Staci H
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Yale University
Expertise
Chemistry, History/Philosophy of Science, Graphical Visualization, Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometry
Bio
I am a science and math nerd, but I haven't been able to leave the humanities behind. My interests lie at the interface of the two. I graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in chemistry, where I researched a biochemical mechanism of Alzheimer's disease. I then took two years to study the "Great Books" at St. John's College in Annapolis. There I was immersed in the humanities as I read the original works of Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Newton, Einstein, Darwin, and more. I wrote my thesis on the necessity of indirect proofs in Euclid's Elements, the first (and best) geometry textbook ever written! I am now pursuing a PhD in chemistry from Yale University. I research the chemistry of nanoparticles. Specifically, I study how their unique properties may contribute to clean energy solutions.Project ideas
Quarrel with Einstein, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, or others.
The greatest scientists did more than just discover physical principles of the universe, they also thought deeply about the relevance and ethics of their ideas and technologies. After becoming familiar with a famous scientist, write a dialogue between you two discussing an important theme or idea.
Scientific Family Cookbook
Rewrite your favorite/family cookbook recipes so that someone could not only cook up the recipe, but also understand the health benefits and biological mechanisms that make the recipes nutritious! Publish these by starting a food blog or create a physical copy to have at home.
Research Proposal
Write a research proposal in a specific scientific discipline. Maybe there's a professor you'd love to work with at a coveted university or a topic you're just itching to learn about. Either way, researching a new topic gives you a new vocabulary and those concepts get stored away for future creative endeavors. By writing a mini-research proposal, you'll not only become familiar with a new field of science and its key players, but you'll also get to ask big questions and propose how to answer them.
Infographic Design
Make a series of infographics that tells a story about the trends you're most curious about in the world (e.g., global poverty, education in America, wrongful criminal convictions). Learn how to use professional data visualization software or enhance your Excel skills.
Teaching experience
Most of my teaching experience comes from my experience tutoring high schoolers in America (1,000+ hrs). I have tutored students in STEM classes since 2015, spanning everything from basic chemistry and algebra to quantum mechanics. I also TAed two classes at Yale University (general chemistry lab and quantum mechanics discussion). Yale was nice enough to give me an award for my effort (T.F. Cooke Teaching Award).Credentials
Education
Reviews
"I think the program has been extremely conducive to helping me mapping out my future, whether that includes college or the workforce. This program has put me on a great track and I look forward to continue working with Staci."
