MIT PhD & Cornell Grad. Expert Science & Math Tutor

Wankyu L.

I earned my undergraduate degree from Cornell University and my PhD in Biochemistry from MIT. My academic and professional training has given me a strong foundation across biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and math, as well as extensive experience applying these subjects to real-world scientific problems. I have teaching and mentoring experience with students at multiple levels. I first gained tutoring experience working with high school students when I was a student myself. During my PhD training at MIT, I served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate students, teaching and mentoring undergraduates in the sciences. I also trained undergraduate and early graduate students in research settings, working with them one-on-one to develop their scientific knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and research skills.

My tutoring approach focuses on understanding rather than memorization. I first try to identify exactly where a student is getting stuck and what foundational concept may be causing difficulty. From there, I break challenging materials into smaller pieces and work through problems step by step. I like to ask questions along the way to make sure the student is actively reasoning through the problem rather than simply following my solution. I want students to feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. My goal is not just to help a student get the correct answer, but to help them understand why the answer makes sense and develop a problem-solving approach they can use independently. I am particularly well suited to tutoring biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and mathematics. I also can help for scientific writing. Having studied science at Cornell and MIT, I can help students connect what they are learning in class with the broader scientific concepts behind it. I am comfortable adapting my approach for high school students, college students, and more advanced learners depending on their goals.