There are multiple opportunities to gain teaching experience while at UCSF by teaching professional school students, graduate, or K-12 students. We have also developed partnerships with local colleges and universities in the Bay Area to offer UCSF students and postdocs the opportunity to gain experience teaching undergraduate labs and lectures.

Thinking about how to balance teaching and research as a student or postdoc? Check out Balancing Teaching and Research Experiences in Doctoral Training Programs: Lessons for the Future Educator by Michael J. Wolyniak.

Teach at UCSF

• Teaching Assistantships:
  Graduate programs differ as to their teaching requirements and how they may be met. Consult your graduate program director for specifics.
• Other teaching opportunities:
  Postdocs interested in teaching opportunities can also ask the faculty member in charge of teaching assignments for their department if they know of any teaching opportunities in the professional schools. Often particular departments have a commitment to supply instructors to one or more of the professional schools (Pharmacy, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, Nursing, and Medicine). Alternatively, postdocs may wish to contact the curriculum directors of the professional schools directly.

Teach undergraduate students at a local institution

Many UCSF graduate students and postdoctoral scholars find temporary teaching positions at local undergraduate institutions by contacting school deans and department chairs directly. In addition, we have developed several partnerships with life science departments and programs at local institutions:

• University of San Francisco (USF): 
  For life scientists: Teach an undergraduate lab or lecture course at USF, or mentor a USF undergraduate student in your current lab through the UCSF/USF Partnership for Undergraduate Mentoring and Teaching (PUMT). These teaching positions are paid adjunct faculty positions which often include a weekly training session on the content of the lab. Applications take place twice a year in October and June. Positions are posted on the Opportunities Board and advertised in OCPD emails (be sure you are on OCPD's listserv to receive these announcements). It is highly recommended that applicants complete the Evidence-Based Teaching course (STEP-UP) or equivalent before starting.
  
  Learn about teaching at a primarily undergraduate institution (including while a graduate student or postdoc) from our series of interviews with UCSF Alumni in teaching-focused careers.
   
• UC Berkeley Extension
  Teaching opportunities in life sciences and social sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, math, statistics, psychology, and public health. See the instructor pool job listings for current openings. Teaching may be synchronous or asynchronous, online or in-classroom. Advanced degrees and teaching experience are usually required - whether you need your PhD at the time of application varies, so check the available listings. Contact [email protected] with questions.
• San Francisco State University (SFSU): 
  For life scientists and social scientists: Positions are posted on the Opportunities Board and advertised in OCPD emails (be sure you are on OCPD's listserv to receive these announcements).
• City College of San Francisco (CCSF):
  For life scientists: Positions are posted on the Opportunities Board and advertised in OCPD emails (be sure you are on OCPD's listserv to receive these announcements).
• Mount Tamalpais College (MTC):
  MTC is an independent liberal arts institution dedicated to serving students at San Quentin State Prison. Volunteer course instructor positions are regularly available in the Science and Math Program and in the Humanities and Social Sciences Program. Learn more about how to apply for volunteer positions at MTC on their website. Carpools with other instructors may be available.

UCSF programs to develop your teaching skills

• Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP)
  Teach science at the K-12 level through mentored teaching partnerships with San Francisco public schools. Mentor a high school student in your UCSF lab during the summer. For questions, please contact Katherine Nielsen, Co-Director of SEP.
  View the Summer 2024 flyer.
   
• IRACDA/STRIDE Postdoctoral Program
  This fellowship focuses on teaching at minority-serving institutions and is aimed at postdocs who have a particular interest in contributing to diversity efforts in the life sciences. Coordinated by the UCSF Graduate Division and funded through an NIGMS K12 Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award, this fellowship is primarily available to candidates considering doing a postdoc at UCSF. For questions, please contact Anne Sufka, UCSF IRACDA Scholars Program Manager.