Science, Writing & Executive Function Tutor | NSF-Funded Researcher

Mackenzie H.

Accent Reduction

I help students improve clarity, confidence, and intelligibility in spoken English through targeted practice in vowel/consonant production, stress, intonation, and pacing. I’ve worked with learners from multiple language backgrounds and tailor each lesson to the student’s goals and native-language patterns. My instruction is structured, friendly, and grounded in proven ESL pronunciation strategies.

ADHD

I have extensive experience in executive-function support and have worked with students with ADHD across levels—including K-12 learners supported by parents, teachers, and other learning support staff, as well as college and graduate students with ADHD, autism, and other learning differences enrolled in advanced academic programs. I use evidence-based strategies for organization, time management, task initiation, and long-term project planning. I invest significant personal time into reviewing current research to ensure that my approach remains aligned with best practices and the latest scientific findings. Professional letters of recommendation can be provided upon request.

Anthropology

I have a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and a Masters of Research in Science (biology/psychology) + PhD coursework in anthropology and evolution. In addition to deep subject knowledge in biological, environmental, and behavioral sciences, I have strong writing skills and can tutor science writing at all levels including graduate theses, journal articles, lab reports, presentations, grants, and personal essays and applications. I have published my animal behavior/ethology research in peer-reviewed journals and was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. I have a post-grad teaching certificate and have worked with students of different ages as a university teaching assistant, a tutor for an after-school program, and done STEM outreach with numerous organizations.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

I have extensive experience working with students on the autism spectrum across academic levels as both a tutor, mentor, and research collaborator. Students I have tutored are often achieving at grade level or above in subjects of interest, though "twice-exceptional" students are common. Given my research background, I am exceptionally well-suited to teach foundational skills by guiding students through inquiry and project-based learning in their own niche subject areas. ranging from middle school students to college and post-graduate researchers. I employ evidence-based strategies for effective communication, ensure I adequately understand individual support needs, and strive to ensure students feel comfortable and capable of expressing when I need to adjust my approach so that we can collaboratively maximize their learning experience. I invest significant personal time into reviewing current research to ensure that my toolbox of strategies draws from ongoing research; however, most importantly, I am receptive to ongoing feedback and am passionate about making learning enjoyable for all students.

Biology

I have a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and a Masters of Research in Science (biology/psychology) + PhD coursework in anthropology and evolution. In addition to deep subject knowledge in biological, environmental, and behavioral sciences, I have strong writing skills and can tutor science writing at all levels including graduate theses, journal articles, lab reports, presentations, grants, and personal essays and applications. I have published my animal behavior/ethology research in peer-reviewed journals and was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. I have a post-grad teaching certificate and have worked with students of different ages as a university teaching assistant, a tutor for an after-school program, and done STEM outreach with numerous organizations.

Ecology

I have a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and a Masters of Research in Science (biology/psychology) + PhD coursework in anthropology and evolution. In addition to deep subject knowledge in biological, environmental, and behavioral sciences, I have strong writing skills and can tutor science writing at all levels including graduate theses, journal articles, lab reports, presentations, grants, and personal essays and applications. I have published my animal behavior/ethology research in peer-reviewed journals and was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. I have a post-grad teaching certificate and have worked with students of different ages as a university teaching assistant, a tutor for an after-school program, and done STEM outreach with numerous organizations.

Environmental Science

I have a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and a Master's of Research in Science (school of biological sciences, thesis on Chimpanzee behavior). I have taken zoology coursework including mammalogy, snake physiology, physiological ecology, conservation biology, foundations of evolution graduate seminar, etc. as part of my undergraduate degree and in grad school. I have published research on personality and behavioral plasticity in mice related to habitat disturbance in the Journal of Ethology as well as research suggesting there is a relationship between boldness and size in hermit crabs only on certain beaches correlated with different levels of human disturbance in Ethology. I was also awarded an NSF graduate research fellowship based on a proposal for a project studying physiology and behavior in vervet monkeys.

ESL/ESOL

I’m a native English speaker with strong reading, writing, and spoken English skills. I’m from the United States, completed my Master’s in the UK, and have studied and worked abroad in various countries with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. I have published research articles, completed a post-grad teaching certificate, and have experience with students of different ages as a university teaching assistant and a private tutor for both children and adults. I have experience teaching English to speakers of different languages including Chinese, French, Spanish, Italian, etc. I am comfortable working with students whether they are complete beginners or are looking for help with advanced academic/science writing, English for business, improving pronunciation, conversational skills, etc. I follow evidence-based teaching practices, but customize curriculum to focus on the areas most relevant to how individual students use English in their daily lives. My personal experiences navigating diverse cultural and language barriers and studying French, Spanish, and ASL have given me valuable insight into different language learning strategies. Learning a foreign language should be enjoyable and interactive.

