Teaching Associate: Instructor for Introduction to R Course
Position Overview
Organization: Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
Title: Teaching Associate: Instructor for Introduction to R Course
Position Details
Position Description
The Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington invites applications for a Teaching Associate position to teach a one-quarter course in the 2026-2027 academic year. Teaching Associates are quarterly faculty who may be rehired based on programmatic need. We anticipate instructional need for Winter Quarter (December 16 – March 15) and Spring Quarter (March 16-June 15). Applicants may be considered for one or both of these quarterly appointments. We seek applicants who will demonstrate commitment to excellence in teaching in a diverse and inclusive academic community. The successful candidate will join our faculty on a quarterly basis at 20.83% - 24.39% FTE commensurate with instructional assignment.
The per-course compensation for this one-quarter, 2-credit course will be $5,000. The full-time monthly base salary range for this position will be $ 6,833 – 8,000 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. Please note: this is a less than full-time appointment so the salary range will be prorated commensurate with assigned FTE.
For this initial appointment we seek a candidate to teach a 2-credit course, PUBPOL 598: Introduction to R, , intended for Master of Public Administration (MPA) students and other UW graduate students. The course is designed to familiarize students with the R environment for statistical computing. Students in the course will gain experience organizing, managing, cleaning, and merging complex social science data; writing basic R functions; and producing clear, replicable analyses and visualizations. The course will emphasize workflows that support transparency and efficiency in empirical research and prepare students to integrate R within other Evans School courses.
A Teaching Associate instructing PUBPOL 598 is expected to:
- Develop a syllabus and Canvas page for the course.
- Teach a 50-minute course twice weekly on the UW Seattle campus.
- Develop in-class learning activities and modest homework assignments to facilitate learning.
- Bring real-world, applied examples into the classroom from a range of social science and public policy contexts.
- Review, assess, and provide feedback on student work in a timely manner.
- Be available, through office hours and one-on-one appointments, to meet with students to answer questions and support their learning.
- Collaborate with Evans School faculty and staff as needed in the development of course learning outcomes and content; meet with the Associate Dean as needed to review instructional performance.
Qualifications
Applicants for this position must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, statistics, economics, data science, public policy, political science, sociology, quantitative methods, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience using R for statistical analysis, programming, etc.
Instructions
To ensure full consideration, please submit all materials no later than October 23. Thereafter, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the 2026-27 academic year as curricular needs arise. Applications will only be accepted via Interfolio. The position will remain open until filled.
Applications should include the following materials:
- Cover letter of no more than two pages detailing your interest in the position, relevant qualifications, and experiences.
- A brief, one-page statement describing your approach to teaching a statistical programming language like R.
- CV or resume. Applicants are encouraged to highlight if they have prior teaching experience and/or an advanced degree.
- Contact information for at least two referees who are prepared to provide a letter of recommendation upon request.
Applicants should articulate how their past experiences and/or future plans in research, teaching, mentoring, and/or service promote a sense of belonging and foster a welcoming and inclusive environment.
About the Evans School
The Evans School of Public Policy & Governance is internationally recognized in public policy and administration. The School has strong connections with local, state, and federal public agencies and non-profit organizations, as well as a large alumni network. Our faculty are motivated by the School’s purpose to inspire public service and democratize public policy. Our mission is to educate leaders, generate knowledge, and host communities to co-create solutions to pressing societal problems. We educate diverse students in undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and professional certificate programs and we value diversity, rigor, and innovative approaches to public policy and administration, including work that addresses issues of marginalization and discrimination.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Equal Opportunity
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.
Benefits Information
The University is committed to providing excellent benefits to our faculty. For a summary of available benefits, please see UWHR benefits information.
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Disability Services
The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.