Stanford MS + Doctoral Researcher for Chem, Bio, and Writing

Coby D.

I am a Stanford-trained biologist and current doctoral researcher in Health Systems & Policy at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. I earned both my MS and my BS with honors in Biology from Stanford University, along with a certificate in Bioinformatics. My doctoral training includes research design and statistics, and is focused on precision prevention implementation science. I tutor Chemistry, Biology, Essay Writing, and Algebra 1 & 2, with a particular interest in helping students in AP or honors science courses, STEM-focused college application essays, personal statements, and other high-stakes academic writing.

My teaching and tutoring experience includes more than a decade of working with students one-on-one and in academic settings, including as a teaching assistant, mentor, and in research-support roles. I have worked with students from middle school through graduate school, and I am especially effective with students who are bright and capable but feel overwhelmed by complex material, unclear assignments, or too many competing ideas. In chemistry and biology, I focus on helping students understand the underlying logic instead of memorizing disconnected facts. In math and statistics, I help students slow down, identify the type of problem in front of them, and build a repeatable method for solving it.

My tutoring style is structured, direct, and supportive. In a first session, I usually diagnose where the student is getting stuck, clarify the performance goals, and then build a practical plan for the next test, paper, or problem set. For writing, I help students strengthen their argument, organization, clarity, and voice while making sure the final work remains their own. My goal is to help students become clearer, more confident, and more independent.