Kartik Sheth

Teaching Highlights

Mentor TA for Jie Zhang, fellow astronomer, Fall semester 1996

Invited by Maryland English Institute for an on-tape interview and discussion section for a
    training video, now in use, for orientation of incoming international students, October 1997

Trainer for new Teaching Assistants, Department of Astronomy, 1996-present: "Preparing for
    your first class", "Gender equity in science" and "Academic Honesty - how to prevent
    cheating  and encourage ethical behaviour"

Syllabus chosen by Office of Judicial Programs, UMD, as an example of how to emphasize
    Academic Honesty in the classroom

Masters Thesis: Viability of the software package LabView in the Introductory Physics
    Classroom, Advisory Committee: Ken Heller, Patricia Heller, Tom Walsh, 1995,
    Department of Physics, UMN.

Head Teaching Assistant, Introductory Physics course, UMN, 1995 - organized and assigned
    TA duties, coordinated review sessions and laboratory setups.

Department Service

Initiated the Career Mentoring Series, 1998-present.  Arranged seminars and discussions
    with faculty, scientific editors, software programmers, and engineers to learn about various
    career options for students with a Ph.D. in astronomy.

Organized bi-weekly Journal Club:1996-present

Organized discussion of the role of the teaching assistant in the department: led to
    improved communication between supervisors and students; led to more balanced
    workload on teaching assistants.

Created the "Welcome to the Department" document which helps new students, postdocs
    and faculty get oriented to the department, the university and the area.  The document helps
    provides information on everything from getting a paycheck to getting a Maryland drivers
    license to finding housing, banks and grocery store.   Document incorporated into the official
    web page for the department.

Recruited students to apply to the program and hosted visiting prospective students (1996-present)

Appointed "Grand Poohbah" of Department - presided over annual State of the Department
    meeting, initiated the "Grand Poohbah awards", 1996, 1997.

Other Volunteer Activities

Sexual Harassment Prevention Trainer, Office of Human Relations, UMD, 1996-present,
    led workshops for students, faculty and staff all over campus to inform and discuss
    University policies, legal ramifications and employee responsibilities and obligations.

Science Fair Mentor, H.D. Cooke Elementary School, Jan-Mar 1999, mentored Yessenia,
    a 6th grade student on her project, "Which flower drinks water the fastest?"  Yessenia
    placed 1st in the biology section of the fair.