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Award-Winning Computational Chemistry Tutors

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Mikah
Hello and welcome! I'm thrilled to share my passion for teaching. I believe learning should be an adventure, whether we're exploring math or science! In my portal, questions are encouraged, and curiosity is celebrated. I strive to create a supportive environment where each student's unique strength...
Ivy Tech Community College
Associate

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Aaron
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old e...
The University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Mimi
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all su...
Harvard University
Masters in Education, Education
Dartmouth College
B.A.
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Nina
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant ...
Columbia University
Masters in biostatistics
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences (focus in neurobiology)
Columbia University in the City of New York
Current Grad Student, Biostatistics
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults...
Harvard University
PHD, Education
Wesleyan University
Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
Certified Tutor
Liz
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received ...
Simmons College
Masters, Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities 5-12
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts in History (minors in Humanities and Anthropology)
Certified Tutor
Michelle
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medici...
Baylor College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, M.D.
Rice University
Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Certified Tutor
Christopher
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tut...
Harvard College
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Charles
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best descr...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Solange
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campu...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Justin
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Com...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy, Computational Mathematics
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Isabella
I am a graduate of MIT. I received my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies. Since graduation, I have started my PhD at Georgia Tech in Operations Research. Throughout my career I have TA'd several math and computer science courses at t...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies)
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Current Grad Student, Operations Research
Certified Tutor
Asta
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare th...
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts in Political Science
Certified Tutor
Elena
I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle ...
University of Edinburgh
Masters, Biblical Studies
Mcgill University
Bachelor in Arts, Religious Studies
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Henry
I'm eager to help you in your education. I'm a recent graduate of Harvard College looking to apply to law school. My senior thesis was written on John Dewey's ideas of education, which I deeply believe has incredible power to transform individuals and society.
Harvard College
Bachelor in Arts, History
Top 20 Science Subjects
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Justin
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +48 Subjects
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Computational and Applied Mathematics. I've tutored introductory physics students for three years and enjoyed it thoroughly, as a chance to help other students while revisiting fundamental concepts to enhance my own knowledge. I'm eager to continue reaching out and helping students of math and physics to succeed and, furthermore, to appreciate the beauty and power of these subjects.
Isabella
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +27 Subjects
I am a graduate of MIT. I received my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies. Since graduation, I have started my PhD at Georgia Tech in Operations Research. Throughout my career I have TA'd several math and computer science courses at the college level. I have also taught at summer programs for gifted middle school and high school students. I am passionate about tutoring kids in math and science because I think that a strong foundation in STEM at an early age can set the tone for their future. In my spare time I like to engage in athletics, and was a Division 1 rower in college. Hobbies: reading, swimming, writing, books, music, running, art
Asta
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +73 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare them for college in the United States.
Elena
Calculus Tutor • +31 Subjects
I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle and high-schools, and am particularly adept at communicating and explaining concepts in a quirky, engaging, and intelligent manner. I was named Scotland International Young Thinker of the Year 2014 for exactly that sort of work. Much of my tutoring background is in test-prep and essay coaching, which I enjoy because it allows the tutor and student to think strategically together, and work as a team to achieve concrete results. I have worked with students ranging in age from 6-32, and believe that, in an educational context, a few jokes never hurt anybody. I love reading and learning, and my educational approach is centered around making the material just as engaging to students as it is to me. I think J.K. Rowlings, the writer of Harry Potter, is just as brilliant as Stephen Hawking, and in my free time, I manage my (terrible) fantasy baseball team, write songs for my comedy band, and crack jokes about terrible science-fiction movies with my friends.
Henry
Calculus Tutor • +41 Subjects
I'm eager to help you in your education. I'm a recent graduate of Harvard College looking to apply to law school. My senior thesis was written on John Dewey's ideas of education, which I deeply believe has incredible power to transform individuals and society.
Andrew
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am comfortable tutoring math subjects up to multivariable calculus and differential equations, as well as college physics. Hobbies: books, music, art, reading, writing
Sabira
Middle School Math Tutor • +35 Subjects
I am currently attending Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science and Applied Math and Statistics. I love helping students and I love the feeling I get knowing that I was able to use my knowledge to make someone else happier. My favorite subject to teach is math because there are so many ways to learn it and if one way does not help I can use another. I used to teach taekwondo and interacted with all kinds of students, and I'm excited to help out more! Hobbies: books, reading, music, writing, art
Justin
Calculus Tutor • +38 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Currently, I am in the master's program at the University of New Mexico where I am continuing my education in philosophy. Ultimately, I hope to go on to earn a PhD in Philosophy so that I can continue engaging in my passions for learning and teaching. While in school, I have spent countless hours coaching high school speech and debate both in person and working online with students across the country. My focus in coaching has been to emphasize philosophy and critical thought to prepare students to think through novel arguments on their own. I am passionate about teaching and tutoring because I love seeing students learn to be intellectually independent and think through problems on their own terms by developing their critical thinking skills. I have devoted my life to education because I am passionate about it, and I try to share some of my passion for learning with the students I work with. I tutor all sorts of Standardized Tests, and I particularly enjoy working on logic-based problems like analogies and math sections. When I am not tutoring or reading for school, I enjoy strategy games (both board games and video games), listening to music, hiking, playing basketball, and just relaxing with friends.
