Academic Student Employees (ASE)

Academic Student Employees

ASE (GSI, Reader, and Tutor) applications for the Spring 2023 semester are now open! The priority deadline for ASE applications is 5 PM (PST) on Friday, October 21, 2022. Scroll below for information about the various ASE positions this spring.

GRADUATE STUDENT INSTRUCTOR (GSI)

Graduate students can now apply to be a Physics GSI through our Spring 2023 ASE application. The application is open to all grad students.

Required application actions:  

  • For non-Physics Ph.D. applicants: your transcript file should be a PDF that includes relevant non-UC Berkeley classes and syllabi for any Physics-related courses included in your academic record.

  • Report if you will you have any additional appointments (GSR, GSI, on-campus, other campus, or LBNL). If you will or are uncertain, share details of confirmed appointments and/or elaborate on other possible positions. Please include as much detail as possible, e.g. percentage FTE, position, and hiring unit (ex. 25% GSI MEC ENG)

  • 1st- and 2nd-year Physics graduate students must list at least two regular (not Honors - 5 Series) lower division physics courses. Advanced Physics graduate students should include at least one required graduate course (209/211, 221A/B) among their preferences. We cannot guarantee placement in any course. For course reference, please see the Physics course guide.

Important things to keep in mind for GSI positions:  

  • The standard Physics GSI appointment is set at 50% FTE, equivalent to 20 hours per week (average over the appointment period). We do not appoint students to 25% standalone GSI positions. In rare circumstances, and by approval of the Physics Head Graduate Advisor, a student may be considered for an additional 25% appointment only if the student already holds a second appointment at 25% or 50%.

  • Physics GSI appointments are eligible for partial fee remission and wages are in line with the current rates for GSI pay. Visit Berkeley Labor Relations to see salary info for GSI Step Levels.

  • Applicants who do not speak English as a native language must demonstrate oral English proficiency to be eligible to work as a GSI.  Please see important deadlines for the Language Proficiency Program and the English oral proficiency test (OPT). OPT appointments are not available on demand, so applicants plan ahead to obtain a testing date and passing score.

  • New GSIs are required to fulfill the following requirements:

  • The Physics department will not cancel GSI appointments by appointment holder request after August 1st for fall appointments and by December 1st for spring appointments. Appointments may be canceled by the hiring unit and the Campus under Article 3 of the current ASE contract between the University and the United Auto Workers (UAW) on behalf of ASE. 
  • ASE union requirement: new GSIs must attend UAW Orientations.
  • GSI course assignments are subject to change according to departmental teaching needs.

Learn more about GSI responsibilities, requirements, and eligibility via the Appointments Handbook.

​We will accept GSI applications as long as there is a need. GSI hiring order is as follows: 1) Physics graduate students, 2) continuing or returning Physics GSIs from outside departments, and 3) remaining qualified applicants.

READER 

All students can apply for Reader positions through our Spring 2023 ASE application. Important things to keep in mind for Reader positions:  

  • Applicants must have a 3.0 overall GPA or better and A- or better in the Physics courses for which they want to be a Reader. 

  • View Berkeley Labor Relations to see current rates for Reader pay.

  • Undergraduate Readers are not eligible for fee remissions.

  • ASE union requirement: new Readers must attend UAW Orientations.

  • Hiring for Readers will depend on course enrollment and additional class support needs. The number of available positions varies each semester.

Learn more about Reader position eligibility via the Appointments Handbook.

TUTOR

Tutor staffing is in partnership with the Physics & Astronomy (PA) Scholars program and the Student Learning Center (SLC). Successful applicants will be hired as PA Scholar Peer Tutors and receive training and guidance from SLC. All students can apply for Tutor positions through our Spring 2023 ASE application

Important things to keep in mind for PA Scholar Peer Tutor positions:  

  • Peer Tutor core responsibilities:

    • Commit up to 9 hours/week.

    • Attend weekly training seminars, Thursdays 4:00–5:30 pm (required and paid).

    • Prepare for weekly training seminars.

    • Provide drop-in support to peers.

    • Assist in the preparation, support, and facilitation of exam reviews, as needed.

    • Maintain course knowledge by attending weekly cluster meetings and reviewing SLC-provided course notes.

    • Foster an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.

    • Perform other tasks, as assigned: event planning/coordination, data entry, work performance conferences, and general program support, as appropriate

  • Applicants must have a 3.0 overall GPA or better and A- or better in the Physics courses for which they want to be a Tutor. 

  • View Berkeley Labor Relations to see current rates for Tutor pay.

  • Undergraduate Tutors are not eligible for fee remissions.

  • ASE union requirement: new Tutors must attend UAW Orientations.

  • Tutors are typically recruited for Physics 5-series, 7-series, 105, 110A/B, 111A/B, 112, and 137A/B.

Learn more about Tutor position eligibility via the Appointments Handbook

UGSI 

Lastly, undergraduate students can apply for UGSI positions through our Spring 2023 ASE application. Important things to keep in mind for UGSI positions:  

  • Applicants must have a 3.0 overall GPA or better, and have earned an A- or better in the Physics 5 or 7-series courses.

    • Additionally, applicants must have earned an A- or better in Physics 111A and Physics 137A. 

  • UGSIs are appointed by exception only. Exceptions are approved by the Campus only if a department is not able to recruit any qualified graduate students (including graduate students from other departments) to fill an essential GSI position.

  • Eligibility requirements for GSIs (see hiring info section for GSIs above) also apply to UGSIs, including language proficiency and first-time GSI requirements.

  • View Berkeley Labor Relations to see current rates for UGSI pay.

  • UGSIs are eligible for partial fee remissions

  • ASE union requirement: new UGSIs must attend UAW Orientations.

Learn more about UGSI eligibility via the Appointments Handbook.

Important note: UC Berkeley expects academics with appointments (e.g. GSIs, Readers, Tutors, etc.) to arrive in the United States with valid work authorization prior to the start of the appointment. The Berkeley Academic Personnel Office may not approve—effectively canceling an appointment—if an individual is not able to arrive in the U.S. prior to the start of their appointment.

For any questions, please contact Christian Natividad (christiannatividad@berkeley.edu).