Allison: Westchester tutor

Certified Tutor

I am a biomedical molecular biologist by training, with two masters degrees in biology and molecular medicine. During my tenure as a laboratory scientist, I spent my extracurricular time in leadership, mentoring, social planning, and communication activities. As a graduate student, I taught Biology, Genetic, and Earth Biology lab lectures, and practical labs, as well as an online Biology class, all to undergraduate university students. As well, I was a science tutor for several subjects, including biology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics sections. At university, I was a Resident Assistant for one year, and regularly planned social events. As a theatre major, and more recently a podcast interviewer, I have honed my interpersonal, public speaking, and communication skills. Ive worked with international student volunteers through Americorps, and I also have done a student exchange with France in high-school, as well as lived abroad in Italy for one year, teaching English as a foreign language to students of all ages.

Outside of the laboratory and clinic, I have taken on several leadership, and social planning volunteer positions. The past two years Ive been a member of the NIH Science Policy Discussion Group, as the social chair for the past year, and writing summaries of current policy related journalism for the sciencepolicyforall blog. While I was a post-baccalaureate fellow, and a graduate student, I was a member of both fellow councils, and held the positions of social chair for both the post-bac, and graduate councils. As well, I was the social chair for the NIH Science Policy Discussion Group, and the NCIs Fellows and Young Investigators Steering Committee. I also co-chaired the NIH fellows Book/Art extracurricular club, and was director of the NIH acapella group for one year, the Nerds In Harmony.

I have varied experiences in leadership roles, such as my participation in a steering committee for the NCI Fellows and Young Investigators (FYI) colloquium while at the NIH. As the survivorship speaker chair of the FYI, I identified and secured survivorship speakers, chaired discussion sections on science careers and scientific topics, and participated in the leadership and organization of this annual event. In addition, I spent the last three years producing, editing, and appearing in a number of science podcasts and vodcasts (video podcasts) as the co-chair of the Radiation Research Societys Vodcast:Podcast Group. My skills in creatively communicating science to diverse audiences can be applied to many social and professional situations. My leadership skills, experience working in a team, interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, and the ability to think critically makes me an effective tutor.