Sessional Appointment - NE 131

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Applicants who wish to have incumbency considered must declare it during the application process.

Course Information:
Course descriptions can be viewed on the Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Academic Calendars

 
Undergraduate studies - Academic Calendar
Graduate studies - Academic Calendar

Appointment Start Date:
2026-12-16
Appointment End Date:
2027-04-30
Number of Appointments:
1
Posting Information:
Key Responsibilities:

Course Development and Delivery:
Deliver engaging and informative lectures, seminars, and tutorials that align with the course outline and objectives.
Utilize various teaching methods and technologies to enhance student learning and participation, to comply with accessibility requirements, and to address the diversity of the material.
Design and develop course materials, if required, in alignment with the established curriculum, including syllabi, lecture notes, presentations, and reading lists.

Assessment and Evaluation:
Create, administer, and grade assignments, exams, projects, and other assessments.
Provide clear assessment criteria
Provide clear and constructive feedback to students on their performance.
Maintain student grades ensuring appropriate access and privacy.

Student Support:
Hold regular office hours to provide academic support and guidance to students.
Respond to student inquiries and concerns in a timely and professional manner.
Foster a supportive and inclusive classroom environment that encourages student engagement and collaboration.

Collaboration and Communication:
Work collaboratively with department faculty and staff to ensure course content and delivery meet academic standards.
Participate in meetings where appropriate and contribute to curriculum development and improvement.
Communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and university administration.

Administrative Duties:
Oversee the work assigned to graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants.
Complete administrative tasks related to course management, such as submitting grades by the Registrar’s Office deadline and prior to the end of the appointment, and maintaining course records to be provided to the hiring unit at the end of the appointment.
Adhere to university policies and procedures regarding academic integrity, grading, student conduct, accessibility and student information including Policies 33, 46, 70, and 71.
Coordinate course logistics, including scheduling of course support.
Complete training required for the position as specified by the University and/or the hiring unit.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Organizational Skills: Ability to manage course materials, assessments, and student records efficiently.
Student Engagement: Ability to engage and motivate students, fostering a positive learning environment.
Inclusivity: Ability to recognize and address the diverse needs of students, including cultural, linguistic, and learning differences, and to implement inclusive teaching practices
Professionalism: Adherence to university policies and procedures, including academic integrity and student conduct.

Education:
A PhD in Physics or a closely related discipline

Experience/Qualifications:
Applicants should possess the following:
Previous teaching, instructional, or teaching assistant experience in undergraduate physics, engineering physics, biophysics, or related interdisciplinary courses; specific experience teaching NE 131 is considered a strong asset
Previous experience teaching interdisciplinary engineering or computational physics courses is considered highly beneficial
Demonstrated record of professionalism, reliability, and good standing within previous instructional or academic appointments
Demonstrated ability to maintain consistent instructional standards, prepare course materials in a timely manner, and uphold fairness and academic integrity across all students, tutorials, laboratories, and/or course sections
Strong mathematical and computational background in differential equations, transforms, numerical analysis, and scientific modelling
Proficiency with scientific computing and analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, Mathematica, or equivalent computational platforms
Familiarity with analytical and numerical approaches for solving differential equations and modelling physical systems
Demonstrated ability to communicate advanced mathematical and computational concepts clearly and effectively to undergraduate engineering students
Experience developing instructional materials, computational assignments, tutorials, numerical exercises, or online learning resources aligned with course learning objectives
Demonstrated engagement with evidence-based teaching practices, instructional development, pedagogical training, or university teaching and learning initiatives is considered an asset
Strong commitment to inclusive, supportive, and student-centered teaching practices
Experience mentoring students from diverse academic, cultural, or linguistic backgrounds is considered an asset

Department or School Name: Physics & Astronomy

Department Head Name: David Hawthorn

Campus: Waterloo

Delivery Mode: In-person

Course Credit Weight: 0.5

Audience: Undergraduate

Wage Rate: $9688.93

Anticipated Enrolment #: 120

Enrolment Cap #: 120

TA Support: Yes

Co-Teaching: No

Special Topics Course: No

New Course Development: No

Signficiant Course Development: No

Course-Specific Information:
Previous experience teaching NE 131, or substantial instructional experience with the course and its curriculum, is strongly preferred
Demonstrated familiarity with the NE 131 course content, learning objectives, instructional materials, assessments, and expectations of the Nanotechnology Engineering program is considered a strong asset
Experience teaching across a broad range of undergraduate physics, engineering physics, biophysics, and/or interdisciplinary science and engineering courses is considered highly beneficial
Ability to support or update provided course materials, computational assignments, tutorials, and assessments related to advanced calculus and numerical methods
Familiarity with modern pedagogical approaches for quantitative and computational STEM instruction, including active learning, scaffolded problem solving, formative assessment, and interactive demonstrations, is considered an asset
Experience using visualization tools, computational demonstrations, or interactive problem-solving approaches to support student engagement and conceptual understanding is considered an asset
Ability to support online or technology-enhanced course delivery, including coding platforms, digital assessments, and learning management systems, is considered an asset
Ability to coordinate effectively with instructional teams, tutorial instructors, and teaching assistants in a multi-section course environment
Availability to support student consultation outside lecture hours through office hours and online communication platforms
Equity Statement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at  or View phone number on jobs-ca.com.