Experience Summary
As an undergraduate I formally tutored fellow students in several subjects, including biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics (from basic algebra to calculus). As a graduate student, I mentored several undergraduate students in the laboratory. Some of these experiences culminated in presentations of data at national and international scientific conferences. This trend continued when I became a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, where undergraduates spent a summer in the laboratory learning about scientific exploration. During the past year I taught an undergraduate course (Brain and Behavior) at the University of Pittsburgh, which was a very rewarding experience. I look forward to the opportunity to help others achieve what they may have thought impossible, and providing them with the sense of confidence that comes from mastering material.
Teaching Style
The most challenging aspect of teaching comes from the many different styles in which students acquire information. While some students benefit more from a hands-on approach, others are better served by visualizations/illustrations, while still others learn best by repetition of material. I have always approached students with an open mind, allowing them to help me understand what it is they need to learn materials in an efficient manner. As such, as an instructor, I try to incorporate many different approaches to the materials, in the hope that I will reach as many students as possible. While my teaching experience in the classroom has been limited, I look forward to continuing to teach/tutor to increase my understanding of the many ways that people learn, which provides me with new challenges to overcome.