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10+ Years Teaching Coding || Computational Neuroscience PhD
Graham S.

5.0 (104 ratings)

515 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $185
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About Graham

Bio

I specialize in tutoring students in scientific computing, writing, and general programming. My approach is centered on efficient problem-solving, with a focus on rapid debugging in coding and fine-grained flow analysis in writing. Whether you're tackling a complex scientific computing project, structuring a compelling research statement, or learning the fundamentals of programming, I provide targeted guidance to help you achieve your goals.

My expertise is rooted in an interdisciplinary...

I specialize in tutoring students in scientific computing, writing, and general programming. My approach is centered on efficient problem-solving, with a focus on rapid debugging in coding and fine-grained flow analysis in writing. Whether you're tackling a complex scientific computing project, structuring a compelling research statement, or learning the fundamentals of programming, I provide targeted guidance to help you achieve your goals.

My expertise is rooted in an interdisciplinary background, including a PhD in Computational Neuroscience from the University of Chicago and extensive experience in coding, writing, and teaching. I've been coding for over 16 years, starting in high school, continuing through a math/CS-heavy undergraduate degree and my doctoral research. Simultaneously, I honed my writing skills through rigorous academic training and, more recently, novel-writing. I've taught students from diverse backgrounds, from computationally-minded PhD candidates to theater majors unwillingly fulfilling math requirements. This breadth of experience allows me to tailor my approach to your specific needs and learning style.

My patience, debugging speed, and expertise in logical flow allow me to provide exceptional support to my students. Learning can be challenging, especially learning programming, so I'm committed to providing a supportive and encouraging environment. In coding, I can quickly pinpoint the source of errors, allowing us to focus on learning the underlying concepts. I've found this is especially essential in AI-assisted programming. In writing, I help students develop clear and compelling arguments, ensuring their ideas are presented in a logical and persuasive manner.

If you're seeking personalized guidance, efficient problem-solving, and a supportive learning environment, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm happy to answer your questions and to discuss how my flexible and tailored approach can help you achieve your academic and professional aspirations.

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Education

University of Chicago
Mathematics
University of Chicago
PhD

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $185
  • Rate details: The instructor will wait 15 minutes, after which the lesson is cancelled (full hour charged)
  • Lesson cancellation: 6 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 5/18/2023

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Career Development

Career Development

Over the course of three months I spent 1-2 hours per day working with a friend on problems that can come up in technical interviews, such as for software engineering or quantitative finance. In particular, I've mastered "Cracking the Coding Interview" and "A Practical Guide to Quantitative Finance Interviews."
Computer Programming

Computer Programming

During my PhD in computational neuroscience, I spent my research hours programming. At the same time, I TA'd over a dozen classes, with a particular focus in TAing for students who have no programming experience. This included a class designed for undergraduates dodging the math requirement. Additionally I have taught in five quantitative (programming) bootcamps for incoming biology PhDs, and within my research lab I mentored students with a wide range of levels programming expertise. As an undergraduate, I was a tutor in UChicago's Computer Science Instructional Laboratory.
Computer Science

Computer Science

My PhD was 95% coding, and before that I did 80% of a CS major in undergrad. I cannot help in systems-focused classes (e.g. networks or OS), but I'm happy to help in any coding or theory-focused class (my actual major was mathematics).
Data Science

Data Science

I spent my PhD analysing neural signals (EEG, multi-electrode array LFP). I also taught annual PhD bootcamp courses on reproducible programming. While neuroscience signals are my specialty, I'm happy to work with you on developing and testing hypotheses reproducibly on any datasets.
Data Structures

Data Structures

I've learned data structures in college and used them throughout my PhD, but my specialty is tutoring students in data structures for the purpose of technical interviews. For three months I spent an hour a day working practice problems, which was invaluable in putting the breadth of common data structures at my fingertips.
English

English

In my PhD I published several academic papers followed by a lengthy dissertation. Since then, my full-time job as a novelist has been to critically evaluate books in my genre as well as my own writing. With my students, I use this experience to pull apart essays and ideas into their critical parts, identifying logical flows that bind them together into coherent arguments and stories.
Linux

Linux

I've been using Linux as my primary OS for the past 15 years, both personally and academically (Ubuntu and Arch, mostly). My PhD was entirely coded in Linux environments, both locally on my laptops and on remote Linux clusters. I can't help you with engineering Linux (e.g. no OS classes), but I can help you program on Linux.
Machine Learning/ AI

Machine Learning/ AI

My PhD training involved numerous projects using neural networks for analysis or modeling of neuroscientific data, including deep learning models, convolutional neural networks, and generative adversarial networks. Much of my coursework involved using machine learning techniques for data analysis.
MATLAB

MATLAB

I spent the 7 years of my PhD helping lab coworkers develop MATLAB code. Additionally, I TA'd a MATLAB-centric course (Computational Approaches to Cognitive Neuroscience) and before that developed MATLAB code for several years in my undergraduate research lab.
Neuroscience

Neuroscience

My PhD involved training across a broad neuroscientific foundation, including courses in cellular neurobiology, behavioral neuroscience, systems neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience. My research focus was on theoretical and computational neuroscience, including mathematical and computational modeling of large scale neural populations (e.g. Wilson-Cowan equations).
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

All of my students have been accepted into several of their target programs using tailored personal statements. I specialize in grad program admissions, especially neuroscience, but am happy to work in any area so long as we can identify the target programs' priorities. My writing background includes writing classes in both undergrad and grad school (including the fantastic "Little Red Schoolhouse" at UChicago), and now I spend most of my time focusing on my own writing.
Python

Python

Programmed Python for mathematical modeling in the first three years of my PhD, as well as for both classes and neural data analysis research in undergrad
Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

Having finished my own PhD thesis is perhaps my greatest qualification, but additionally I've taken several classes on writing (including UChicago's fantastic "Little Red Schoolhouse") and have spent the past several years focusing on my own writing. I've tutored students through a range of theses, including mathematical theses and computational theses.
Visual Basic

Visual Basic

I've assisted financial professionals (IB) in implementing business logic in custom VBA functions, mostly concerned with backtesting. More personally, I maintain all my business financials across multiple connected spreadsheets including custom functions for simple on-going statistics and tax estimation in custom VBA functions.
Writing

Writing

UChicago's Little Red Schoolhouse. Plus plenty of papers and grant proposals. During my PhD, I was my lab's go-to for writing revisions.
C
Grammar
Java
Linear Algebra
Prealgebra
Precalculus
Probability
Proofreading
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Ratings and Reviews

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5.0 (104 ratings)
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Reviews

Excellent teacher!

Graham explained everything thoroughly, helped me make sense of my PsyToolkit data files, and taught me how to create a master file in Excel to use for SPSS analysis.

Jessica, 1 lesson with Graham

excellent!

He is great! Very knowledgeable and patient. Learned a great deal from him. Will recommend him to anyone who is interested in computational neuroscience and anything that is related to Python.

Jiangmei, 17 lessons with Graham

Thanks a bunch!

With limited information, Graham was able to provide prompt and proper assistance with my Python code. It helped me meet a deadline within the following 12 hours.

Kate, 1 lesson with Graham
Hourly Rate: $185
Response time: 1 minute
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