Tutor's Name:   Matthew 
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CODE:   H-MN-MIN-NEA-Matthew
  College:  Saint John's University, Collegeville, MN Bachelor of Arts, Biology, May 10, 2009
  Tutoring Experience: 1 year
  Location: White Bear Lake, MN
  Approximate Travel
  Radius in Miles:		 15     from zip code 55110
  Availability: I am presently available evenings and weekends.
  Subject Areas:  
  --HS Science:    Basic Science; Biology; Honors Biology; Chemistry
--College Physical/Life Science:    Biochemistry; Biology; Cellular Biology; Molecular Biology; Botany; General Chemistry;
   Organic Chemistry; Genetics; Physiology
  GENERAL EXPERIENCE:     I tutored my classmates throughout college in classes such as: Animal Behavior, Evolution, Plant Physiology, Plant Taxonomy, Genetics, Biochemistry, and Cell/Molecular Biology. In my first semester of Graduate School, I took Plant Pathology, Genomics, and Bacteriology/Nematology/Virology. (I didn't tutor anyone in those classes, but I would be able to if need be!). I am now taking a break from Graduate School to discern better what avenues I want to pursue in Biology, but I am actively pursuing jobs working in Biology. I am also familiar with chemistry (I took General and Organic Chemistry in college). Those classes will be useful for me to be able to explain certain biological properties (like permeability of membranes to some molecules but not others) and theories behind techniques like PCR and SDS-PAGE (listed below). I have laboratory experience working with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), DNA gel electrophoresis, Sodium dodecylsulfate Polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) (for protein separation), some microscopy, including electron microscopy. I also am familiar with some local flora thanks to my Plant Taxonomy, and work in the St. John's herbarium (a collection of dried and pressed plants).
  APPROACH TO TUTORING:    I find that drawing diagrams and pictures is a good way to communicate ideas and theories in Biology, like the functions and shapes of enzymes.. Analogies are another way to cement abstract concepts. For instance, comparing the organelles of a cell to a city in the way that they function can help students to remember the purpose of each organelle. Another example is explaining evolution: using multi-colored beads or M&M's is a good way to clear up that concept. I am also a very oral person, so many times I can re-word a statement to make it easier to understand.

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