HHMI Undergraduate Peer Leaders / BioCats (Biology Catalysts) An opportunity for Seniors and Juniors to be part of the Biol 111 and Biol 211 instructional team.
Spring '07 Peer Leaders
We are now recruiting Peer Leaders for Fall 2008. Review of applications will begin April 14, 2008.
Click here to view the Job Description
Click here to view the Application
Overview
A grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute is supporting the transformation of the introductory biology courses (Biol 111 and Biol 211) into team-taught courses. These courses now consist of a lecture, lab and workshop. An instructional team consisting of a faculty member, a graduate student and HHMI-NMSU Undergraduate Peer Leaders meets once a week to review exercises and materials that are to be covered in the workshops. During the workshop, Peer Leaders facilitate student activities including discussion of scientific papers, writing exercises and working through mathematical modules.
The primary goal is to enable students in the courses to develop their critical thinking, communication and quantitative reasoning skills. Students should also develop a better understanding of the nature of scientific knowledge and a greater awareness of the role biology and life science plays in different disciplines.
Who are the Peer Leaders / BioCats?
A Peer Leader is a Junior or Senior majoring in Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or other life sciences. A Peer Leader is someone who is interested in improving the quality of science education at NMSU.
What are the benefits of being a Peer Leader / BioCat?
There are may benefits to being a Peer Leader.
- Strengthen your knowledge of basic biology.
- Gain valuable teaching experience.
- A salary of up to $1500 per semester.
- Become more involved in the life science community at NMSU.
How do I become a Peer Leader / BioCat?
Selections are based on interviews, science and math knowledge, and GPA. Peer Leaders are needed for both Biol 111 and Biol 211 each fall, spring, and summer semester. Contact Tonia Lane (646-6234) or Ralph Preszler (646-5346) for more details.
(Funding for the HHMI-NMSU Undergraduate Peer Leaders is provided by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical institute and by cost share funds from New Mexico State University.)