Alla Staroseltseva

Biography

As a tutor, I hope to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, testing their reasoning, and making mistakes as part of the learning process. I especially enjoy helping students recognize patterns and make connections between ideas, so that over time they become less dependent on being shown what to do and more confident in figuring out what to do next. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Biochemistry, where my coursework included organic chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and advanced statistical mechanics. During college, I also conducted undergraduate chemistry research using techniques including NMR, GC-MS, IR spectroscopy, and TLC, and presented research at both the Cal Poly Summer Research Symposium and an American Chemical Society National Meeting. My scientific background has taught me to approach difficult problems with patience, curiosity, and attention to detail, skills I am excited to share with my students.

Having experienced demanding STEM courses myself, I understand that succeeding in science is not just about memorizing information. It is about learning how to think through unfamiliar problems, recognize patterns, and trust your reasoning. I especially enjoy helping students get to the point where a subject that once intimidated them starts to feel logical.. and maybe even fun!

When I’m not tutoring, you can usually find me drawing, visiting museums and galleries, listening to live jazz, reading, or exploring San Francisco. I also love learning across disciplines, so I’m rarely without a new subject, book, or creative project to become curious about.