Teaching Assistant in Physics

Northeastern University London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 42,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private medical insurance

Eye test reimbursement

Cycle scheme

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Northeastern University London invites applications for a Teaching Assistant in Physics to support first‑year undergraduate courses. The appointee will lead laboratory sessions and collaborate with faculty to deliver Newtonian mechanics, electromagnetism and related experiments, while reinforcing safety and good laboratory practice.

The role requires a Master’s degree (or near completion) in a relevant area, AFHEA desirability, and experience in teaching labs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree, or equivalent professional experience, in a relevant area.
• PhD completed, or near completion, or equivalent professional experience, in a relevant area (desirable).
• AFHEA status, or equivalent, achieved or expected (desirable).
• Sound knowledge of first‑year undergraduate physics, including Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, electromagnetism and DC/AC circuits, and the treatment of measurement uncertainty.
• Practical competence with standard teaching laboratory equipment, and the ability to diagnose common faults during a session.
• Experience of demonstrating or supporting students in a teaching laboratory, tutorial or problem class setting.
• Awareness of safe working practice in a physics laboratory, and the confidence to enforce safety rules with students.
• Evidence of supporting students with different levels of prior knowledge and confidence, and of adapting explanations to meet individual needs.
• Ability to mark written work accurately and consistently against a rubric, and to give clear, constructive written feedback within agreed deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain physical concepts and experimental methods to non‑specialists in person and online.
• Good organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to prepare for sessions in advance and work reliably alongside technical staff and module leaders.
• Willingness to work flexibly with module leaders to support the delivery of teaching, including experiential learning activities.
• Experience of using digital tools in teaching, such as a virtual learning environment, data‑analysis software or simulation packages.
• (Desirable) Experience of marking summative assessment in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Lead laboratory sessions, under the guidance and/or supervision of subject expert faculty, in Newtonian Mechanics and Electromagnetism, including: Measurement of density & errors; Motion in 1D and 2D; Work and energy on an air track; Uniform circular motion; Conservation of momentum; Maxwell's Wheel; DC circuits; Simple Harmonic Motion; RC circuits; Oscilloscopes; Magnetic force; Standing waves.
• Demonstrate laboratory techniques and safety procedures to students.
• Lead small-group discussion or recitation sections that reinforce lecture content.
• Session preparation and safety
• Run a pre-session dry‑run of practicals where required, checking that equipment functions correctly, reagents are viable, and results are reproducible before students arrive.
• Confirm, alongside technical staff, that health and safety and COSHH checks have been completed.
• Enforce laboratory safety protocols throughout each session.
• Support technicians with session close‑down, cleaning and resetting workstations, and checking that equipment is switched off and stored correctly.

Skills

Physics teaching

Lab supervision

Safety procedures

Adaptability

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree

PhD near completion

AFHEA status desirable

Tools

Virtual learning environment

Data-analysis software

Simulation packages

Job description

About the Opportunity

Position overview: Department Physics and Engineering.

Faculty: Computing, Mathematics, Engineering & Natural Sciences (CoMENS).

Location: London, Devon House / Portsoken.

Term: Part-time (Up to 0.88 FTE); Fixed Term (7 January 2027 – 31 May 2027).

Salary Range: Teaching Assistant (G6) 1.0 FTE £38,719 to £42,290, progressing to £43,555 once in post. Pro rata for agreed FTE.

Benefits: The university supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, offers flexible working and parental leave opportunities, an Employee Assistance Programme which provides free, confidential advice on both home and work concerns as well as optional private medical insurance, season ticket loans and being part of the cycle to work scheme.

Line Management Responsibility: N/A.

Reports to: Head of Physics and Engineering.

Start date: (dependent on successful completion of relevant checks) 7 January 2027.

The role

Northeastern University London invites applications for a Teaching Assistant in Physics. The appointee will support teaching of first year undergraduate Physics courses. Appointments will be commensurate with experience and qualifications reflecting a record of demonstrated ability to support teaching.

Core duties

• Teaching and demonstration
  • Lead laboratory sessions, under the guidance and/or supervision of subject expert faculty, in Newtonian Mechanics and Electromagnetism, including:
    • Measurement of density & errors
    • Motion in 1D and 2D
    • Work and energy on an air track
    • Uniform circular motion
    • Conservation of momentum
    • Maxwell's Wheel
    • DC circuits
    • Simple Harmonic Motion
    • RC circuits
    • Oscilloscopes
    • Magnetic force
    • Standing waves
  • Demonstrate laboratory techniques and safety procedures to students.
  • Lead small-group discussion or recitation sections that reinforce lecture content.
  • Session preparation and safety
  • Run a pre-session dry‑run of practicals where required, checking that equipment functions correctly, reagents are viable, and results are reproducible before students arrive.
  • Confirm, alongside technical staff, that health and safety and COSHH checks have been completed.
  • Report equipment faults, missing materials, or safety concerns to the technical team promptly, before the session starts.
  • Enforce laboratory safety protocols throughout each session.
  • Support technicians with session close‑down, cleaning and resetting workstations, and checking that equipment is switched off and stored correctly.
• Student support
  • Support students during laboratory and recitation sessions.
  • Hold regular office hours to help students with problem sets, lab reports, and exam preparation.
  • Support students with varying levels of prior science background, flagging any who may need additional academic support.
  • Respond to student queries or forward them to the appropriate person.
• Assessment and feedback
  • Grade lab reports, quizzes, problem sets, and exams according to instructor‑provided rubrics.
  • Provide timely, constructive written feedback.
  • Maintain grading consistency and flag academic integrity concerns to the course instructor.
• Training and coordination
  • Complete all required training.
  • Attend coordination meetings.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Master’s degree, or equivalent professional experience, in a relevant area.
• PhD completed, or near completion, or equivalent professional experience, in a relevant area (desirable).
• AFHEA status, or equivalent, achieved or expected (desirable).

