Teaching Positions

Application forms are available here:

Now Hiring Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants!

Fall 2026

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 9^th 2026 – Jan 2^nd 2027
Semester: 09/02/2026 – 12/19/2026 (Lectures on Tue & Thu, 1.30pm)
Section: 09/09/2026 – 12/4/2026 (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)
Proctor and/or pre-run PIEs
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:

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.

Multiple Openings for Teaching Fellows

Fall 2026

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

Fall 2026, 0.25 FTE

Join the teaching team for a course connecting gene regulation to disease and therapy

We are seeking two enthusiastic and thoughtful Teaching Fellows to join MCB 197: Gene Regulation: A Bench-to-Bedside Journey—an upper-level course that connects foundational molecular biology to real-world therapeutic applications.

This course explores how cells with identical DNA adopt distinct identities through gene regulation, and how these mechanisms can be harnessed to treat disease. Students engage with core topics such as genome organization, transcription, RNA processing, and the non-coding genome, alongside modern approaches including CRISPR-based editing and nucleic acid therapeutics.

What makes this course unique

Bench-to-bedside structure: Weekly “bench” sessions (foundations and primary literature) paired with “bedside” sessions (applied genomics and therapeutic design)
Active, discussion-driven learning: Students engage in breakout activities, data interpretation, and collaborative problem-solving
Primary literature focus: Students learn to read, analyze, and critique research articles
Capstone project: Students design a gene regulation–based therapeutic strategy for a genetic disease and present their work in a poster session

This course is consistently rated highly by students (4.8/5 overall), with 94% recommending it “with enthusiasm.”

Role of the Teaching Fellow

Teaching Fellows play a central role in shaping the student experience. Responsibilities include:

Leading a weekly discussion section focused on applying course concepts through structured breakout activities
Supporting active learning during lectures and fostering an inclusive classroom environment
Holding weekly office hours
Collaborating with the teaching team to develop class materials
Grading assignments and providing thoughtful feedback
Responding to student questions via email
Participating in weekly teaching team meetings

Time commitment: 10–15 hours per week

Who should apply

We are looking for graduate students or postdoctoral fellows who:

Have a strong background in molecular biology, genetics, or gene regulation
Are comfortable engaging with primary research literature and modern genomic tools
Are interested in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students
Bring strong communication skills and a commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment

Prior teaching experience is welcome but not required.

Course logistics

All classes are held in person on the Harvard Cambridge campus from September 2 through December 10, 2026.

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

Full syllabus: https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/170100

Compensation:

Junior rate: $7,325.00 ($697.62 bi-weekly)
Senior rate (G3 or above): $8,218.75 ($782.74 bi-weekly)

These are subject to change pending union negotiations.

Application process

Interested candidates should submit:

A brief statement describing their interest in the course and any relevant experience
A CV

Please send materials to: harvard.mcb197@gmail.com

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

TF POSITION FOR FALL SEMESTER 2026: Neuro 80 (MCB 80) – NEUROBIOLOGY OF BEHAVIOR

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 in-person 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.

Expectations

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
Assist with grading the 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: Tuesday, September 4th
Attend ~5 of the T/Th lectures (10:30-11:14 Science Center) to help with questions, attendance, etc.
Proctor Exams – Midterm 1: 10/1 10:30-11:45, Midterm 2: 11/5 10:30-11:45, or Final TBA
Class runs 9/2 – 12/4 (There will be section the last week of class) 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 8/17-8/21.

To Apply or for questions
Contact Neuroscience Curriculum and Pedagogy Manager: Katie (Kathleen) Quast (kquast@fas.harvard.edu)

Compensation (2025): Senior rate: $13,150; Junior rate (G2s): $11,720

Open Position: Teaching Fellow for Fall 2026

Course: MCB 121 – The microbes

Time commitment: 0.4 FTE

Course description: This general microbiology course will introduce students to the genetics, cell biology, and physiology of microbes, with an emphasis on mechanisms of host-microbe interactions. The goals of this course are to familiarize students with the diversity of microbes on planet Earth and equip them with fundamental concepts and methods to study these organisms. This course will consist of lectures and labs. Students will be evaluated on problem sets, three midterms and a final lab report. There is no final exam.

The complete course syllabus can be accessed via https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/169214.

Course Schedule: All classes are held in person on the Harvard Cambridge Campus from September 2 through December 5, 2025.

Lectures:

Monday & Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Biolabs 1087

Lab sections:

(I) Friday, 9:00 AM – 11:45 PM
(II) Friday, 12:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Biolabs 5088
No more than 12 students per section

Responsibilities Include:

Attend all lectures and stimulate active participation (2.5 hours/week)
Prepare and lead one weekly lab section (2.75 hour/week)
Provide academic support during office hours (1 hour/week)
Grade assignments and exams (~3 hour/week)
Attend weekly teaching team meetings (1 hour/week)
Pre-run lab exercises (~8 hour total)
Answer student questions via email and on Canvas

Total commitment ~12-15 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 cnelya@g.harvard.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

MCB60: Cellular Biology and Molecular Medicine

Time Commitment: 0.4 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 2026
Lead a weekly lab section – ~3hr/week
Attend weekly staff meetings (Wed 12-1pm)
Attend lectures (MW 10:30-11:45) and help to guide discussions
Lead a weekly problem-solving session (F 10:30-11:45)
Hold office hours – 1hr/week
Grade lab assignments

If you have any questions, please reach out to enagy@fas.harvard.edu. To apply please send your CV and we will set up an interview. We will be hiring on a rolling basis.

Hiring Teaching Fellows! MCB128 AI in Molecular Biology (Fall 2026)

http://rivaslab.org/teaching/MCB128_AIMB/
Mon/Wed/Fri 10:30-11:45

Instructor: Dr. Elena Rivas elenarivas@fas.harvard.edu

Time commitment: 0.25 FTE

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: Fall Semester 2026
Lead a weekly section
Attend lectures (MW 10:30-11:45)
Hold office hours (1hr/week)
Grade homework
Attend weekly staff meetings

For questions/to apply, email Elena Rivas at elenarivas@fas.harvard.edu

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