Are you passionate about programming and anything related to digital design & development? Would you like to help teach first-year students various applications of Python? We are looking for new additions to our team of Teaching Assistants and you may just be one of them!

In September 2022, a brand new Bachelor’s programme at the UvA welcomed its first students: Computational Social Science. This interdisciplinary programme is a collaboration between the faculties of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG), Science (FNWI) and Humanities (FGw).

Students learn how to analyse ‘real world’ data on complex societal issues such as climate change, global health and digital surveillance to identify opportunities for (behavioural) change and to design evidence-based intervention strategies. They will programme hands-on tools that support sustainable digital innovation and contribute to making the world a better place!

Computational Social Science is an English-taught programme, located at Roeterseiland Campus, with a unique curriculum that is solely made up of project driven, semester-long courses of 30 EC. More information can be found here.

In the second semester, first-year students will learn how to design and develop a web application. They will conduct one group project (20 weeks) and one individual assignment under the themes of climate change or surveillance. Their websites will be integrated with a database and a simple user-tracking system.

What are you going to do?
Digital Expertise (DE) plays an essential role in all teaching and learning within Computational Social Science. It will provide students with theories and practices to help them improve their digital skills. There will be guest lectures, practical sessions, and components of student group projects devoted to DE content. Topics in the second semester include:

• UX Design & Wireframing;
• HTML & CSS;
• Python Flask;
• SQL;
• Data cleaning (using pandas);
• Data visualization (using seaborn);

As a Teaching Assistant, you will mostly be:

• moderating practical sessions and/or workshops about the topics listed above;
• helping students during their self-study hours;
• providing substantial feedback on students’ progress;
• taking part in final grading of the DE assignment.

Digital Expertise sessions will be irregularly scattered over the whole semester (between February and June). Therefore, the workload of a TA will not be equally divided across the semester. The expected average workload is 8 hours per week, calculated over the whole semester of 20 weeks. However, it is subject to change depending on the number of TAs hired and unpredicted changes in the semester planning.

• Experience with digital design, HTML and CSS;
• Experience with databases and SQL;
• Experience with Python including pandas and seaborn;
• Excellent English skills (verbal & written);
• Excellent communication skills;
• Flexibility in schedule;
• It would be a huge asset if you have (some) experience as a Teaching Assistant or in some other form of individual or group supervision.

You will start in this position on 5 February 2024. Depending on the year of study, the salary range is €2618,- to €2846,- gross per month (Student Assistant salary grade, pursuant to the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities) based on a full-time workweek.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.