Essay Writing

I specialize in high-stakes essays where clarity, structure, and voice matter — including college applications, graduate school statements, fellowship and funding essays, and academic coursework. My background includes a master’s of research science (MRes),, PhD-level training, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, awarded through a highly competitive personal statement and research proposal process. I’ve also authored peer-reviewed publications and supported students and professionals writing for academic and funding audiences. I help writers at every stage of the essay process: clarifying goals, shaping a compelling narrative or argument, strengthening organization, and revising with purpose. I focus on helping clients say the right things clearly and convincingly, without losing their authentic voice. I’ve worked with high school students, college and graduate applicants, and professionals, including those applying for competitive programs, scholarships, and research funding. My approach emphasizes strategy, clarity, and confidence — not generic templates.

Executive Functioning

I specialize in helping students build the executive-function skills that make complex academic and professional work manageable, including organization, planning, task initiation, time management, and working-memory strategies. I’ve supported learners from middle school through college and adulthood, including neurodivergent students with ADHD and autism in advanced academic and professional programs. My work focuses on identifying the specific cognitive bottlenecks holding a student back and developing practical, individualized systems they can actually sustain. My approach is grounded in current cognitive and educational research, and I invest significant time staying up-to-date on evidence-based practices. Sessions emphasize skill-building, self-awareness, and transferable strategies that support long-term independence—not just short-term fixes. I frequently work with college students, graduate applicants, and adults navigating demanding workloads or transitions.

Fiction Writing

I work with students to build fiction-writing skills through guided brainstorming, plot design, character arcs, dialogue, and scene construction. My interdisciplinary background—including a master’s degree with distinction and PhD-level training—helps me teach both the creative and analytical sides of storytelling. I support writers in developing their unique voice while strengthening clarity, structure, and revision techniques.

Homeschool

I have worked as a graduate teaching assistant and private tutor, creating personalized plans to fit the needs of different students. I can work with existing subject materials and/or design curriculum to target learning goals through incorporating students' individual interests. With older students, I can guide them in exploring specific interests in more depth, offer suggestions for reading material and resources, and teach them how to find + critically evaluate information independently. I have experience as a homeschooler myself. My mom worked in early childhood development, ran a preschool out of our home, and continued to be involved in gifted education. I previously assisted her in running an enrichment group for a small group of elementary-aged children, where we played educational games and provided more engaging/challenging activities that weren't available to them in their public school classes. I also have experience designing and leading interactive STEM activities for a variety of ages and volunteering with elementary outdoor science programs through university-affiliated organizations such as Graduate Women in Science at University of Wisconsin, the University of Florida Wildlife Society, etc.

Interview Prep

I help students and professionals prepare for academic, internship, and job interviews by teaching clear, confident communication and structured response strategies. My background includes a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, PhD-level training in Anthropology & Evolution, and a Master’s of Research in Science (with Distinction)—experience that enables me to coach applicants for highly competitive academic and research positions. I’ve worked with high school, college, and adult learners pursuing selective programs, scholarships, and career pathways.

Personal Statements

I have strong writing skills across disciplines and enjoy helping students of all ages and writing abilities. I was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (based on a personal statement and brief project proposal). The NSF GRFP funds the researcher, rather than the specific research, so I have a demonstrated track record of writing effective, convincing personal statements. I have also been awarded graduate fellowships and continuing education scholarships based on individual statements. In addition to my master's thesis, I have published multiple first author publications in the field of animal behavior/ethology. I was a co-reviewer for an article submitted to the journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, worked as a graduate teaching assistant grading and providing feedback on student writing for a university course, and have successful experience writing personal essays for college, graduate school, science and other funding opportunities and applications. I have helped graduate students obtain funding opportunities where they needed to convince funding bodies why they were the best candidate to allocate funds to. I can tutor writing fundamentals (including ESL), proofreading/editing, writing for science, and general/academic writing for elementary, middle school, high school (including AP), and college courses for subjects ranging from English/language arts, history, social studies and humanities, psychology, anthropology, environmental sciences, and more. I have experience tutoring writing to students K-12 and proof-reading and providing feedback to college/graduate students on personal and professional writing.

Proofreading

I have strong writing skills across disciplines and enjoy helping students of all ages and writing abilities. I wrote my master's thesis in an evolutionary psychology department, was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship based on a personal statement and Anthropology PhD project proposal, and have first author publications in the field of animal behavior/ethology. I was a co-reviewer for an article submitted to the journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, worked as a graduate teaching assistant grading and providing feedback on student writing for a university course, and have successful experience writing personal essays for college, graduate school, science and other funding opportunities and applications. I can tutor writing fundamentals (including ESL), proofreading/editing, writing for science, and general/academic writing for elementary, middle school, high school (including AP), and college courses for subjects ranging from English/language arts, history, social studies and humanities, psychology, anthropology, environmental sciences, and more. I have experience tutoring writing to students K-12 and proof-reading and providing feedback to college/graduate students on personal and professional writing.

