Astrophysics Instructor Summer 2024

Education Unlimited® provides academic summer camps & pre-college summer programs for students entering grades 4-12. Our summer programs include public speaking camps, college admissions prep programs, science camps, summer acting camp, writing camps, computer camp, leadership camp, video production camp, and college tours.

• Housing, meals, travel and salary will be provided
• Average class size of 12 students
• Applications are currently being accepted for the below positions: Instructors may be hired for one or more than one week. The application will give you the opportunity to indicate for which weeks and locations you are interested and available.

Middle School Course Description: 

In Intro to Astrophysics, students will learn about the origins of the universe and the physics of the cosmos. We will begin with structures like planets, stars and galaxies, and then explore tools that scientists use to understand how the universe works. Once we have grasped the basics, we can begin to consider astrophysical topics like relativity, dark matter and black holes! We will also investigate the wide range of careers in space, from astronauts to on-the-ground technical experts and researchers.

This course will be interactive and often collaborative, as scientists rarely uncover the mysteries of the universe alone! As the physics of light is fundamental to astronomy, we will explore optics and spectroscopy through hands-on explorations and virtual labs. Fundamental rocketry and aerospace concepts will be highlighted as we discuss how humans have ventured beyond Earth. Students will make astronomical observations and learn how they can contribute to real-world research while still in middle school!

The week begins at the very start of our universe as students explore its foundational cosmic beginnings. From the Big Bang to stellar evolution, campers dive deep into brain-bending questions like "How big is space?" As the week continues on, students answer these principal questions through exploration of how we see into space itself, shedding light on the electromagnetic spectrum and learning about tools like Spectroscopy, which is the study of the absorption and emission of light and other radiation by matter. The week builds toward examination of relativity, black holes, and the remaining mysteries of the cosmos that scientists are trying to decode today.

High School Course Description: 

Beginning from the cosmic chaos, astrophysics will delineate the foundation goals of the field by tracing the evolution of the universe from its origins through to modern times and probing into its future fate. 

Students will delve into the depths of the cosmos to push their understanding to the very frontier of the unknown, and perchance beyond that! Students embarking on this adventure will be introduced to the wave-particle duality of light, radiation, and stellar evolution, illuminating their curiosities in the process. They will then explore advanced topics in cosmology such as supermassive black holes, spacetime fabric, and mapping the large-scale structure of the cosmos. Studies will culminate with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. 

The curriculum is supported by computational simulations of dark matter and galactic formation, physical demonstration, student-led discussions, and thought experiments. Observational astronomy will be interlaced into the course using solar and night sky observational telescopes, focusing on techniques for identifying the constellations and naked-eye astronomy. Students will pursue their final research in a self-selected specification of interest. Projects vary but are all relevant to modern professional research and exploration, such as observational astrophysics, astroparticle physics, or physical cosmology. Their final research projects will incorporate real data from working telescopes and research laboratories. 

Responsibilities

Education Unlimited seeks energetic and experienced Astrophysics instructors for our fun, activity-based summer programs.

In-person Camp Responsibilities include teaching the Education Unlimited curriculum, supervising campers both in and out of the classroom, organizing and leading classroom labs, and executing a finale showcasing student work at the end of camp. Instructors will also be responsible for tracking student work and handing in any deliverables to the camp director and EU home office. 

In addition to teaching responsibilities, instructors should be available and willing to assist the camp director with active supervision, recreational activities, and some administrative tasks. Instructors should be mature, reliable, and able to work well with fellow staffers. Instructors are also expected to act as mentors and will be asked to assist with field trips and guide students on excursions. With the support of the entire staff, instructors are responsible for the health and safety of students, in addition to fulfilling instructional objectives.

At all overnight programs, instructors have the option of commuting to camp each day or staying overnight on campus. Overnight staff members will receive full room and board and will be expected to help with evening supervision duties.

Qualifications:

Instructors are usually year-round science teachers, are studying science at the graduate level, or have some other significant teaching/mentoring experience in the area of astrophysics. 

• 2+ years' experience teaching astrophysics or significant subject matter knowledge.
• Experience working with middle or high school-age students in an academic setting preferred
• Bachelor's degree is required; preference is given to those with an advanced degree.
• A passion for science education.
• A calm and professional demeanor.
• Self-motivation and follow-through.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.