Many people pursue a Ph.D. degree, which is the highest academic degree one can obtain. The process of obtaining a Ph.D. is often long and arduous, requiring many years of study and research. As such, there are many Ph.D. candidates who are in the process of completing their degree. The term TAS, which is a three letter acronym, is used to refer to Teaching Assistants, who are often Ph.D. candidates who help professors with teaching duties while they work on their own research.