Psychology

I have a Master's of Research in Science (school of biological sciences, department of psychology). I worked as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate college psychology research methods and analysis course and have psychology tutoring experience ranging from high school to graduate students.

Public Speaking

With a Master’s degree (with Distinction), PhD-level training, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, I bring extensive experience in academic presentations, conference talks, and professional communication. I help students develop confidence, clarity, structure, and delivery techniques tailored to their goals—whether for class presentations, interviews, speeches, or professional settings. My approach blends evidence-based communication strategies with supportive, individualized coaching. Professional references are available upon request.

Social Studies

I have a Master's of Research in Science (biological psychology, studying group variation in chimpanzee facial expressions) + PhD coursework in anthropology and evolution. In addition to deep subject knowledge in biological, environmental, and human and animal behavioral sciences, I have strong writing skills to tutor social science writing at all levels, including graduate theses, journal articles, reports, presentations, grants, and personal essays and applications. I have published my animal behavior/ethology research in peer-reviewed journals and was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. I have a post-grad teaching certificate and have worked with students of different ages as a university teaching assistant, a tutor for an after-school program, and done STEM outreach with numerous organizations.

Study Skills

I have strong organizational, study, and writing skills across disciplines and enjoy helping students of all ages and abilities. I wrote my master's thesis in an evolutionary psychology department, was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship based on a personal statement and Anthropology PhD project proposal, and have first author publications in the field of animal behavior/ethology. I was a co-reviewer for an article submitted to the journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, worked as a graduate teaching assistant grading and providing feedback on student writing for a university course, and have successful experience writing personal essays for college, graduate school, science and other funding opportunities and applications. I can tutor writing fundamentals (including ESL), proofreading/editing, writing for science, and general/academic writing for elementary, middle school, high school (including AP), and college courses for subjects ranging from English/language arts, history, social studies and humanities, psychology, anthropology, environmental sciences, and more. I have experience tutoring writing to students K-12 and proof-reading and providing feedback to college/graduate students on personal and professional writing.

Thesis Writing

I specialize in long-form academic writing, including undergraduate honors theses, master’s theses, and capstone projects across the sciences and social sciences. I completed and defended a master’s thesis in an evolutionary psychology department, and my research background includes NSF Graduate Research Fellowship funding, first-author peer-reviewed publications, and experience as both an academic author and journal co-reviewer. I’ve also worked as a graduate teaching assistant, grading and providing detailed feedback on advanced student writing. My support goes beyond sentence-level editing. I help students with research question development, argument structure, literature synthesis, methodology framing, revisions, and advisor feedback integration. Students often work with me over multiple sessions to maintain momentum, clarity, and confidence throughout the thesis process. I work best with college seniors, graduate students, and adult learners who want structured, high-level guidance on complex writing projects and clear, actionable feedback aligned with academic expectations. I also support students transitioning from coursework or applications into their first major independent research project.

Writing

I specialize in academic, professional, and application-based writing, helping students and adult learners develop clear arguments, strong structure, and confident voice. My background includes a Master’s of Research in Science, Ph.D.-level coursework, and recognition as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, awarded on the strength of my personal statement and research proposal. I have first-author peer-reviewed publications, experience as a journal co-reviewer, and have worked as a graduate teaching assistant providing detailed written feedback at the university level. This allows me to support writing across disciplines, including science, psychology, anthropology, environmental studies, social sciences, and the humanities. I work with students from high school through graduate school, as well as professionals seeking help with personal statements, research papers, grant applications, academic essays, and polished professional writing. My sessions focus on both improving the current piece and teaching transferable skills—organization, argument development, revision strategies, and clarity. I offer editing, proofreading, tracked revisions, and structured coaching, and I tailor feedback to each writer’s goals, experience level, and learning style. My approach is supportive, precise, and results-focused.

Zoology

I have a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and a Master's of Research in Science (school of biological sciences, thesis on Chimpanzee behavior). I have taken zoology coursework including mammalogy, snake physiology, physiological ecology, conservation biology, foundations of evolution graduate seminar, etc. as part of my undergraduate degree and in grad school. I have published research on personality and behavioral plasticity in mice related to habitat disturbance in the Journal of Ethology as well as research suggesting there is a relationship between boldness and size in hermit crabs only on certain beaches correlated with different levels of human disturbance in Ethology. I was also awarded an NSF graduate research fellowship based on a proposal for a project studying physiology and behavior in vervet monkeys.