Are you an Illinois student who loves science, engineering, and mathematics? Are you interested in mentoring the next generation of students, inspiring them to pursue careers in STEM? If so, consider becoming a member of the WYSE staff.
Open applications
STEM Team Leader (graduate or undergraduate hourly)
Throughout the school year, WYSE offers afterschool and Saturday programming in the Champaign-Urbana area and Chicago. STEM Team Leads focus on the coordination of a single project, including volunteer recruitment and support, activity preparation, implementation, and activity follow-up. Experience volunteering with WYSE is preferred but not required. Projects include ChiS&E Saturdays, Family STEM Nights, and IMAGINE STEM Saturdays. This is a part-time position requiring 5-8 hrs/wk during the semester and begins asap.
STEM Team Leader full job description (pdf)
Digital Scholars Course Instructors (undergraduate or graduate student)
In partnership with the Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago, WYSE offers summer courses for STEM-talented high school students in the Chicago area. These courses provide age-appropriate introductions to future courses in tech and engineering fields. The course is 5-weeks long and meets Mon-Thurs 10:00am-1:00pm in Chicago. A great opportunity to practice and strengthen teaching and communication skills in technical courses. Prior teaching assistantship experience preferred. This is a part-time position (40% assistantship or 15-18 hours per week) and begins May 15, 2023.
In summer 2023, Grainger Engineering will offer two courses:
- Introduction to Computer Science for 10th-12th grade students. Guide and support students as they work through the Learn CS Online curriculum, which mirrors the materials used by CS 124 at Illinois. View CS Course Instructor full job description (pdf)
- Discover Electrical and Computer Engineering for 10th – 12th graders. The instructor will teach and/or modify the curriculum that is used in ECE summer camps. View the ECE Course Instructor full job description (pdf)
Lead Counselor/Public Engagement Ambassador (graduate or undergraduate hourly)
Assist with coordination of logistics and activities for summer camps and outreach activities, lead training sessions, and identify/troubleshoot issues that arise. Lead Counselors usually have at least one year of WYSE engineering summer camp experience. Summer Camp preparations begin in the spring semester and continue throughout the summer. Camp activities continue beyond the camp season to include processing feedback and planning for the next summer. Lead Counselors are also considered for year-round employment as a Public Engagement Ambassador. This position helps with the coordination and implementation of public engagement and outreach activities with community groups and schools, as well as recruitment and support for the WYSE LEADer and volunteer network. This is a full-time job in the summer and approximately 10-15 hrs/wk during the school year.
Summer 2023 Lead Counselor / Engagement Ambassador full job description (pdf)
Camp Counselors (undergraduate hourly)
The summer position begins in late April with an initial training prior to the end of the semester. Counselors have the option of spring part-time employment beginning in Mid-March to help with camp application reviews and camp preparations. Counselors are responsible for the enjoyment and safety of the campers while building a community in online or in-person environments for STEM-interested high school students. The primary focus will be on making sure that campers get to their classes on time and on the facilitation of evening social activities and daily reflections. Counselors focus on community building, peer mentoring, and helping campers make new friends and learn new things. Counselors also assist with camp operations as needed. This might include lab kit building, activity planning, or supporting daytime lab activities. Have fun while developing your leadership and collaboration skills! Residential counselors work 30-40 hours a week. Virtual camp counselors work 10-20 hours/week. Counselors are required to attend the orientation and training sessions prior to the camp season. Positions are available for single-week camps, 3-day camps, and six-week camps.
Full or part-time summer employment options are still open, including some virtual-only options.
Summer 2023 Camp Counselor full job description (pdf)
Lab Assistants (graduate or undergraduate hourly)
This summer position begins in March. Work closely with camp track coordinators to develop and run lessons for the camps. This role often includes work in preparation for the camp such as activity development in collaboration with the camp’s coordinator and preparing activity lab kits. Lab assistants will work closely with other counselors to create a positive environment for all campers. This role focuses on the STEM content of the camp and may involve prerequisite requirements as defined by the camp coordinator. The Lab Assistants will be responsible for making sure campers can find their camp resources online and encourage them to document daily activities through photos and social media. Lab Assistants are typically hired for a specific camp that is aligned with their major. Time commitment varies by camp. All Lab Assistants will be required to attend the staff orientation and training sessions that take place prior to the camp season.
If you have a particular passion for gender equity, then consider applying for the EAGER camps. If you have an interest in the issues of access and equity for traditionally underrepresented minorities, then consider applying for the IDEA camps. Visit the Summer Camps page to learn more about all of the different summer camps offered.
Summer 2023 Lab Assistant full job description (pdf)
Closed Applications
CLOSED –TrailBlazer Engagement Ambassador (undergraduate hourly) – CLOSED
Join the WYSE summer camp team with a specialized focus on the experience of our TrailBlazer participants. These are middle and high school students who received a scholarship for showing evidence that they are paving new pathways into STEM. Perhaps they identify with underrepresented groups in STEM, perhaps they are the first in their family with a chance at college, or perhaps they have or are overcoming challenges to be where they are. As an Engagement Ambassador, you will work with a planning team to develop special programming, to facilitate meet-ups and seminars, to be a near-peer mentor, and to assess the impact of this programming and summer camp experiences in general. Through funding from the Institute for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (Grant #GIANT2021-08), this position lasts through the summer and the academic year. You can expect between 10-20 hours per week during the summer and about 5 hours per week in the Fall and Spring semesters.
TrailBlazer Engagement Ambassador job description
CLOSED – WYSE Social Media & Communications Intern (undergraduate hourly) – CLOSED
Assist with the facilitation of internal and external communications about the work of WYSE. This includes promotional and spotlight posts to the WYSE social media channel, responding to WYSE followers about camps and outreach activities, maintaining the WYSE website, and maintaining regular communications with the WYSE LEADers pool of volunteers and RSO partners. This is a part-time position of about 8-10 hrs/wk during the school year and summer.
Social Media & Communications Intern job description (pdf)