Mike

I am a scientist and engineer who has always been curious about how and why things work – from small scale to astronomical – and I particularly enjoy being able to draw upon that experience to help students to understand concepts in ways that they can apply in their own studies and help with exam questions.

I qualified with a bachelor's and master's degree in physics from Oxford University and an engineering doctorate from the University of Birmingham, which was largely mathematics-based.

For most of school, university and career to date, my interest in how things work has guided my life. I have been applying maths, science, engineering and technology to real world applications, problems and challenges through conducting research and development and managing and coaching R&D teams, becoming a Chartered Physicist in the process. I also gained a Master of Business Administration from London Business School, on which I enrolled to help me understand how industry operates and how science and technology are used commercially.

A current DBS certificate is available on request.

Tutoring Experience

I tutored up to A level during my early years as a scientist, only stopping as the demands of family life increased. Now that I have more personal time available, I have returned to tutoring to try to share some of my knowledge and experience with students. I particularly enjoy trying to explain methods and concepts that people may be struggling with, and have experience of doing this with students and with colleagues at work.

I have reviewed many job applications, from graduate entry to senior scientists and engineers so may be able to help with students' with potential applications.

Tutoring Approach

With new students, I start by identifying the goals for the sessions, focussing initially on topics of concern to students and parents, to determine whether there are any immediate challenges and to help build their confidence. We will then outline a plan for the tutoring sessions, tailored to individual needs. In most cases, this will align with the topics being taught at the time on their course to reinforce their grasp and understanding of those topics.

I hope to help and inspire students by drawing upon both my academic knowledge of maths and physics and my wider work experience.

I also hope to be able to help students grasp concepts through providing real-life examples of the relevance of maths & science in industry and government as well as to their careers.