Key Criteria

• Sound knowledge of first‑year undergraduate physics, including Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, electromagnetism and DC/AC circuits, and the treatment of measurement uncertainty.
• Practical competence with standard teaching laboratory equipment, and the ability to diagnose common faults during a session.
• Experience of demonstrating or supporting students in a teaching laboratory, tutorial or problem class setting.
• Awareness of safe working practice in a physics laboratory, and the confidence to enforce safety rules with students.
• Evidence of supporting students with different levels of prior knowledge and confidence, and of adapting explanations to meet individual needs.
• Ability to mark written work accurately and consistently against a rubric, and to give clear, constructive written feedback within agreed deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain physical concepts and experimental methods to non‑specialists in person and online.
• Good organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to prepare for sessions in advance and work reliably alongside technical staff and module leaders.
• Willingness to work flexibly with module leaders to support the delivery of teaching, including experiential learning activities.
• Experience of using digital tools in teaching, such as a virtual learning environment, data‑analysis software or simulation packages.
• (Desirable) Experience of marking summative assessment in higher education.

We particularly encourage applications from those with an interest in innovative teaching, learning and assessment; those with experience of supporting a wide variety of students; and those belonging to groups underrepresented in UK higher education. We are open to appointing on a reduced fraction/job‑share basis subject to our business needs.

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Computing, Mathematics, Engineering, and Natural Sciences (CoMENS) is undergoing significant growth at Northeastern University London. It is home to three interdisciplinary undergraduate dual‑degree (in UK and US) programmes in the areas of Data Science, Computer Science and Business, and Computer Science and Philosophy; two postgraduate programmes in the areas of AI and Innovation; and five degree apprenticeship programmes in the areas of AI, Data Science, Digital and Technology Solutions, and Biosciences.

The faculty plays a major part in Northeastern University’s first‑year student mobility programme, offering undergraduate courses in Computer and Data Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Healthcare, striving to inspire and equip entering students to be outstanding scientists.

Enquiries

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Sophia Economides, Head of Physics and Engineering ([e-mail]). However, all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Additional Information

Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff, and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements.

All applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, including the Global Majority.

Job sponsorship: Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Please note this role may require a basic or enhanced DBS check.

About the University

Northeastern University London (NU London) is a prestigious higher education institution based in the heart of London and is part of Northeastern University’s global campus network. Overlooking the River Thames near Tower Bridge, NU London offers academically challenging educational programmes designed to inspire innovative thinking, encourage interdisciplinary study, and provide global experiences. The bright and modern campus offers award winning, contemporary facilities for students and staff including state of the art audio visual technology in its teaching and meeting spaces.

Inspired by excellence, infused with an energy of ideas and ability in motion, at NU London, being a part of our staff is to be a part of a collective of entrepreneurs and educators, builders and thinkers.

NU London is growing quickly, offering opportunity and growth for our staff. Currently hosting 1,500 students, our aim is to have 4,000 students by 2028/29.

In addition the university supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, your health and wellness are of utmost importance to us, and our offerings encompass:

• 25 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays and winter break holidays (normally 2 days between Christmas and New Year).
• Access to personalised Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plans and opportunities.
• Support with private medical insurance.
• Eye test reimbursement.
• Cycle Scheme vouchers.
• 24/7 employee assistance/ support via our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to deals and discounts for food & shopping in the local area.

Founded in 2012, Northeastern University London (formerly known as New College of the Humanities) has established itself as a prestigious higher education institution based in the heart of London. Northeastern University London is part of Northeastern University’s Global Campus Network.

Positionable as top ranking in the USA, Northeastern has campuses in Arlington, Boston, Charlotte, Miami, Oakland, San Jose, and Seattle in the USA, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. After becoming part of Northeastern University’s global network in early 2019, the University has undergone a period of rapid growth, having been granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers in February 2020 and moved to a new, state‑of‑the‑art campus in 2021.

Northeastern University London offers a vibrant, collegiate community delivering broad and academically rigorous degree programmes, designed to equip graduates with the combination of skills and knowledge that are increasingly desired by organisations, employers, and society.