ECOLOGers,
I am a graduating Ph.D candidate who had the misfortune of earning my degree
through a research assistantship. I say this because my career goals involve a
teaching appointment. I've been applying for teaching positions and post docs
for several months now, but there's not a single one who will consider someone
without actual college level teaching experience.
Before attending graduate school I taught science in both the Massachusetts
and Minnesota state school systems, I have quite a bit of experience teaching
students from kindergarten - adult/continuing education level, but I have never
taught a college level course as I simply didn't have a teaching assistantship.
If even post doc teaching positions will only consider former TAs, how is
someone supposed to overcome their lack thereof? I hold a master's level
certificate in environmental education and have taught in 2 different states,
yet this means nothing - that was simply wasted, irrelevant time/experience? I
don't think my case is extremely rare, there are many students who earn their
PhDs through RAs. I'm a very good teacher, but my PhD was paid for through
research. I've become quite disheartened in the search for a remedy to this
quandry.
Any help, suggestions, or guidance from the greater ECOLOG community
regarding a way to overcome this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian Bodah, Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Biosystems Engineering
Washington State University
