With a B.A. in Physics and Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in Applied Physics from Stanford University, Arani brings a deep passion for science and learning to every tutoring session. Over the past eight years, Arani has tutored students at all levels in math, physics, and economics, sharing both knowledge and enthusiasm for these subjects. He enjoys breaking concepts down in a way that students can intuitively understand them. His research background, rooted in solid-state physics and particle accelerators, fuels a deep understanding of complex concepts and a creative approach to explaining them. Arani enjoys observing how different people learn and adjusting his teaching style to match the needs of each student. Outside of teaching, Arani enjoys gardening, cooking, and textile crafts. He looks forward to meeting and helping you achieve your academic goals!

Trinity is a 5th-year PhD Candidate at UC Berkeley studying how arachnids’ prior experiences influence their mating choices and communication. She grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, before heading to the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, for her Master’s degree. She taught undergraduate biology labs while in Ohio and Insect Behavior at Berkeley. Trinity is particularly passionate about spiders and has been studying them all throughout her life. When she is not out searching for her eight-legged friends, she can be found dancing to Latin music, hiking, or singing.

Vassu earned a Ph.D. in Particle Physics from Stony Brook University and is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. With a lifelong passion for math and science, Vassu is driven by a desire to understand how the world works at its most fundamental level. As a tutor, Vassu enjoys helping students make connections between classroom concepts and the bigger picture: making even the most challenging topics feel logical, clear, and engaging. Outside of academics, Vassu loves hiking, spending time outdoors, and exploring new places around the Bay Area.

Kylee is a second-year PhD student in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at Berkeley, studying novel tools for plant biotechnology. She is from Tallahassee, Florida, and completed her bachelor's degree at Florida State University. Her love of science started young when she would spend hours in the garden fending off hornworms from the tomatoes and experimenting with ways to improve yield. This included burying her deceased pet guppy in the garden because her mom insisted it was “good for the plants”. These early experiences fostered her curiosity about plant growth and resilience. It was no surprise when she was introduced to “golden rice” in a college class and became hooked on the idea of using genetic engineering to improve crop quality and quantity. Since then, she has been drawn to research that improves our understanding of plant biology to address the challenges of global warming on food security. In addition to research, she has been passionate about outreach, teaching, and tutoring, as well as anything that allows her to share her love of science. She is skilled at adapting lessons to fit a diverse set of needs, from traditional lecture style classes to booths at Marin Elementary STEM Fair and the Bay Area Science Festival. Additionally, she has mentored and taught a wide range of students, ranging from elementary to undergraduate students. These experiences include developing hands-on lesson plans to teach students at MalcolmX Elementary about microscopes, planning and facilitating Saturday STEM Sessions at a local nonprofit in Tallahassee called STEMs4Girls, and teaching Biology 1 Lab at FSU as an undergraduate. Through this, she aims to illustrate that science is for everyone and increase overall student interest and achievement in STEM.

Anton is a teaching assistant and Ph.D. student at Portland State University (PSU) in Portland, Oregon. Originally from Oakland, California, he began his academic journey at the University of California, Davis, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management with a focus in Watershed Science. After graduating, he worked at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, developing tools that help stakeholders monitor drought and water supply using satellite imagery.

His research at PSU centers on snow hydrology, where he combines satellite data, field data, and computer models to study how snow-water supplies are changing—and how they are projected to change in the future under a warming climate. Since beginning his graduate studies, Anton has earned a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management and is now in his third year of doctoral research in the same field.

With more than eight years of teaching experience, Anton has worked with students ranging from middle school through the undergraduate and graduate levels. He is passionate about education and considers teaching one of his most rewarding pursuits. Outside of academia, Anton is a drummer in a local Portland band, an avid board game enthusiast, and an outdoor adventurer who enjoys camping and backpacking.

Melanie grew up in New York City. Her interdisciplinary background, combining a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Rochester, reflects her diverse interests and intellectual curiosity. Melanie recently moved to the Bay Area to pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley.  Melanie aims to create an environment where curiosity thrives, empowering students to inquire, explore, and engage deeply with the material. By inspiring her students to ask questions, explore new ideas, and engage deeply with the material, she creates an environment where learning becomes not just a task but a rewarding and transformative experience. In her free time, Melanie enjoys Muay Thai, photography, and a good cup of coffee.

Kelsey is a scientist, educator, and mother who brings both curiosity and compassion to every learning environment. She holds a B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from UC Berkeley, where her dissertation focused on communication, cooperation, and parasitism in social animals—specifically ants. During her time at Berkeley, she conducted field-based research on animal behavior, mentored students in ecological methods, and taught undergraduate courses in biology, entomology, and environmental science. 

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that wonder is the foundation of learning and that science is not just a body of knowledge, but a way of seeing and engaging with the world. At the heart of her pedagogy is a commitment to meeting students where they are. Kelsey believes every learner has a unique pathway to understanding, and her role as an educator is to help co-create that path. She uses a combination of hands-on exploration, storytelling, movement, and visual tools to foster comprehension and confidence, while also focusing on practical learning skills such as organizing ideas, clarifying objectives, and building strategies for retention and growth. Her goal is always to create inclusive, empowering spaces where students feel safe to ask questions and take ownership of their learning.

Over the past decade, Kelsey has worked with learners from kindergarten through college, helping students engage with science in meaningful and lasting ways. As a curriculum developer with Community Resources for Science, she designed K–8 lessons that supported diverse learning styles through play, sensory learning, and creativity. She has also mentored high school and college students through programs such as the NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate Fellowship and Berkeley Connect—guiding them as they developed independent research projects and built confidence in their scientific identities. Above all, she is dedicated to helping students feel seen, supported, and inspired to explore and shape the world through science.

