Mike Mudgett
Senior Tutor & College Academic Specialist
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering & Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D in Biological Sciences, UC San Diego

Learning new things has always been a passion of mine. From a young age I had a curious mind and explored the world around me with fervor. In high school, I quickly fell in love with science and desired to pursue it further in my studies at Johns Hopkins University. As an undergraduate student, I double majored in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, and developed a deep interest in understanding the intricacies of both nature and technology. I spent time working in research labs at Johns Hopkins as well as the University of Pennsylvania and decided to continue diving deeper into research after graduation. I enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of California San Diego School of Biological Sciences. During my time there I developed a cutting-edge gene editing technology that allowed us to probe the inner workings of flower development in plants. