Liza Tsyvinsky

Biography

Coming from a family of artists, my lifelong love of STEM and learning has always had a creative edge. From designing models of birds’ wings as a child to creating science communication videos as a young adult, I’ve always been interested in expressing scientific concepts in ways that anyone can understand. After growing up in the Bay Area, I earned my bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UC Santa Cruz, with an additional concentration in biochemistry to deepen my understanding of what is often called the “central science.”

Whether through tutoring or mentorship, I’ve found myself most fulfilled when helping students learn. I began my academic career as a researcher in one of UCSC’s cancer genomics labs. After completing my research training, I became a mentor and program leader for incoming lab members, working with college students one-on-one to help them feel confident and at home as scientists. My chemistry background gives me the knowledge to explain complex concepts clearly, while my research and leadership experience helps me connect those concepts to real-world applications and make the material more engaging.

I believe math and science are sometimes misunderstood because the connections between different concepts aren’t always emphasized. As a tutor, I aim to demystify STEM by meeting students at their level, drawing connections between topics, and using real-world examples to give abstract ideas context. My goal is to help students not only understand the material in front of them, but also recognize how different ideas fit together.

After my morning workouts, I’m often drawing, collaging, or deep-diving into whatever niche interest has caught my attention that week. As someone who loves stories, you can also find me at the local movie theater or browsing classic books and manga at the local bookstore.