Harvard ALM Candidate in Biology | Genetics, Ecology & Physiology

Jacob D.

I am a Harvard University Master's candidate in Extension Studies in Biology with a 3.75 GPA, conducting my Master's thesis partnered with the Humanature Lab at UC San Diego, starting in June of 2026. My graduate coursework has focused heavily on genetics, molecular biology, technical writing, and science communication. I received a Bachelor of Science in December of 2022 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double-majoring in Zoology and Conservation Biology with a certificate in Environmental Studies.

After graduating from UW-Madison, I conducted field research in Isle Royale National Park and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, working alongside governmental and academic organizations studying animal populations. During my Master's, I have worked professionally in GMP biopharmaceutical research at Thermo Fisher Scientific, in genetics and genomics research through my own biotechnology startup, and in AI biology training for leading technology companies.

My teaching experience includes time as an Undergraduate teaching assistant for the Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates lab sections at UW-Madison, where I led lab instruction, guided students through dissections, and prepared exams. My philosophy is that the goal of tutoring is not to give students answers, but to make the tutor no longer necessary. I use a guided approach that leads students toward their own conclusions rather than lecturing at them. When a student works through a problem and arrives at the answer themselves, it provides them with a level of understanding that passive listening never does. My goal is to teach students how to teach themselves; the best way to do this is to build the skills and confidence to handle unfamiliar problems and complex material. Sessions with me are active, conversational, constructive, low-pressure, and built around real-world examples. If you are ready to stop memorizing and start understanding, let's get to work.