RA, TA, & IG Appointments

Research Assistant (RA), Teaching Assistant (TA), and Instructor-G (IG) appointments are often part of a graduate student’s financial support.

Current RA, TA, and IG salary rates are listed in Appendix 1 (page 58) of the collective bargaining agreement between the MIT GSU and MIT.

Research Assistant

research assistant is a member of a research group in a laboratory or on a project, whose principal duty is to contribute, under supervision and direction of a faculty member, principal investigator, or other designated individual, to a program of departmental, interdepartmental, or sponsored research,
including but not limited to the gathering and analysis of data or evidence; the
development of theoretical analyses and models; and the production or publication of
scholarly journals and research reports. The appointment is made with the understanding
that the overall work experience will contribute to the professional training of the
employee, to a program of departmental or interdepartmental research. Contact your graduate administrator to find out about opportunities in your department.

Teaching Assistant

The principal duties of a teaching assistant include, but are not limited to, assisting an instructor in classroom and laboratory teaching, preparing apparatus or material for demonstration, conducting tutorials and discussion sessions, holding office hours, counseling students, proctoring exams, maintaining course websites and monitoring discussion boards, and grading homework, quizzes, and exams. Contact your graduate administrator to find out about opportunities in your department. For resources to support graduate students who teach, see Teaching at MIT.

Instructor-G

The principal duties of an Instructor-G are similar in nature to those of a
TA, with the exception that an Instructor-G is generally assigned more independent and/or
advanced teaching responsibilities. Employees with considerable teaching experience
may receive Instructor-G appointments. These appointments are given only to
sufficiently experienced employees of proven teaching ability who, in the opinion of the
department or program head, are competent to accept teaching responsibilities
warranting the level of Instructor-G.