates molecular biology, genetics, genomics and evolution. The course is a large, introductory course where many enrolled students are first-year undergraduates. This course takes an integrated approach, showing how genetics and evolution are intimately related, together explaining the patterns of genetic variation we see in nature, and how genomics can be used to analyze variation. The focus of this course is on the fundamental features of Mendelian genetics, epigenetics, quantitative genetics, and population genetics.

Teaching Fellow Responsibilities:

Dates: January 20th– beginning of May 2025 (dependent on date of final exam)
- Mandatory in-person orientation and lab training: Jan. 20th-23rd
- NEW TFs/TAs are required to attend a pedagogy training at the Bok Center
Lead a combined teaching section & lab – 3hr/week
Attend weekly staff meetings – 1hr/week
Attend lectures – 3.75hr/week (location: Science Center, Harvard Cambridge Campus)
Hold office hours – 1hr/week (preferably in-person, remote possible)
Grade lab assignments and problem sets (exams are graded by external graders)
Sign up for additional duties during exams (proctoring, extra office hours, etc.)

For questions/to apply, email lsci1b@fas.harvard.edu

To apply, please include your CV to schedule an interview.

*Hiring is on a rolling basis, until December 1st. Final hiring contingent on student enrollment.

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows!

Spring 2026

MCB128 AI in Molecular Biology

Mon/Wed/Fri 10:30-11:45

Instructor: Dr Elena Rivas

Course description:

MCB128 is a course that explores the major advances in deep learning, with a special emphasis on their applications to molecular biology and genomics. The course will cover both the general principles of these methods as well as specific applications in genomics. This is a computationally rigorous course for undergraduate and early graduate students interested in computational biology. TFs should have knowledge of Python, statistics, and molecular biology, and some knowledge of deep learning methods.

Responsibilities:

Dates: End of January – beginning of May 2026
Lead a weekly section
Attend lectures (MW 10:30-11:45)
Hold office hours (1hr/week)
Grade homework
Attend weekly staff meetings
Total time commitment is 0.4 FTE

For questions or to apply, please email Elena Rivas and include your CV.

We will be conducting interviews and hiring primarily in the months of April and May.

Final hiring is contingent on student enrollment.

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants!

Fall 2025

Life Sciences 1a: An Integrated Introduction to the Life Sciences: Chemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology

Course description:

Life Sciences 1a is a fall-semester survey course that integrates general chemistry, organic chemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology at the introductory level. The course is large (typically about 300 students), with the majority of students being freshmen. The focus is on the fundamental features of living systems, with topics including intermolecular interactions, thermodynamics, acidity, (first-order) kinetics, the central dogma, cell signaling, enzyme catalysis, and transport across membranes. These concepts are then applied to consider drug design and discovery.

All classes are held in person in the Science Center (Harvard Cambridge Campus)

Dates:

Appointment duration: Aug 10th – Jan 3rd
Semester: 09/02/2025 – 12/19/2025 (Lectures on Tue & Thu, 1.30pm)
Section: 09/10/2025 – 12/5/2025 (Wed, Thu or Fri, varying times)

Responsibilities:

Attend lectures
Attend staff meetings in person (1 hour/week)
Prepare and lead one discussion & laboratory section (~3 hours) per week (12 sections/semester; size: ~12-16 students)
Grade and return assignments (i.e. problem sets, lab assignments)
Hold office hours in person (1 hour/week/section)
Fulfill exam duty for every midterm and final (i.e. proctoring, pre-running assessments, or help rooms)
Be available by email to answer student questions throughout the semester
Attend two days of TF training in August (dates TBD, 9-5pm)

Total time commitment is 0.4 FTE

Compensation (2025 rates TBD; 2024 rates below as a reference):

Junior rate: $11,720 ($1,116.19 bi-weekly)

Senior rate (G3 or above): $13,150 ($1252.38 bi-weekly)

To apply:

Please email lsci1a@fas.harvard.edu and include your CV. We will be conducting interviews and hiring primarily in the months of April and May. Final hiring is contingent on student enrollment.

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows!

Fall 2025

MCB 60: Cellular Biology and Molecular Medicine

Time commitment: 0.40 FTE

Course Description:

MCB60 is medium-sized course on cellular biology for Harvard undergraduates. It focuses on the development of problem-solving skills using real world biological problems and techniques. The course utilizes the flipped classroom model to engage students in active discussions each class rather than traditional lectures. We are looking for teaching assistants that are interested in working as part of a small and supportive teaching team with motivated students.