Daksha is a tutor, mentor, and artist with a degree in Physics and Environmental Studies from Yale University. Growing up in Singapore, she was shaped by monsoon rains, social justice activism, and a love of science—all of which inform her belief in education as both rigorous and deeply human. After Yale, Daksha pursued graduate study in anthropology in Scotland, conducting fieldwork on honeybees and exploring how humans relate to the more-than-human world. She has also worked in public health, an experience that strengthened her commitment to systems thinking and equitable care.

With a background that bridges the sciences and humanities, Daksha enjoys working with students across disciplines, from physics and calculus to college essays and independent research. She has served on the admissions committee for the Summer Science Program (SSP), helped launch the Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics, and mentored both high school and college students. Daksha especially loves supporting students during their formative years, when big questions intersect with real stakes and self-discovery. Outside of tutoring, Daksha can often be found in her studio making art, tending to altars, or traveling the world.

Subjects she tutors:

• College application writing & mentorship

• Math (including AP Calculus)

• Physics (including AP Physics)

• Environmental Science

• English & Writing

• Anthropology

• Geology & Earth Science

• Public Health

• Standardized test prep: SAT, GRE, TOEFL

Isaac graduated with a Master of Public Policy from USC. He focused on examining environmental and carceral policies using econometric analysis. He also received his bachelor's in economics and environmental studies from UC Santa Cruz (Go Slugs!). During his tenure at USC, Isaac was a course assistant for multivariate statistics and tutored other students in microeconomics as well as entry-level and higher-level statistics. He loves to help people learn in their style, whether it's more mechanical or conceptual. Isaac also loves to go down Wikipedia rabbit holes about particle physics, plant compounds, and learn as much as possible from folks around him. In his free time, he plays basketball and piano, bikes as much as possible, and experiments with cooking.

Ally is an experienced elementary educator who loves helping students build confidence and ownership over their learning. She is a current 3rd-grade teacher and has worked with students across all the elementary grades. Ally loves using visuals and hands-on activities to make learning accessible for everyone, including and especially students with disabilities, multilingual students, and anyone who feels like they just don’t “get it.” She strives to build relationships with students and get to know their interests and strengths to make learning an encouraging and fun experience that kids look forward to. Ally earned her M.Ed. from UMass Boston and BA from UC Berkeley, and she holds a multiple subjects teaching credential. As a lifelong learner herself, Ally is constantly pursuing her own professional development and has recently taken courses in the Science of Reading. She grew up in Oakland and loves spending her time gardening, playing board games, and hiking trails in the East Bay.

As a biologist and educator, Leslie is dedicated to helping all learners find excitement, joy, and personal connection to their studies. Her experience teaching spans 20 years and includes all grade levels: 1st-12th, college freshman to seniors, and fellow educators teaching grades 1-6. She is particularly passionate about supporting students with ADHD and other disabilities. By understanding their own learning processes, students can unlock the unique perspectives and gifts that they bring while building confidence as learners. Leslie's goal is for students to move beyond memorizing content to metacognition - thinking about their own thinking. Through tutoring, she helps students develop skill sets that they can use in any subject and grade level, building self-efficacy and resilience that will support them throughout their educational careers.

Leslie recently completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California Berkeley. Her dissertation focused on milkweed gardens and monarch butterfly caterpillars in the San Francisco Bay Area. Previously, Leslie earned her Master of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Washington. Her larger science background and interests include insect ecology, plant-insect interactions, agroecology, species invasions, and conservation biology. Leslie's past research experience spans from marine biology to tropical ecology, to evolutionary biology. She has studied the impacts of boat noise on killer whales, the relationships between plants and insects in tropical rainforests, and the evolution of spiciness in chili peppers. As a graduate student, she taught courses on urban agriculture, climate change, insect biology, general biology, and advanced senior-level research and science writing. Before graduate school, Leslie was a 7th and 8th-grade science teacher in Los Angeles for three years with Teach For America. She completed a year of graduate-level education coursework and earned her preliminary single-subject teaching credential in biology and secondary science with a special authorization for teaching English Language Learners. In addition to tutoring, she teaches after-school science programs, outdoor community science field days, and high school field biology trips.

Shaharyar Masood, who goes by Sherry, studied Philosophy at U.C. Berkeley and Georgia State University, earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with distinction, respectively. His academic focus was in Moral Theory and the History of Philosophy, with a particular interest in early modern thinkers such as Hume and Kant.

Dedicated to education and lifelong learning, Sherry has taught and tutored in writing, critical thinking, and algebra. He is known as an attentive and kind teacher who is patient, creative, and adaptive to his students’ needs. Students consistently describe his teaching style as lighthearted, relaxed, and non-judgmental, and praise his clear, easy-to-follow explanations, even when addressing complex topics.

Outside of teaching, Sherry enjoys reading novels, playing cards, and exploring forests through long treks.

Tristan grew up in Santa Barbara, CA, where his love of learning was fostered by public school teachers. After receiving a BA from Pomona College in Claremont, CA, he worked as an English teacher in primary schools in the Republic of Georgia and middle schools in Japan. He then lived in Moscow, Russia, for 5 years, where he taught English, literature, history, and mythology in an elite private school, designed the elementary school curriculum for a private language center, and tutored private students. In 2023, he moved to Berkeley, CA, where he is currently a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the Wright Institute.

Tristan's teaching style is based on a learner-centered model of education. He works to create a calm and enjoyable learning atmosphere by encouraging students and connecting the learning process to their interests. By breaking down complex processes into simple, manageable steps, he helps students tackle new challenges and develop their confidence. 

When he is not studying or teaching, Tristan likes to read, write, listen to music, play the guitar, study languages, cook, meditate, walk, and travel.