Search
Marianna N.'s Photo

PhD Microbiologist & University Faculty | AP Biology Expert
Marianna N.

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $150
Contact Marianna

About Marianna

Bio

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology and have 18 years of scientific and public health experience with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where I began as a research microbiologist and later served in senior leadership roles. My professional expertise includes microbiology, genetics, food safety, nutrition, environmental science, scientific communication, and the interpretation of scientific evidence. This combination allows me to help students understand both foundational biological...

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology and have 18 years of scientific and public health experience with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where I began as a research microbiologist and later served in senior leadership roles. My professional expertise includes microbiology, genetics, food safety, nutrition, environmental science, scientific communication, and the interpretation of scientific evidence. This combination allows me to help students understand both foundational biological concepts and how those concepts are applied in real-world scientific and public health settings.

I have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience and currently teach at two academic institutions. I have taught microbiology, introductory biology, nutrition, and environmental science to undergraduate students and adult learners in classroom and online settings. My students have represented a wide range of ages, academic backgrounds, and levels of preparation, including students pursuing degrees in nursing, allied health, and other science-related fields.

My teaching approach emphasizes understanding rather than memorization. I break complex material into manageable concepts, use practical examples to make abstract processes easier to visualize, and ask targeted questions to identify where a student’s understanding begins to break down. I can support students in AP Biology, general biology, microbiology, nutrition, environmental science, scientific writing, and presentation preparation. I tailor each session to the student’s course requirements, learning style, and immediate goals, whether that means strengthening foundational knowledge, preparing for an exam, interpreting scientific data, or improving a written assignment.

Read more

Education

Loyola University Chicago
Biology, Classics
Loyola University Chicago
Masters
University of Illinois Chicago
PhD

Policies

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Marianna hasn’t set a schedule.

We’re having trouble loading this schedule right now. Please try again later.

Approved Subjects

Biology

Biology

I hold a PhD in microbiology and have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience, including introductory biology, microbiology with laboratory coursework, nutrition, and environmental science. I currently teach at two academic institutions and have worked with students across a wide range of backgrounds and levels of preparation. I also spent nearly 18 years at the FDA, beginning as a research microbiologist and later serving in senior leadership roles. I help AP and college biology students master complex concepts, interpret scientific data, prepare for exams, and develop a deeper understanding of how biology applies in the real world.
Ecology

Ecology

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology and have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience, including environmental science, biology, and microbiology. I help students understand core ecology topics such as ecosystems, energy flow, population dynamics, biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles, human population growth, pollution, climate change, and conservation. My approach connects ecological principles to practical examples, helping students understand relationships within environmental systems rather than simply memorize terminology.
Environmental Science

Environmental Science

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology and have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience, including environmental science, biology, and microbiology. I help students understand how biological organisms interact with their environments through topics such as ecosystems, biodiversity, population dynamics, natural resources, pollution, climate change, and human impacts on ecological systems. I use practical examples to connect biological principles with real environmental challenges and help students prepare for exams, strengthen foundational knowledge, and interpret scientific information.
Genetics

Genetics

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology and have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience in biology and microbiology, including substantial instruction in genetics. I help students understand Mendelian inheritance, DNA structure and replication, gene expression, mutations, genetic variation, bacterial genetics, and the relationship between genotype and phenotype. I currently teach at two academic institutions and have worked with students across a wide range ofof academic backgrounds and levels of of preparation preparation. My approach emphasizes understanding how genetic processes work rather than relying solely on memorization. I break complex topics into manageable manageable steps, use diagrams and practice problems to reinforce key principles, and connect genetics to microbiology, health, evolution, and other real-world applications. I can support high school, AP Biology, and introductory college students with course concepts, Punnett squares and inheritance problems, exam preparation, scientific interpretation, and written assignments.
Microbiology

Microbiology

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology and have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience. I currently teach microbiology and laboratory coursework and have worked extensively with undergraduate students, including those pursuing nursing, allied health, and other science-related degrees. My instruction covers microbial structure and growth, metabolism, genetics, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, immunology, antimicrobial drugs, laboratory methods, and the prevention and control of infectious disease. I also spent nearly 18 years at the FDA, where I began my federal career as a research microbiologist before moving into scientific communications and senior leadership roles. I help students move beyond memorization by breaking complex processes into manageable concepts and connecting microbiology to clinical, public health, food safety, and real-world applications. Sessions can focus on course comprehension, laboratory concepts, exam preparation, scientific data interpretation, or strengthening foundational knowledge.
Nutrition

Nutrition

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology and have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience, including teaching nutrition to undergraduate and adult learners. My nutrition instruction covers macronutrients and micronutrients, digestion and metabolism, energy balance, dietary guidelines, nutrition across the lifespan, chronic disease risk, food labels, dietary supplements, and the evaluation of nutrition information. I have taught students with varied academic backgrounds, including those pursuing nursing, allied health, and other science-related degrees. I also spent nearly 18 years at the FDA, where my work included nutrition, food labeling, dietary supplements, consumer education, and the communication of scientific evidence. I help students understand the biological principles underlying nutrition while connecting course material to food choices, public health, and real-world applications. Sessions can focus on difficult course concepts, exam preparation, dietary calculations, interpreting nutrition labels and scientific studies, or strengthening written assignments.
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

I hold a PhD in evolutionary microbiology, have more than 20 years of college-level teaching experience, and spent nearly 18 years at the FDA developing and evaluating high-stakes scientific and public-facing communications. I have extensive experience helping writers organize complex information, identify the central idea they want readers to remember, and communicate their experiences with clarity, purpose, and an authentic voice. I provide personal statement coaching for college, graduate school, scholarship, internship, and professional applications, with particular strength in science, public health, regulatory, and communications-related fields. I can help students interpret a prompt, select meaningful experiences, develop a cohesive narrative, strengthen structure and transitions, and edit for clarity and impact. My role is to help each student tell their own story effectively, not to replace their voice or write the statement for them.
Marianna N.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Marianna before you book.

Still have questions?

Contact Marianna
Hourly Rate: $150
Contact Marianna