What are the responsibilities and job description for the Teacher Assistant position at SEA Education Association?
2027: Coral Reef Conservation in the Caribbean (CRCC)
Teaching Assistant
Sea Education Association (SEA), www.sea.edu, invites applications for a Coral Reef Teaching Fellow.
About SEA: SEA is a non-profit educational institution and an internationally recognized leader in undergraduate ocean education. Since 1971, SEA has educated undergraduates about the world’s oceans through its Boston University accredited study abroad programs. Our programs emphasize experiential learning through field experiences.
SEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race (including natural and protective hairstyles), color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or active military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Sea strongly encourages applications from people of color, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA individuals, veterans, and others from historically underrepresented communities. SEA believes a workplace enriched by diverse cultural, social, and intellectual perspectives promotes innovation, collaboration, and success. SEA will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities throughout the application and interview process. Applicants who require accommodation may contact foley-staff@sea.edu for assistance.
We’re a dynamic organization in search of a multi-faceted person who can provide strategic and day to day leadership in all areas of development including annual fund, comprehensive campaign execution, alumni relations, board relations and stewardship.
Program Overview: Coral Reef Conservation: Caribbean is an undergraduate program. Students will be taking multi-disciplinary courses to study coral reef conservation through a holistic lens. The program begins with 6 weeks in Woods Hole followed by 6 weeks in the Caribbean aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer. The cruise track includes long port stops at three different Caribbean islands (St. Croix, Dominica, Anguilla). At each island, students will conduct chemistry and ecology surveys of shallow-water coral reefs using snorkel-based techniques. Students will use this data for hypothesis-driven research.
Overall Responsibilities: The Coral Reef TA will work closely with the Chief Scientist to accomplish science and learning goals of the program. They are focused on ensuring our scientific equipment is functioning well, assisting with snorkel surveys of coral reefs and student projects, and managing photographic repository and datasets. In addition, they may be asked by faculty to help with other program needs while in the Caribbean (e.g., standing watch while at sea).
Major Tasks
· Maintain scientific instruments which includes programming for deployment, deploying instruments on the reefs, retrieving data, and general maintenance.
· Facilitate student classes for practicing species identifications, analyzing photoquadrat images, entering data, and working on final presentations and papers.
· Assist with snorkel surveys which includes laying down and retrieving transects, helping students prep, assisting with fish and invertebrate identifications in the water, and generally helping monitor student safety and enforcing snorkel policies. Coordinate with marine technicians and deck crew to ensure clean, safe ship pre and post snorkel.
· Manage photograph database and reef datasets. Ensure standard protocols are being followed for uploading, naming, and saving photo-quadrat images; ensure standard protocols are being followed for data entry; double-check data for accuracy; assist students with image processing in CoralNet/CPCe. Coordinate with the marine technicians to ensure data are properly stored and shared on the ship’s network.
· Assist marine technicians with processing water samples collected on reefs.
· Stand a ‘daytime watch’ while underway which includes standing by to assist with the morning science station (deployments, collecting samples, processing samples) and attending afternoon classes.
· Generally, be a good shipmate by helping out with maintaining a clean, safe living and learning environment.
· Advise student research projects.
Qualifications and Experience: Candidates must have an undergraduate degree in relevant fields (e.g., marine biology, oceanography, ecology, etc.), experience conducting snorkel-based field research, and current rescue diver or lifeguard certification (or willingness to obtain certification before program begins). Preference will be given to candidates with coral reef research experience, teaching experience, and advanced degrees. Candidates must be able to identify common Caribbean reef species or be willing to learn before the program begins.
Date(s): The dates of employment are 09 February 2027 – 31 March 2027.
This includes:
· 6 days on shore: meet students, learn about their coral reef research projects, help the Chief Scientist with final science prep, help students learn reef species IDs.
· 2 days of ship turn-around: prep for the sea component, training
· 40 days in program (Feb 17 – Mar 28)
· 2 days of post-program turnaround to participate in debriefs, pack/stow reef survey and snorkel gear, and finalize data QAQC.
Salary: Total pay: $4800-$5400 depending on qualifications and experience for 6 days on shore and 44 days on the SSV Corwith Cramer. Pay Periods include: end of Feb27, 15 March 27, and 31 March 27. Total will be divided by those 3 pay periods.
Applicants should submit a resume or CV, cover letter, and three professional references to foley-staff@sea.edu
A review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Pay: $4,800.00 - $5,400.00 per month
Work Location: In person
Salary : $4,800 - $5,400