Ingrid
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am exploring my creativity by pursuing a double major in Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus in Korean, studying abroad in South Korea as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, leading workshops that teach 3D printing and CAD for undergraduate students as the president of 3D4E, advocating for the first-generation and low-income student community as the Outreach Chair of the Quest+ Scholars Network, and getting involved with the Society of Women Engineers' outreach committee. I currently hold a work-study position as an administrative clerical aide in the Institute of Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern and was an undergraduate researcher in the John Rogers Lab. As I look forward with aspirations of applying to graduate school, areas of research in biomedical engineering and biotechnology that I am particularly interested in include biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and drug delivery systems. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy learning on my own and sharing my experience and knowledge with my peers and other students. I hope to make use of my experiences with academics and learning in high school and so far in my undergraduate career in order to effectively tutor students who may be experiencing the same struggles in learning that I also experienced.
James
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +40 Subjects
I am currently a senior at Harvard College where I study chemistry, and I'll be attending Columbia Medical School next year. I have years of experience tutoring college students in math (mostly calculus) and chemistry including both general and organic chemistry. In addition, I am very familiar with all sections of the SAT and ACT having prepared several high school students for these tests. I believe that every student is capable of boosting his or her baseline score on these tests, so long as he or she works hard to get to know the format of the tests and the most popular types of questions. I tutor because I love seeing students develop a genuine passion for the subjects they once disliked (such as math and science), once they understand the power of these subjects and their applications to the real world.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students often find molecular orbital theory and density functional theory (DFT) conceptually challenging because they require visualizing abstract quantum mechanical behavior. Practical difficulties include setting up and interpreting computational simulations, understanding basis sets and their impact on accuracy, and translating between theoretical predictions and experimental validation. Additionally, many students struggle with the balance between computational efficiency and chemical accuracy—knowing when approximations are acceptable and when higher-level calculations are necessary. A tutor experienced in Computational Chemistry can break down these abstract concepts and help you understand both the "why" behind the calculations and the practical implications of your computational choices.
Computational Chemistry is inherently visual, but many students struggle to interpret output from software like Gaussian, ORCA, or MOPAC. A tutor can guide you through molecular visualization tools, help you understand what electron density maps and orbital diagrams actually represent, and connect 2D structural formulas to 3D computational models. Working through real examples—such as visualizing how pi-bonding orbitals overlap in conjugated systems or how steric effects change molecular geometry—makes abstract concepts concrete. Regular practice with visualization software, paired with conceptual explanations, significantly improves your ability to predict and interpret computational results.
Many students jump into calculations without understanding the workflow: defining the molecular structure, selecting an appropriate method and basis set, running the calculation, and then critically analyzing results. A tutor can teach you to think systematically about each step—for instance, why B3LYP/6-31G(d) might be suitable for geometry optimization but inadequate for excited-state calculations, or how to validate your results against experimental data. Understanding convergence criteria, recognizing when calculations fail and why, and knowing how to troubleshoot input files are essential skills. With guidance, you'll develop the problem-solving mindset needed to design computational experiments that answer real chemical questions rather than just executing calculations.
The gap between what computational models predict and what experiments show is where real learning happens. Students often memorize calculation methods without understanding their limitations or how to validate predictions experimentally. A tutor can help you design computational studies that test hypotheses, interpret discrepancies between theory and experiment, and understand when computational results are reliable. For example, exploring why a predicted bond length differs from X-ray crystallography data teaches you about basis set limitations and electron correlation effects. This integration of theory and experimental validation develops the scientific reasoning skills that make Computational Chemistry powerful.
Choosing between semi-empirical methods, ab initio approaches (HF, MP2, CCSD), and DFT depends on your system size, desired accuracy, and computational resources—a decision that confuses many students. A tutor can help you understand the trade-offs: DFT is faster and scales better for larger molecules but has functional-dependent accuracy, while coupled-cluster methods are more accurate but computationally expensive. Learning to ask the right questions—"What property am I calculating?" "How large is my system?" "What level of accuracy do I need?"—develops the judgment required for independent research. Working through case studies helps you build intuition for method selection rather than relying on trial-and-error.
Troubleshooting failed calculations is a critical skill that separates competent from expert Computational Chemistry practitioners. Common issues include poor initial geometry guesses, inappropriate basis sets, convergence problems, or fundamental misunderstandings about what the calculation should predict. A tutor can teach you systematic debugging: checking your input file syntax, adjusting convergence criteria, trying different optimization algorithms, or reconsidering your theoretical approach. Learning to interpret error messages, recognizing when a result is physically unreasonable, and knowing when to simplify your model develops the chemical intuition needed to use computational tools effectively rather than getting frustrated by failures.
An effective Computational Chemistry tutor should have hands-on experience running calculations, understanding both the theoretical foundations (quantum mechanics, molecular orbital theory) and practical software skills (Gaussian, ORCA, MOPAC, or similar packages). They should be able to explain not just how to use software, but why certain choices matter—the chemistry behind the computations. Experience with research applications, knowledge of current methods and their limitations, and the ability to connect calculations to experimental chemistry are essential. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who combine deep computational expertise with the teaching skill to make abstract concepts accessible.
At introductory levels, tutoring focuses on understanding quantum mechanical foundations and learning to navigate computational software—building confidence with basic DFT and ab initio calculations. For intermediate students, tutors help you develop judgment about method selection, interpret results critically, and connect calculations to experimental validation. Advanced students benefit from guidance on research-level applications, understanding cutting-edge methods (multireference calculations, machine learning potentials), and designing computational studies that answer real chemical questions. Regardless of level, a tutor helps you move beyond following tutorials to thinking independently about computational strategy and chemical problem-solving.
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