+ What kind of timeline should I expect after submitting my application?

Great question! See here for a detailed explanation of the BEAM Discovery hiring process.

+ Can I work at Discovery for only part of the program duration?

No, given the short and hands-on nature of the program we require staff to be available for the entire duration (barring any unexpected circumstances such as illness that may arise during the program itself).

+ What does a part time position at BEAM Discovery entail?

Part time positions are available for BEAM Discovery. Part time Junior Faculty staff teach 1 pre-packaged class (instead of either 1 designed + 1 pre-packaged or 2 pre-packaged), and part time Faculty can teach 1 pre-packaged class or design 1 class (instead of designing 2 classes). Note that in some years we may require part-time Faculty to teach a self-designed course.

+ What can I expect the classroom environment to be like at BEAM Discovery?

BEAM classrooms are generally explorative and collaborative in nature. Students are encouraged to dig into why things are true and focus on the process of understanding mathematics as opposed to only focusing on the answer. Students are curious about mathematics and generally eager to figure things out.

+ What are the BEAM students like?

They are generally mature, polite, and friendly, and all of our host campus staff have often complimented our students on these traits. (Of course, they’re kids, and sometimes they do act out, but this is the exception rather than the rule.) In general, they are high achievers who see themselves as good kids who do well in school, and they want to live up to that.

+ How much flexibility do I have within the curriculum of a pre-packaged course? Do I get to choose any pre-packaged course I want?

The pre-packaged courses include lesson plans, problem sets and worksheets as resources for you to use when teaching the class. However, you are free to adapt those materials and make them your own and to best sever your group of students. If you have any questions about adaptations you are planning to make you are always welcome to reach out to BEAM’s Math and Pedagogy Lead (or your mentor in the case of Junior Faculty) and ask about your plan.

We have a limited number of pre-packaged classes and we assign them to Faculty and Junior Faculty as we fill our positions. We will always ask for your preference but the options might be limited when you apply.

+ Can I choose between LA and NY?

Yes, in the application we ask for your preference between LA or NY. That said, most staff choose the location that is either their home city or most convenient for them to live in for the program duration, as we only provide housing and a travel stipend for our residential summer camp.

+ How do I know whether I’m a good fit for Junior Faculty, Faculty, or Senior Faculty?

In general, we’re interested in understanding the pedagogical backgrounds, mathematical expertise, middle school exposure, and DEI competencies of all of our summer teaching staff. Applicants with an extensive, demonstrated track record in all of these areas are generally considered for Senior Faculty positions. We don’t expect applicants to be perfect in all areas or necessarily have demonstrated experience in all areas. Junior Faculty vs. Faculty distinctions are typically based on the amount of experience in each of our competency areas.

+ What are the opportunities for advancement and professional development support?

The Discovery environment is collaborative amongst staff; staff generally want to help each other and discuss ways to improve teaching amongst each other. Discovery staff have their classes observed at least once during the summer and receive tailored, thoughtful feedback on what they’re doing well and what they might consider changing. We want to see our staff succeed, and staff who return for multiple years and show continued growth are likely to be considered for advancement to a higher level (e.g., Junior Faculty to Faculty).

+ What have been the experiences of other Junior Faculty who have participated in the mentoring program?

In the words of one of a former Junior Faculty, Siddhi Krishna, Ph.D., postdoc at Georgia Tech and Columbia:

“My first two summers at BEAM, I was assigned a designated mentor — an experienced senior faculty member to guide me through the process of designing and teaching my original BEAM courses, both before and during the summer. Though I had prior enrichment and college teaching experience, the guidance of my mentors was indispensable. I learned to develop purposeful mathematical storylines for my courses, and how to design flexible, engaging, yet open-ended exploratory activities for my students. I am grateful for the time, advice and perspective of my experienced BEAM colleagues. Thanks to them, I've learned innovative teaching techniques and pedagogical perspectives for BEAM, college-level teaching, and general mathematics communication.” – Siddhi Krishna

+ How do you select students?

Our goal is to work with students who are both underserved and show considerable mathematical aptitude. To address this, we partner with schools that we generally consider to be more underserved than their affluent, or even average, peers. Those schools then nominate students who show promise in mathematics. BEAM then holds an admissions day at those schools where we do mathematics with students and give them more information about our programs. From there, we evaluate each student’s mathematical skills and enthusiasm for the program. Students can also apply to our programs directly without attending a partner school, and the admissions process is similar once they make contact with us.

+ Is the program free for students?

Yes! BEAM is completely free for students. In the instance that we have to run virtually, students are given all the technology they need to participate in virtual summer programs.

+ Is housing provided in New York or Los Angeles for BEAM Discovery?

While BEAM does not have resources to help find housing, we do connect summer staff members who are looking for housing in either city in case they find something together that works for them. Such arrangements are not guaranteed to happen, but we've had many past summer staff find success with this. We'd have a pulse for people looking for housing in mid-spring. At that point, we'd also be happy to send over some quick recommendations on housing boards, best train lines, and other tips/recommendations.