"Hello there. Excessive jargon, challenging concepts, and steep learning curves are just a few of the reasons why pursuing a path of science is an arduous journey. However, it's not a journey you need take alone. I did my undergraduate work in psychology and neurobiology, and a masters degree in integrated biology, with an emphasis on neurobiology, all at University of Iowa. I have a research position now at the University but I really miss teaching. I taught both introductory and advanced biology courses in grad school and a biology course for non-science majors while I was an undergrad. Additionally, I tutored many, many biology related courses 3 of my 4 years of undergrad. For me, seeing a student finally understand something with which they have struggled and knowing I can make a difference are what I find most rewarding. Since I did my studies here, I often had the same challenges my students faced which, I think, proved valuable for both my students and myself. For them, I think it put them at ease to know that they are not the only one to struggle in a class or on a particular subject. For me, even though my grades were not always stellar, my self worth and satisfaction was more dependent on how my own students fared than my own.

I should also add that I did tutoring through TRIO and mentored high school students through Upward Bound, so I'm quite comfortable with students from any background imaginable and hope to ensure that students can feel as comfortable with me. Additionally, I want to have fun while I teach and my evaluations suggest many of my students enjoyed my classes as well. I have the most experience with college students, but I do have some high school tutoring experience (including AP biology)

My primary focus is cellular and molecular biology. For me, the beauty of biology is there is, and has been, so much diversity of life at the large scale; at the small molecular scale, there are a great many similarities that connect us to all life that is, has ever been, and will likely" less...