Passionate Physics Educator and Research Mentor | Helping Student

Iris P.

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Physics at Yale University, where I also earned both a Master of Science (M.S.) and a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in 2023. Before Yale, I completed the Bridge to the Ph.D. Program in Physics at Columbia University (2018–2020), a post-baccalaureate program designed to prepare underrepresented students for graduate study in the sciences. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Physics, magna cum laude, from Oglethorpe University, where I also completed the selective Honors Program.
I have over five years of teaching and mentoring experience as a Teaching Fellow and Head TA in Yale’s Department of Physics. I have taught calculus-based introductory physics courses for science and engineering majors, as well as introductory laboratory courses for life science and pre-med students. As Head TA, I coordinated exams and grading for around 200 students per semester, supervised 18 Teaching Fellows, and led weekly recitations, study halls, and problem-solving sessions. My teaching approach emphasizes conceptual understanding and confidence-building through clear reasoning and real-world applications. I encourage students to develop independent problem-solving skills and, when relevant, use coding and visualization tools to connect theory with data analysis.
I have worked with students ranging from high school juniors to early graduate students in both classroom and one-on-one settings. Beyond teaching, I have mentored younger graduate students in research methods, analysis pipelines, and presentation skills within the STAR Collaboration. My experience across teaching, tutoring, and mentoring has strengthened my belief that students learn best when supported with patience, curiosity, and structure—values I strive to bring to every learning environment.