"I’m Sierra, a scientist with passions for biology, computation, and making science accessible. I have a Bachelors in Neurobiology and a Doctorate in Neuroscience from University of Washington, with 10 years of research experience. Over the last 10 years I've worked in research concerning the neural basis of color vision, as well as hippocampal physiology. I mainly program in Python and MATLAB, and have some experience with Java, C#, C++, and web development. In graduate school I studied the spatial arrangements of retinal cells sensitive to blue-violet light. I became versed in 2D spatial-analyses and simulating data, and developed novel analyses and models to describe previously unseen patterns. My research is niche, but my interests are quite general: I’m fascinated by every aspect of biology, and am constantly tickled by the superpower of coding.

As a graduate student I worked as a Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate neuroscience lab course, where I led weekly lab experiments. I coached them on data analysis, writing, and study skills throughout the course and held weekly office hours. As an undergraduate I was recruited to peer mentor two students on academic probation. I worked with them individually twice a week, helping them navigate their unique situations to succeed in college. Volunteering, I've co-taught a basic neuroscience experiment workshop for high school students and led neuroscience demos at school and museum events for K-12 students. Above all, I’ve had the opportunity to develop teaching skills “in the field,” helping my coworkers with biology concepts and coding struggles, and mentoring undergraduate students in the lab.

When I work with students, I want them to appreciate big, beautiful concepts, feel confident and empowered, and help them identify what they need to achieve their learning goals. If you want to get through the hurdle of the moment, and feel better about yourself and the topic of interest, I’d love to work with you." less...