Hi everyone! My name is Pete and I'm currently a statistical research assistant at the University of Washington. In college I was a volunteer tutor working with a student with a learning disability and later I was a teaching assistant for two college statistics courses. I also do contracted statistical work for several marketing firms in Seattle, and continue to teach in the math and sciences.
Concerning what traits constitute an effective teacher, one could consider attention to detail, ability to work with individuals, or one's demeanor. While all these are necessary, the most puissant teachers of my academic career also carried, most importantly, a contagious passion for what they studied. Similarly, I work to establish not only an understanding but also an appreciation for a particular subject; how it applies to everyday life, and why that application is important and interesting. In biology this can be the difference between seeing negative feedback loops as an arbitrary array of chemical processes or a carbon copy of our evolutionary endowment. In statistics, it is the difference between seeing T tests and Z tests as a banal string of numbers or a numeric hymn to the humanitarian power of applied empiricism. Showing others the beauty in learning has been perhaps the greatest pleasure of my academic career, and it will remain a cardinal component as I continue my education. Not to mention - it's super fun!
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