Priya Pillai

Biography

I’ve always had a passion and love for science and math that I enjoy sharing with my students. 

My goal is to understand what a student is thinking and where they’re coming from when approaching the concept. I often find that students understand more than they think, but have small misunderstandings that prevent them from moving forward. I love to help students build confidence, working with them to precisely identify their needs, and then figuring out ways to teach that fit with their learning style.

Before becoming a tutor at AJ, I taught high school science in Oakland. Prior to that, I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Computational Biology from MIT, and was a member of the Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies. During my time at MIT, I worked as a teaching assistant in physics, as a residential tutor in math for computer science, and as a teacher for STEM subjects in Italy. 

As a tutor, I love helping students one-on-one, tailoring each session for students to meet them where they are and figure out the best way for them to move forward.I find that when I am working with students in this capacity, we are often able to explore topics in a much deeper way. 

Outside of tutoring, you’ll find me playing video and board games, drawing or painting, or hanging out with my roommate’s cats Rogue and Bard.