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UC Berkeley ME PhD Tutor | Physics, Calculus, and Engineering
Griffin Z.

5.0 (5 ratings)

12 hours tutoring

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About Griffin

Bio

Hi, I'm Griffin! I'm a PhD student at UC Berkeley researching computational thermomechanics -- simulating heat shields for rockets during atmospheric reentry. I've been tutoring for nearly 10 years now, and I've seen firsthand how my approach transforms struggling students into confident, independent learners and future engineers. Whether you need advanced coursework tutoring, admissions advising (undergrad through PhD), or technical interview coaching, I have the experience to help you...

Hi, I'm Griffin! I'm a PhD student at UC Berkeley researching computational thermomechanics -- simulating heat shields for rockets during atmospheric reentry. I've been tutoring for nearly 10 years now, and I've seen firsthand how my approach transforms struggling students into confident, independent learners and future engineers. Whether you need advanced coursework tutoring, admissions advising (undergrad through PhD), or technical interview coaching, I have the experience to help you succeed.

My background is in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in EECS. I specialize in advanced math, physics, and mechanical engineering for high school and college students. My teaching experience includes 1-on-1 tutoring, serving as a Teaching Assistant for Engineering Dynamics, and guest lecturing graduate-level seminars. I maintain a 4.0 graduate GPA with coursework in Continuum Mechanics, Finite Element Methods, Mechanical Vibrations, Advanced Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Nonlinear Elasticity, Controls, Composites, and Shell Theory.

Before Berkeley, I spent two summers as a crash structures engineer at Tesla (using Ansys LS-DYNA) and two summers at Silicon Valley aerospace startups doing SolidWorks CAD and FEA. In undergrad, I led suspension design for Berkeley's solar vehicle team, and in high school I captained a FIRST Robotics team—mentoring students who are now at Stanford, Berkeley, Cornell, CMU, Purdue, and UIUC.

My tutoring philosophy: Learning happens best through guided practice and active problem-solving. I work side-by-side with you to spot process gaps, coach your method, and build intuition using worked examples, logical derivations, and real-world analogies.

I'm seeking advanced high school or college students in engineering fields who want a long-term tutor to develop subject mastery through mathematical rigor and strong intuition. I'm enthusiastic, high-energy, and passionate about both STEM and teaching.

Let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to working with you!

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Education

University of California, Berkeley
Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
Masters
University of California, Berkeley
PhD

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $65
  • Rate details: Late cancellations or no shows after 15 minutes will be charged in full
  • Lesson cancellation: 6 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 4/28/2026

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

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Approved Subjects

Calculus

Calculus

I have taught or tutored for advanced high school and college calculus-based math courses, have excelled in graduate mechanics courses (involving tensor calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and differential geometry), and earned a perfect 5 on AP Calculus BC. I've been accepted on a fellowship to begin my PhD in Mechanical Engineering starting in Fall 2026 with a minor in applied mathematics.
Differential Equations

Differential Equations

I have taught or tutored for advanced high school and college calculus-based math courses, have excelled in graduate mechanics courses (involving tensor calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and differential geometry), and earned a perfect 5 on AP Calculus BC. I've been accepted on a fellowship to begin my PhD in Mechanical Engineering starting in Fall 2026 with a minor in applied mathematics.
Linear Algebra

Linear Algebra

I have taught or tutored for advanced high school and college calculus-based math courses, have excelled in graduate mechanics courses (involving tensor calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and differential geometry), and earned a perfect 5 on AP Calculus BC. I have practical Linear Algebra experience through programming courses in Finite Element Analysis, Robotics, and more. I've also been accepted on a fellowship to begin my PhD in Mechanical Engineering starting in Fall 2026 with a minor in applied mathematics.
Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

As a UC Berkeley PhD fellow in computational thermodynamics, I have taught or tutored for core mechanical engineering courses including Statics, Engineering Dynamics, and Thermodynamics. My approach is backed by a 4.0 GPA in advanced graduate courses in Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Continuum Mechanics, and Finite Element Methods, plus practical engineering experience spanning nearly a decade: four industry internships (2x Crash Structures Analysis Engineering at Tesla and 2x Mechanical Engineering at Silicon Valley aerospace startups), four years on the UC Berkeley Solar Vehicle team, and four years participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition.
Physics

Physics

I have taught or tutored for advanced high school and college physics courses, earned a perfect 5 on AP Physics C Mechanics and E&M, and have excelled in mechanical engineering courses (Thermodynamics, Solid Mechanics, Engineering Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Continuum Mechanics). I've been accepted on a fellowship to begin my PhD in Mechanical Engineering starting in Fall 2026.
Solidworks

Solidworks

As a UC Berkeley PhD fellow in computational thermodynamics, I have extensive practical experience with SolidWorks CAD and FEA and other engineering design tools. This comes from four industry internships (2x Crash Structures Analysis Engineering at Tesla and 2x Mechanical Engineering at Silicon Valley aerospace startups), four years on the UC Berkeley Solar Vehicle team, and four years participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Through these organizations, I have taught SolidWorks, Onshape, and Ansys to students ranging from high school freshman with zero experience to university students building the skills for industry internships and careers. I have produced teaching content including fundamental navigation of the SolidWorks UI and full workflow tutorials for multi-stage gearboxes, from concept and layout through final assembly.

Examples of Expertise

Griffin has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 5 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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