Job Details

Teaching Assistant, Coastal Sciences

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Teaching Assistant, Coastal Sciences.

Position Details

Location: Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 39564
United States

Division: School of Ocean Science and Engineering

Position Type: Staff

Employment Status: Full Time

Grant Funded: No

Pay Grade: Generic Grade

Posting Close Date: Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applications for Teaching Assistant will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will be reviewed as needed.

Applicants should upload:

• Curriculum Vitae.
• Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (official transcripts may be required if applicant is selected for a position).
• Cover letter describing relevant education, research, and/or work experience related to the marine/coastal science field. Course(s) an applicant wishes to TA must be specified in cover letter.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Job Summary

The University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Coastal Sciences invites applications for teaching assistants to aid instructors in teaching field intensive marine science courses at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The courses will be offered as a part of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory's Summer Field Program during the summer intersession, first summer term, and second summer term. Class meets every weekday during the course term. However, due to weather impacts on field activities, schedule flexibility is necessary. Possible overnight travel required. Modification of teaching platform from field and lab intensive to virtual may be required. For information about the Summer Field Program, visit www.usm.edu/ocean-science-engineering/summer-field-program.php.

We anticipate filling the following Teacher Assistant vacancies as needed:

• Barrier Island Ecology COA 448/448L three credit hours (2 lecture, 1 lab).
• Course Description: This field course will familiarize students with concepts of coastal ecology with emphasis on the diversity of plant and animal communities unique to the northern Gulf of Mexico barrier islands. Students will take field excursions to barrier islands during this course. Topics covered include marsh, submerged, and barrier island vegetation, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, mammals, birds and reptiles, intertidal and shallow subtidal communities, and geologic processes of island dynamics.
• Cetacean Behavior - COA 444 three credit hours (3 lecture).
• Course Description: Students will learn tools and techniques used in the systematic observation and documentation of delphinid behavior in the wild. Course includes both classroom lecture and field studies focused primarily on dolphins of the Mississippi Sound.
• Elasmobranch Biology COA 422/522, 422L/522L six credit hours (3 lecture, 3 lab).
• Course Description: This specialized course will provide students with an overview of elasmobranch (sharks, skates and rays) biology, ecology and taxonomy. Lectures will cover such topics as evolution, anatomy and physiology, sensory systems, behavior and ecology. Students will be introduced to the diversity of elasmobranchs and will learn how to identify species. Special emphasis will be given to the species common to the Gulf of Mexico. Laboratory work will consist of several inshore and offshore collecting trips, as well as dissections.
• Marine Conservation COA 450/550, 450L/550L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab).
• Course Description: This course will introduce students to conservation biology and ecology with a focus on marine and coastal ecosystems. Topics may include biodiversity, marine ecosystems processes and threats, conservation of habitat and species, and human impacts, solutions, and policy. The course will consist of lectures, field trips, and laboratory exercises designed to provide students with hands-on experience in marine conservation biology.
• Marine Ichthyology COA 421/521, COA 421L/521L, six credit hours (3 lecture, 3 lab).
• Course Description: This is an intensive marine biological field course, which engages students to collect and identify marine fishes in numerous habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. Students experience a variety of land-based and vessel-based collection techniques, such as seining, cast netting, hook and line fishing, trawling, trolling, dip netting and many others. Students must work effectively alone and in teams and participate in field expeditions to complete the course objectives. Successful students gain an appreciation for taxonomic identities of fishes and the synergism between abiotic and biotic factors that drive marine fish distribution and faunal diversity in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
• Marine Invertebrate Zoology - COA 428/528, 428L/528L, six credit hours (3 lecture/3 lab).
• Course Description: This course is a concentrated study of the marine and estuarine invertebrates from the Mississippi Sound and contiguous continental shelf of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Emphasis is on structure, classification, phylogenic relationships, larval development, and functional processes. Prerequisites: Two semesters of biology or permission of instructor.
• Marine Mammals COA 443/543, 443L/543L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab).
• Course Description: This course is an overview of the biology of marine mammals (cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, sea otters and the polar bear), including their classification, evolutionary history, anatomy, physiology, behavior, conservation and management. Course will be online in 2026.
• Marine Sciences I: Oceanography COA 300/300L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab).
• Course Description: This course provides a multidisciplinary foundation in oceanography, specifically the terminology, principles, processes, relationships and phenomena pertaining to its sub-disciplines: physical, geological, biological and chemical oceanography. The importance of the interaction of biotic and abiotic processes in the ocean will be addressed through exploration of timely issues in ocean science.
• Marine Sciences II: Marine Biology COA 301/301L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab).
• Course Description: An ecological approach is taken to understand the biology of marine systems with emphasis on local organisms, their habitats, life cycles and survival strategies.
• Marine Toxicology COA 490/590: Special Topics Marine Toxicology, five credit hours.
• Course Description: This course will introduce students to the concepts of aquatic toxicology. Lectures will cover history and basic concepts of toxicology with a focus on aquatic issues, modern molecular techniques commonly used in modern toxicology applications, an overview of common xenobiotics, and experimental design. Lab activities will focus on basic toxicological skills, including exposure setup and monitoring, endpoint selection and basic molecular techniques. Course will be online in 2026.
• The Culture of the Coast- COA 490: Special Topics - The Culture of the Coast, five credit hours.
• Course Description: This course examines how coastal processes and habitats shape human communities along the coast through literature, music, and visual arts. Lectures introduce cultural perspectives on adaptation, resilience, and environmental change in coastal regions. Fieldwork in natural and built settings allows students to connect these concepts through firsthand exploration of local landscapes and cultural sites.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Gather and prepare necessary supplies and lab equipment for lab and field activities. Return equipment to be ready for use by another course after lab or field trip.
2. Coordinate field experiences, including field lunches from the GCRL cafeteria, vehicle and vessel use, and temporary use of community resources.
3. Follow laboratory safety rules; ensure students follow laboratory safety rules.
4. Assist instructor with administering tests, quizzes, grading, and delivering course content in lecture, laboratory, discussion, and online formats, etc.
5. Maintain communication with Summer Field