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Ph.D. teacher-entrepreneur excited about coaching in computer science
Paul P.

5.0 (68 ratings)

183 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $80
Contact Paul
Response time: 13 hours

About Paul

Bio

I am a former college professor who left academia to work on open source privacy software and a sustainable tiny home project in Detroit. I've been a software engineer at Etsy in NYC, Amazon and Microsoft Research in Seattle, and have worked on electronics for quantum computing experiments around the world. I am motivated to help students, programmers at any level, and anyone curious and determined to learn about computer science, technology, and entrepreneurship to improve their lives.

My...

I am a former college professor who left academia to work on open source privacy software and a sustainable tiny home project in Detroit. I've been a software engineer at Etsy in NYC, Amazon and Microsoft Research in Seattle, and have worked on electronics for quantum computing experiments around the world. I am motivated to help students, programmers at any level, and anyone curious and determined to learn about computer science, technology, and entrepreneurship to improve their lives.

My teaching approach is one of encouraging students to ask questions, having them work in groups of pair programming and mob programming. I will only lecture briefly, to present new ideas and to spark curiosity. I often present a task to be done and create an environment where students feel empowered to explore on their own.

My mission is life is to understand and model what makes the greatest coders tick and what makes coding fun. I've learned a lot in my life, from my own experiences and those of others I've talked to, and I can distill these teachings and pass them onto you. I believe the greatest challenges in technology are actually psychological and social: how can we overcome our limiting beliefs, constantly improve every day, and build a great community that will motivate and sustain us.

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Education

MIT
EECS
University of Washington
PhD

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $80
  • Rate details: Most people learn better with a partner. You can bring a friend to your tutoring session for $110 / hr ($55 each / hr).
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 12/5/2015

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

C

C

I have been programming in C since I was 16 years old. I have worked on two embedded operating system kernels on embedded electronics platforms in C, including internships at the MIT Media Lab and Microsoft Research.
Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering

I designed a high speed electronic pulse programmer to control quantum computing experiments, using evaluation boards from Analog Devices. I've built over five different desktop computers from scratch in my life. I've also installed rooftop mesh antenna for the NYC Mesh Project.
Computer Programming

Computer Programming

I have a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Washington.
Computer Science

Computer Science

I have a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Washington, a M.Eng in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT, and an SB in the same, also from MIT.
Data Structures

Data Structures

I have taken and excelled at four data structures, algorithms, and advanced algorithms course from high school through to college and graduate school. I've passed technical interviews covering this material and received offers from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Etsy. I now design and teach a data structures & algorithms course at the undergraduate college level.
Java

Java

I've taught Java and computer programming at the college level at The Evergreen State College in Olympia.
JavaScript

JavaScript

I was a software engineer for Amazon and wrote front-end website code in Javascript. I taught a class in web dev fundamentals, including HTML/CSS/Javascript at CodeFellows, a Seattle codeschool. I've written websites that use javascript, and Javascript frameworks.
Linux

Linux

I've used Linux ever since kernel 2.2 when I was a college student in 2001. I've installed and run my own physical Linux servers numerous times between 2001 and 2013, including dual booting Linux alongside Windows on various laptops that I owned. I worked with Linux web servers at Amazon from 2007-2008, and I had a Linux developers desktop and I frequently use Linux on Amazon Web Services, boot2docker, and in a VirtualBox instance on my laptop to help develop web applications.
Networking (Computer)

Networking (Computer)

As part of my master's thesis project, I implemented a TCP/IP network stack entirely in VHDL, a hardware description language for FPGA firmware (the Altera cyclone) as well as a rudimentary web server. In firmware I also wrote a DHCP client to dynamically retrieve an IP address from any consumer internet service provider, in most homes and lab environments. I also helped install rooftop antennas as part of NYC Mesh, a decentralized and neutral community internet in New York City.
Python

Python

I wrote a Python control interface for an open source electronics hardware platform for quantum physics experiments. I also wrote a compiler in Python for a quantum computer compiler.
UNIX

UNIX

I've used FreeBSD, Linux, and other Unix-like kernels ever since I was a college student in 2001. I've installed and run my own physical Linux/FreeBSD servers numerous times between 2001 and 2013. I've used BSD-style socket programming for network communication in a Java game engine I wrote for the MIT programming competition 6.370. I TA'd a class on Unix-based software development (CSE 303 at the University of Washington) and I've taught a Unix & Git workshop at CodeFellows, a Seattle codeschool, five times. I've worked with Linux web servers at Amazon from 2007-2008, and I had a Linux developers desktop and I frequently use Linux on Amazon Web Services, boot2docker, and in a VirtualBox instance on my laptop to help develop web applications.
Web Design

Web Design

I was a software engineer for Amazon and wrote front-end website code in Javascript.
General Computer
HTML
SQL
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Response time: 13 hours

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (68 ratings)
5 star
(67)
4 star
(1)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Paul is a fantastic tutor and guide in computer science!

Paul definitely has the chops and he helped me understand a problem I was having from a much higher level. With his guidance, I changed my approach to my Python sockets coding problem (need to wrap insecure sockets with SSL/TLS) to a more fundamental one - (starting from basic principles). This helped because now I know much better what I'm doing versus flailing away I made serious progress after our first session! LOL

David, 2 lessons with Paul

Amazing tutor

He is definitely the most knowledgeable tutor I have ever used. I have a project no one else was able to figure out, even my professor, ans he was not only able to help he was also amazing at explaining it. He went beyond this and also sent me helpful material after the session to further help. I highly recommend him.

Tracy, 2 lessons with Paul

Knowledgeable tutor

Computational models, DFA and NFA, minimization etc. Paul is a great tutor, he takes his time to explain the concepts and makes sure student understands the basics. He is a great help

Areeb, 13 lessons with Paul

Very Knowledgeable and very helpful

The goal was to learn about Docker and run it in a linux vm. He was very knowledgeable about how to make it work in a linux vm environment. He is also aware how to modify the settings in the virtual box to make it work with the Windows environment.

Wai, 1 lesson with Paul

Excellent tutor for Computer Science (C++)

Paul is an excellent tutor and has the ability to convert difficult concepts in C++ into understandable terms by using concrete examples that flushes out the concepts. Very patient and professional tutor. Highly recommended.

Malva, 1 lesson with Paul

Knowledgable and good tutor.

I am studying computer science and started raking higher level programming classes. Paul was able to help me in a very specific programming problem in Linux. I would definitely recommend him.

Ildiko, 1 lesson with Paul

Great Teacher

Paul is a great tutor, with a good personality, I like the way how he is more into helping students, not greedy unlike ... some-folks out there. I’m glad I find him, I definitely recommend him to anyone.

Dan, 1 lesson with Paul

Helpful and Thorough

Excellent lesson with Paul. Very good at explaining the concepts. We did a review session that helped fill in blanks. I plan to ask for another session. Thanks so much as happy holidays!

James, 1 lesson with Paul

Really good experience

Paul clearly knew what he was doing and was patient in explaining me material that I wasn't comfortable with. I would for sure hire Paul again and recommend other do the same

Zach, 1 lesson with Paul

Data Structures with Java

Paul is an awesome teacher for data structures in Java! He's patient and helps you walk through the steps of how to solve each problem! He also diagrams out the data structure so you have a visual of how things work too! He's very knowledgeable!

M, 3 lessons with Paul
Hourly Rate: $80
Response time: 13 hours
Contact Paul