Science And Writing Specialist Services
About
Throughout my years as an AP student in high school, graduating with my BSc in Physiological Sciences from UCLA, and completing my PhD studying Integrative Physiology at the University of Texas at Arlington, I had many teachers, professors, and TA's whom I felt hindered, rather than contributed to, my success in their class.
Whether it was due to a lack of clarity on their part, a misunderstanding of the expectations or rubric on my part, or disharmony between their teaching style and the way that I learn the best, I left many classes feeling frustrated, and that I had been unable to achieve my highest potential simply because I didn't have all the right "tools" and the kind of focused instruction that would elevate my education to its peak.
THIS is precisely why I am passionate about teaching and tutoring, why I loved teaching courses at the collegiate level! It's an opportunity to take the negative experiences I strove through and use them to help others from struggling through and eking by the way I did.
My passion and my goal is to not only help you understand the course material and succeed in your assignments, but to help you -:learn how to learn:-, which should truly be the core goal of any educator. (Once you know how to learn and teach yourself, you can reach your greatest potential in any field of study).
In addition to helping you master the material, my goal is to help you develop self-knowledge and didactic tools that will help you succeed in any class or professional role where learning new information or skills is required. These include:
— Beginning to understand and formalize how you learn best... do you gain the most from verbal instruction (lectures and spoken explanations)? Do you learn best through reading (textbooks and PowerPoint slides)? Are you a visual learner (diagrams, figures, charts etc.)?
— And developing an effective, efficient approach/style of studying... creating outlines of lecture notes and slides? Study groups/partners? Re-writing the notes you've taken and adding further clarity and comprehension as you go? Do you study best in short stints with frequent breaks or long sessions of steady focus?
Although I have limited experience with 1:1 tutoring, I did teach undergraduate laboratory and discussion sections on Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology. Additionally, I have delivered instructive presentations at university seminars and multiple international scientific conferences.
A complete list of my qualifications, publications, and academic experiences— my full curriculum vitae— can be made available upon request.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
During our initial session, my first priority is to understand your goals and needs from me as a tutor. I typically start with the following questions:
What aspect of your coursework are you struggling with that has motivated you to seek out tutoring?
Are you struggling to understand, and need help mastering the concepts, ideas, and principles of the material?
– We would then focus on what aspects of the information are not quite sinking in – broad concepts (e.g. how DNA is transcribed and subsequently translated into proteins) or the nitty gritty details (e.g. which amino acids are encoded by which RNA codons)
Do you feel confident in your understanding, but are not achieving the grades you want from your assignments/tests?
- We would then focus on assessing where you're losing points, (e.g. Are your answers incorrect or incomplete? Did you misunderstand or incompletely address the prompt?) and work on a system of study and developing tools to help you improve in that area.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
– I earned my BSc in Physiological Sciences from UCLA
– I worked for 2+ years as a Clinical Research Associate at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center during which time I trained numerous new hires and technicians in the core competencies (technical and conceptual) of our research
– I earned my PhD studying Integrative Physiology from the University of Texas at Arlington. During this this time I taught undergraduate laboratory and discussion sections in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology, I published numerous manuscripts in reputable peer reviewed journals, and presented my original research at university seminars and international conferences
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I have an adjustable scale for pricing which factors in:
– whether tutoring is conducted in person or remotely
– whether the student requires proofreading and revisions for written assignments outside of defined tutoring sessions
– whether the student/parents of the student may require or merit financial accommodations
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked primarily with college students across virtually every demographic of age, sex, gender, race, religion, and orientation.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
The most critical factor affecting your ability to learn, is the extent to which you are heard and respected as a person and an individual, and the extent to which your chosen tutor seeks to address your needs as a student.
Teachers, TA's, and professors who invalidate or disregard the aspects of your individuality that shape you as a student will invariably fail in helping you, as an individual, to learn and succeed.
One size does not fit all, and although educators are obliged to teach in a utilitarian manner that benefits the most students to the greatest extent, if you are seeking a tutor who will focus only on your educational needs, you will have the greatest success with an expert who tailors their approach to you specifically.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Contemplate and even write down what is currently preventing you from succeeding in your coursework. What are your goals and expectations for yourself and from your tutor that will help you overcome those barriers for success?