Sessional instructional assistant - phl342h1s minds and machines *emergency posting*

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Toronto is seeking a Sessional Instructional Assistant for the PHL342H1S Minds and Machines course. The role includes conducting tutorials, grading assignments, and preparing materials. Candidates should have an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and prior TA experience. This position offers competitive pay at $54.27 per hour plus vacation pay, with a commitment to diversity and accessibility. Interested applicants should submit an application to Eric Correia via email.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree in Philosophy.
• One year prior experience as a TA, preferably in Philosophy or a related field at U of T.
• Good prior knowledge of the subject matter of the course.

Responsibilities

• Holding 3 one-hour tutorials each week.
• Preparation for tutorials and grading.
• Grading.
• Attending training sessions/meetings with the course instructor.
• Organizing and submitting grades.
• Holding office hours.
• Lecture attendance.

Job description

Sessional Instructional Assistant - PHL342H1S Minds and Machines *EMERGENCY POSTING*

Date Posted: 12/11/2025
Req ID: 46373
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Dept of Philosophy
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description

Course Number and Title: PHL342H1S Minds and Machines

Course Description: An investigation of philosophical questions raised by contemporary cognitive science and artificial intelligence (AI). Possible topics to be addressed: whether machines could think and be conscious; the computational theory of mind; embodied cognition and the extended mind hypothesis; the “singularity”; and moral and political implications of machine learning research.

Number of Positions: 1

Estimated Number of Hours: 140 Hours

Schedule: Lectures on Tuesdays from 13:00-15:00; Tutorials on Mondays 12:00, 13:00, 14:00

Sessional Dates of Appointment: January 1st, 2026 - April 30th, 2026

Rate of Pay: $54.27 per hour plus 4% vacation pay

Rate stated shall prevail over the collective agreement.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate Degree in Philosophy. One year prior experience as a TA, preferably in Philosophy or a related field at U of T. Good prior knowledge of the subject matter of the course.

Description of Duties

• Holding 3 one-hour tutorials each week


• Preparation for tutorials and grading


• Grading


• Attending training sessions/meetings with the course instructor


• Organizing and submitting grades


• Holding office hours


• Lecture attendance

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit a cover letter, an updated curriculum vitae, and the CUPE 3902 application form, to Eric Correia by email at [e-mail].

Closing Date

12/19/2025, 11:59PM EDT

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission. As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

Only candidates covered by CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement may apply.