Graduate Student Employment
Mechanisms of employment in Mechanical
Engineering:
Graduate students can be employed by the University
of Colorado through multiple routes. Graduate students
in the Department of Mechanical Engineering can obtain
funding through a Teaching Assistantship (TA), Research
Assistantship (RA), or as a grader. All student employees
must complete “Discrimination and harassment
training” as described on the Office
of Discrimination and Harassment web page.
TAs and RAs are typically set at a 50% appointment during the fall and spring semesters. RAs may be paid during the summer at a 50% or greater appointment – the percentage appointment is decided upon by the faculty member providing the research assistantship. RAs and TAs generally include tuition, where a 50% TA or RA covers 100% of tuition and lower percentage appointments cover a lower percentage of tuition (typically prorated by percentage appointment).
TA and RA expectations:
The full calendar-year appointment is meant to
be for the equivalent of a full-time position
working toward the degree. Thus, the appointment
continues directly through all University break
periods such as Winter break, Spring break, and
pre- and post-summer breaks, and the Department
expects students to be at work on research or
courses and making progress toward the degree
at all of those times unless a leave-without-pay
break is taken. Students are entitled to the
equivalent of two weeks vacation per year with
pay. Any time off must be taken with full knowledge
and approval of the student’s advisor.
Students may not have additional employment while
receiving the standard stipend from the Department,
except in special circumstances with written
approval by the Department Chair and the research
advisor. TA and RA students working in a laboratory
environment must fulfill all University of Colorado
requirements for lab work as described below.
Graders are assigned by the Graduate Committee to classes which require additional grading support. Graders are generally assigned to a maximum number of hours per week during the semester and paid hourly. This type of position does not cover tuition or any other expenses. Graders performing lab work must fulfill all University of Colorado requirements for lab work as described below.
Independent Study can be performed for graduate credit but not for pay. This is a position where you work with a faculty member to complete a research project and receive a grade at the completion of the project. Independent study students working in a laboratory environment must fulfill all University of Colorado requirements for lab work as described below.
Resources for Graduate Student Employees
All employees
- All employees must complete “Discrimination and harassment training” as described on the Office of Discrimination and Harassment web page.
Employees working in a laboratory environment must
complete the following training and gain approval
from the appropriate institutional boards. Failure
to do so may prevent you from being able to publish
your research or result in closure of your research
lab.
- Anyone working in a lab with chemical or biological materials or who use or generate hazardous waste must complete Hazardous Materials training.
- Anyone working with anything that is radioactive – even a sealed radioactive source – must complete the Radiation Safety training.
- Those performing work with live biological agents such as viruses, bacteria or mammalian cells must obtain approval from the Institutional Biosafety Committee.
- Those who perform work with any live animals at CU Boulder must first get approval from the Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee (IACUC). Our departmental IACUC representative is Professor Ferguson. Work with her to write your protocols as she will represent them at the monthly IACUC meeting.
- Those performing any research involving human subjects, even just taking data via a questionnaire, must first obtain approval from the Human Research Committee.
- The University of Colorado is committed to the ethical and responsible conduct of research. However, should you ever experience concern recarding ethics in research, you can contact the Standing Committee on Research Misconduct.
- Other research related information can be found on the web site for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and on the web site for the Graduate School.
Teaching assistants and graders
- Graduate students or postdoctoral researchers may use the Graduate Teacher Program for teacher training and professional development. Several certification options are also available to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are interested in teaching.
The University of Colorado offers many Graduate Certificates. Information can be found here.