"My name is Nadja, and I graduated from Boston University in 2023 with a B.A. in Biology specializing in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics. While at Boston University, I took many chemistry and biology classes, and, while I was eager to enjoy my biology courses, I was surprised as to how much I loved my chemistry courses. General Chemistry, in particular, let me combine my enjoyment of science and math, and, during my sophomore year at BU, I was selected to be a Learning Assistant for the General Chemistry course (think of it like a peer mentor that helps Teaching Assistants lead recitation sections!). I got to work with groups of students as they powered through their problem sets together, helping them understand chemistry and, most importantly, fall in love with the subject as I did. That summer, I returned to General Chemistry as an undergraduate Teaching Assistant and continued my role as a TA until I graduated.

During my sophomore year at BU, I also started working with the director of General Chemistry, focusing on Chemical Education and pedagogy research. My biggest project has been to develop a full curriculum of pre-lecture videos (over 100 videos total!) for the General Chemistry course at BU, focusing on the content students historically struggle with. Through this work, I have learned about how students learn and the best ways to support struggling students.

Since graduating in 2023, I have continued working as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant, now full-time, which has allowed me to continue learning about education and chemistry, and have worked with new cohorts of students. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching my students succeed, have those "A-ha!" moments, and grow in both the chemistry field and as individuals, and I'm excited to work with you in the same way!" less...