Hi, I’m Thomas! I earned a B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design from UC Davis. After earning an A in the upper-division organic synthesis course students take after the introductory organic sequence, I was hired by the chemistry department as a Reader to grade its exams. I also held office hours to help students learn the material better. Through working with students, I learned that students often get stuck because they memorized a reaction but they don't understand it.
As an...
Hi, I’m Thomas! I earned a B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design from UC Davis. After earning an A in the upper-division organic synthesis course students take after the introductory organic sequence, I was hired by the chemistry department as a Reader to grade its exams. I also held office hours to help students learn the material better. Through working with students, I learned that students often get stuck because they memorized a reaction but they don't understand it.
As an undergraduate I also completed graduate coursework in Advanced Organic Synthesis and Physical Organic Chemistry. I learned how to compare 3D conformers, stereochemical models like Felkin-Anh, retrosynthetic strategy, single electron chemistry, fluorination reactions, electrochemistry, graduate level kinetics and thermo etc. I also did research on rhodium-catalyzed carbene chemistry.
I truly believe in the importance of using models to visualize molecules. These models are the “why” behind organic chemistry. Once you see why a nucleophile approaches from one face of a carbonyl, compare a 5 or 6 membered transition structure, or see why a cyclohexane substituent prefers the equatorial position, outcomes become predictable instead of memorized and exceptions become more manageable.
I have tutored high school chemistry through the nonprofit Breakthrough Silicon Valley, helping students who were often first-generation college-bound build confidence with stoichiometry, bonding, and equilibrium. I also create educational chemistry videos on YouTube, which has taught me to explain hard ideas visually and step by step.
I know organic chemistry feels overwhelming to most students, and I’m happy to explain a concept several different ways until one clicks. We’ll draw mechanisms, build forward syntheses, and work through retrosynthesis together, and I’ll ask you to explain your reasoning back so we know it has stuck. I tutor high school, AP, and college general and organic chemistry. Looking forward to hearing from you!
