Educator
From August 2020 to April 2022, I was Assistant Professor in the Science Department at Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) Manhattan where I taught Conceptual Physics at the 9th grade level and Calculus II and Modern Physics in the college program. I also developed a four week course on physics and art for incoming 9th graders and implemented a novel grading scheme inspired by Joe Feldmann's "Grading for Equity" across all of my courses. Students at BHSEC earn a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree form Bard College in four years.
Though my PhD work focused on research, I held a teaching position nearly every semester for the six years of my training. I enjoy and appreciate educational work very much and undertaking it as a full-time career at BHSEC has been a huge opportunity for me to expand my knowledge and skills.
Teaching is the primary way in which we can, as scientists, connect with younger students and inform and inspire them by being enthusiastic, inclusive and presenting our work in exciting and accessible ways. Trying to be a better teacher helped me grow as a physicists and greatly informed my diversity and inclusion advocacy work.
Read about my thoughts on teaching introductory physics and the elitism that sometimes crops up within it here.
Read about my thoughts on virtual and distance learning in the age of the coronavirus here.