Responsibilities:

Dates: End of August – beginning of December 2025
Lead a weekly combined section + lab – ~4.5hr/week
Attend weekly staff meetings (Wed 12-1pm)
Attend lectures (MW 10:30-11:45)
Hold office hours – 1hr/week
Grade problem sets and lab assignments

For questions/to apply, email Curriculum and Pedagogy Manager Emma Nagy at enagy@fas.harvard.edu

To apply, please include your CV to schedule an interview.

*TF appointments start on August 11, 2025 and end on January 4, 2026

TA/TF positions available!

Fall 2025

MCB 63: Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Weekly Lectures: Tu/Th 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Course Description:

The course integrates an introduction to the structure of macromolecules and a biochemical approach to cellular function. Topics addressing protein function will include enzyme kinetics, the characterization of major metabolic pathways and their interconnection into tightly regulated networks, and the manipulation of enzymes and pathways with mutations or drugs. An exploration of simple cells (red blood cells) to more complex tissues (muscle and liver) is used as a framework to discuss the progression in metabolic complexity. Students will also develop problem solving and analytical skills that are more generally applicable to the life sciences.

Topics Covered:

Protein Structure, Protein Folding, Enzyme Catalysis and Kinetics, Lipid Structure and Membrane Assembly, Carbohydrate Structure, Lipodystrophy, Glycolysis and Anaerobic Synthesis of ATP in Red Blood Cells, Fate of Pyruvate and Citric Acid Cycle, Oxidative Phosphorylation: Electron Transfer, Citric Acid Cycle and Evolution, Oxidative Phosphorylation: ATP Synthesis, Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer Cells, Regulation of Glycolysis in Liver Cells, Type I Diabetes, The Control of Blood Glucose Levels by the Liver, Distribution of Storage of Fuel Molecules, Physiological Adaptation of Muscle to Energetic Needs, Type II Diabetes, Distribution of Fuel Molecules in other Tissues, Nucleotide Metabolism, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Lipid Metabolism

TA Responsibilities:

Weekly responsibilities, 12 hours
Run one section (1 hr), Run one office hour (1 hr)
Attend weekly TA meeting (1 hr), Attend lectures (3 hr), Grade (3 hour),
Preparare (3 hours)

Compensation for this position is 0.25 FTE.

If interested, please send your CV to Michele Markstein at mmarkstein@g.harvard.edu as soon as possible.

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows!

Fall 2025

MCB 149: The History of Molecular Biology

Time commitment: 0.25 FTE

Course Description:

The field of molecular biology revolutionized our understanding of how living systems work. How did this transformation come about? We delve into three decades of transformative discoveries and historic publications that wrought this revolution.

This course is cross-listed with The History of Science.

Responsibilities:

Lead weekly section discussions focused on classic scientific papers.
Grade term papers written by students on historical scientists.

For questions/to apply, email Prof. Richard Losick at losick@mcb.harvard.edu

To apply, please include your CV to schedule an interview.

*TF appointments start on August 11, 2025 and end on January 4, 2026

Multiple Openings for Teaching Fellow in Fall 2025

MCB 197: Gene Regulation: A Bench-to-Bedside Journey

Time commitment: 0.25 FTE

Course description:

Dive into the foundations of gene regulation with MCB197, a course designed to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and practical application. Explore genome architecture, gene expression, and current technologies like CRISPR in this comprehensive course. With classroom ‘bench’ sessions focusing on scientific foundations and ‘bedside’ sessions exploring real-world applications, studies gain insight into both historical discoveries and modern methodologies in gene regulation.

The complete course syllabus can be accessed at https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/157058.

Course Schedule:

All classes are held in person on the Harvard Cambridge Campus from September 3 through December 10, 2025.

Lecture: Monday & Wednesday, 1:30 – 2:45 PM
Discussion: Friday, 1:30 – 2:45 PM

Position Overview:

We are seeking dedicated and engaged Teaching Fellows to support the course. Applicants should be enthusiastic about undergraduate teaching and have a keen interest in gene regulation.

Responsibilities Include:

Attend all lectures and stimulate active participation (2 hours/week)
Prepare and lead a weekly small group discussion section (1 hour/week)
Provide academic support during office hours (1 hour/week)
Attend weekly teaching team meetings (1 hour/week)
Help prepare questions for Problem Sets and Concept Checks
Assist in grading assignments
Answer student questions via email

Total commitment ~10-15 hours per week.

Qualifications:

Graduate student or postdoctoral fellow with a background in Molecular and Cellular Biology or a related field
Strong communication and organizational skills
Commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment

Application Process:

Interested candidates should send a CV and brief explanation of their interests and any relevant experience to harvard.mcb197@gmail.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows!

