Fall 2026 GRA applications are due by August 1, 2026. 
Fall 2026 GTA positions are currently filled. 

The MSU Writing Center hires two types of graduate student assistants, GRAs and GTAs.  

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

Open to graduate students in the College of Letters & Science (CLS)

Our GRA's primary duty is to support MSU peers in communicating their research. (Note: this position is only open to graduate students in the College of Letters and Science.) The GRA works with graduate researchers through multiple models and stages to promote effective communication of graduate research to multiple audiences. As a GRA, this CLS graduate student will develop research, communication, and collaboration skills that complement their own research and writing. Candidates for the job should have a strong background in academic research and writing. 

GRA Duties and Responsibilities

  • Support graduate students throughout their research and writing process through one-on-one and group work;
  • Develop and run workshops on common research genres (e.g. posters, proposals, abstracts, literature reviews, articles, three-minute theses);
  • Serve as a liaison between the Writing Center and other research-focused entities on campus (the Library, ORD, the Graduate School);
  • Support graduate students in preparing texts for publication and promote MSU graduate students’ research on campus;
  • Innovate and collaborate with the Writing Center’s GTAs to support graduate writers; and
  • Participate in ongoing Writing Center staff education. 

GRAs will work 15-19 hours a week and receive tuition costs and a stipend of $17,331 for the fiscal year. 

Required qualifications—experience, education, knowledge and skills 

Successful candidates for this position—  

  • Must be enrolled in a College of Letters & Science graduate program at Montana State University for the Fall 2026 semester (Please note: Writing Center assistantships cannot be split or held concurrently with other assistantship awards);
  • Demonstrate strong graduate-level research and writing skills, as well as familiarity with both professional and academic writing styles;
  • Are personable, intellectually engaged, community-oriented individuals;
  • Demonstrate empathy and understanding for students working towards becoming a scholar in their discipline;
  • Have experience working with research and writing outside the field of their chosen degree, and be willing to continue learning on the job; and
  • Are dependable, punctual, resourceful, and flexible. As graduate research support needs change, GRAs should be willing to take on new duties as needed.  

Preferred qualifications  

  • Research interests in aligned areas of study, including but not limited to science communication, interdisciplinary research, writing, and rhetoric;  
  • Research experience in multiple disciplines, including at least one STEM field;
  • Experience guiding manuscripts towards publication;
  • Experience working collaboratively with peers;
  • Familiarity with multiple languages, dialects; and/or
  • Demonstrated potential for meaningful contributions to the diversity and excellence of the MSU Writing Center.   

MSU is an equal opportunity institution committed to building a broadly diverse educational environment. Applicants may include information about how they will further this objective in their application materials.   

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) 

Open to all MSU graduate students  

Our GTAs work as interdisciplinary peer writing tutors and graduate students from any college or discipline are encouraged to apply. (Past GTAs have come from diverse fields including counseling, nursing, statistics, history, and science & natural history filmmaking.) As GTAs, students develop communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills that complement their discipline-specific work. Candidates for the job should be strong writers; however, the ability to work well with others and to be generous readers of others’ writing are just as important.  

GTA duties and responsibilities

  • Tutor graduate and undergraduate student writers from across the MSU campus, online and in person. 
  • Work with writers from diverse disciplines. GTAs must be able to switch modes and mindsets from one session to the next. 
  • Participate in ongoing tutor education together with the undergraduate tutoring staff. Tutor education includes reading writing center research, participating in discussions and inquiry groups, mentoring and being mentored, attending regular all-staff meetings, and engaging in the intellectual work of the writing center. 
  • Develop and contribute to partnerships with a variety of classes/departments across campus. Partnerships may require facilitating writing groups; delivering presentations; and participating in events, workshops or other forms of writing support as determined by the instructor and the Writing Center staff.   

Required qualifications—experience, education, knowledge and skills 

Successful candidates for this position— 

  • Must be enrolled in a graduate program at Montana State University (Please note: Writing Center assistantships cannot be split or held concurrently with other assistantship awards); 
  • Demonstrate strong reading and writing skills, as well as knowledge of writing conventions;
  • Are personable, intellectually engaged, community-oriented individuals;
  • Demonstrate empathy and understanding for students working towards becoming a professional writer in their discipline;
  • Are comfortable working with writing outside of their disciplines and not always understanding content; and
  • Are dependable, punctual, resourceful, and flexible. As graduate writing support needs change, GTAs should be willing to take on new duties as needed.  

GTAs will work 15-19 hours a week and receive tuition costs and a stipend of $17,331 for the fiscal year. 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Experience writing in multiple disciplines, particularly STEM writing styles and conventions;  
  • Familiarity with both professional and academic writing styles;
  • Experience working collaboratively with peers;
  • Familiarity with multiple languages, dialects; and/or
  • Demonstrated potential for meaningful contributions to the diversity and excellence of the MSU Writing Center.   

MSU is an equal opportunity institution committed to building a broadly diverse educational environment. Applicants may include information about how they will further this objective in their application materials.

How do I apply to be a GTA or GRA? 

1. Find out what we're all about!  All applicants should try out a session as a writer before applying to be a tutor. You can have an in-person or online appointment—even if you are not yet an enrolled student. Simply make an account on WC Online. You can even meet with a tutor to get some feedback on your tutor application (it’s not cheating).    

2. Ask a faculty member or mentor to write a letter of recommendation in support of your application. Direct your recommender to the Faculty Recommendation  link (you may also find the link in the top-right corner of this page). Recommendations are due the same day as the rest of your application. Please make sure your recommender knows the deadline.    

3. Follow the Graduate Assistant application link to submit your materials. You will need the following to apply for an assistantship at the Writing Center:   

  • your resumé or CV; 
  • a cover letter explaining why you want to work as a GTA or GRA at the Writing Center and how your knowledge and experience make you a good fit for the position; and 
  • a 3-5 page writing sample. 
    • If you have recent academic work, please submit a sample that showcases your highest level of academic writing. An excerpt of a longer piece is acceptable as is a submission of multiple shorter pieces (three one-page lab reports, for example).  
    • If you are re-entering academia after a gap of three or more years, a more recent writing sample is preferred, e.g. professional workplace writing or a personal statement. 

4. (Optional) You may also ask a peer to write a brief  Peer Recommendation in support of your application. Peer recommenders should address your ability to engage with peers collaboratively, respectfully, and successfully. Peer recommendations are due the same day as the rest of your application. Please make sure your recommender knows the deadline.  

Questions may be directed to the Writing Center Director, Jess Carroll (jcarroll@montana.edu).