People

As far as my own learning goes, after a strong academic grounding in mathematics and physics, I focused on foundational subjects for data science and analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, then pivoted to practical and applied topics beginning in 2019. After accumulating technical skills and some projects, I began actively seeking industry roles in 2023.

I started tutoring at university, and never stopped. I have been helping people learn professionally since 2008, and completely online since 2016. I’ve worked with learners of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, from university students to career professionals to startup founders.

In 2017 I focused my support services on theoretical and practical aspects of data science and analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and since 2020, most of my clients are in graduate programs or bootcamps in these areas. I also support self-directed independent learners and industry professionals looking to gain or sharpen skills.

I've had the privilege to work with learners and researchers all over the world, from such diverse industries as tech, finance, crypto, healthcare, ed tech, and in well-known and challenging programs from reputable universities, such as Princeton, Yale, Oxford, University of California Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of Washington, Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Purdue, U Penn, Cardiff University, University of Surrey, and Technical University of Munich.

• Bachelor’s — Mathematics - University of California at Berkeley (2010)

• Master’s — Mathematics — Cambridge University (2012)

• PhD coursework — Mathematics — University of Texas at Austin (2014)

My style is very patient, flexible, collaborative and communicative. I try to create a safe space of not knowing — to me the awareness and openness about what we don’t know it absolutely necessary for learning. I try to involve the other person I’m working with as much as possible and as much as they feel comfortable — ideally, we’re both sketching, brainstorming, problem-solving or coding together.

I draw from metaphor, symbols, analogies, visuals and drawing as much as verbal and symbolic ways of representing and communicating knowledge, according to the situation at hand and to the other’s learning style and preferences.

I believe that no one really teaches us, they just help us teach ourselves — as Einstein saw it “I never teach my pupils, I only provide the conditions in which they can learn.” To that end, I support learners holistically through a range of services - answering questions between meetings, designing curricula, creating custom exercises or projects, giving personalized feedback, setting up computing environments, troubleshooting, and recommending and curating learning resources.

I also make myself available between meetings by message or email, to help clients overcome any obstacles they encounter and to provide support and encouragement, to speed their progress and help them stay on track.

I'm passionately curious about all sorts of things at the intersection of mathematics, statistics, physics and computer science, but I find information theory, quantum physics, quantum computing, and the connections with quantum gravity most fascinating.

I also dabble a lot in things about the mind - philosophy, cognitive science and neuroscience, psychology and spirituality, especially “eastern”.

I see no real difference between science and spirituality at the heart. A good friend asked if I was religious once, and I replied - “My religion is like Carl Sagan meets Alan Watts.”

When I’m not nerding out, I’m getting out of my mind and into my senses — fooding out (?), yoga-ing, climbing (only plastic rocks currently), hiking, backpacking, or ecstatic dancing.