Fall 2025 – Tuesday and Thursday from 3pm – 4:30 pm. NW169

MCB 294: Interesting Questions in Physical Biology: A Course for the Curious

Time commitment: 0.25 FTE

Course Description:

If you don’t ask an interesting question, you will not get an interesting answer. This philosophy underlies MCB294.

Physical biology can be defined as a discipline that seeks to understand biological processes through the lens of physics and engineering. More generally, it can be viewed as a way of understanding fundamental molecular and cellular principles through analytical, rather than descriptive, approaches. In this course faculty and students will unite with the aim of identifying and pondering interesting emerging questions from this perspective. A combination of lecture and discussion format. A series of one and two session modules given by ~15 faculty drawn from CCB, MCB, Physics, SEAS and HMS that cover an eclectic mix comprising their favorite topics and covering wide range of subject areas.

Responsibilities:

Attend all class sessions (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00–4:30 PM), from September 2 to December 3, 2025
Facilitate and encourage active class discussion
Communicate with participating faculty to:
- Remind them of their upcoming lecture date(s)
- Coordinate the uploading of lecture materials to the course website
- Meet individually with students to help them:
  - Develop a clear research question
  - Propose a feasible experimental approach for the end-of-semester exercise (below)

End of Semester Exercise:
Each student will identify an interesting question (in any subject area relevant to Physical Biology, covered specifically by the course or not) and think of an experiment to address this question. A priority should be placed on sensible but elegant approaches.

Each student will prepare a 3-page double-spaced paper that (a) provides background, (b) poses the question, and (c) describes the idea of the experiment and the critical components needed for it to work. A few days after the paper is due, there will be a “mini-meeting” at which each student gives a 10-minute oral presentation of his or her question and proposed experiment; five minutes of questions will also be permitted per talk. In advance of this mini meeting, copies of all papers will be distributed to all class members.

Grades:
50% Class Participation; 50% End-of-Semester Exercise (25% written paper + 25% oral presentation)

For questions/to apply, email Prof. Nancy Kleckner at kleckner@fas.harvard.edu

Course website: https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/156777

To apply, please include your CV to schedule an interview.

*TF appointments start on August 11, 2025 and end on January 4, 2026

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows!

Fall 2025

Neuro 80 (MCB80): Neurobiology of Behavior

Time commitment: 0.40 FTE, 1 for HTF, 0.5 for grader

Compensation (2024): Senior rate: $12,770; Junior rate (G2s): $11,380

Course Description:

Neuro/MCB 80 aims to provide an in-depth introduction into the fundamentals of the brain and neuroscience. The teaching staff aims to provide a biologically inspired conceptual framework for thinking about how the brain works. The course begins by taking a close look at the nuts and bolts of neurons and signaling and then moves on to explore a few networks including sensory systems and motor systems before finishing with neurodevelopment, and “higher” cognitive topics.

We will be largely keeping the structure of the course and applying what we have learned the past several years. This year the course will be a hybrid or partially “flipped” format. Students will be responsible to watch two asynchronous lectures (or lecture equivalents) each week online. Then throughout the semester, Tuesdays and Thursday “lectures” will feature demonstrations, guest lectures, workshops, and activities that apply the concepts discussed in the video lectures. The workshop and an opportunity for the students to ask questions to the course leaders and work through some questions. The weekly discussion sections will be lead by you the TF, where students will discuss the material, work in small groups, practice problems, and try small neuroscience labs and demos.

There are no pre-requisites for the class and it is the foundational course for students who plan to concentrate in Neuroscience.

Responsibilities:

Watch/review video lectures and understand the material
Prepare and lead a weekly 75 min discussion section (in person) on either Thursdays or Fridays for ~16 students
Grade assignments for those ~16 students including weekly problem sets
Prepare for and attend weekly staff meetings: Tuesdays, 9-10:15 am.
Hold weekly or biweekly office hours
Answer emails, help monitor the online chat boards/answer student questions
Help prepare exam questions, monitor/check Canvas
Help with the Neuroscience Activity Fair: Thursday, September 4th
Attend ~5 of the T/Th lectures (10:30-11:14 Science Center) to help with questions, attendance, etc.
Proctor Exams – Midterm 10/14 10:30-11:45 or Final TBA
Class runs 9/2 – 12/3. Final will be held during exam period: 12/10-12/19

Total commitment ~10-15 hrs/week

Training
We will hold an all day training session/course orientation in August, featuring: teaching scientific course material, grading, leading group work and a micro-section practice. Will likely take place the week of 8/11/25.

For questions/to apply, email Curriculum and Pedagogy Manager Katie (Kathleen) Quast at kquast@fas.harvard.edu

To apply, please include your CV to schedule an interview.

*TF appointments start on August 11, 2025 and end on January 4, 2026

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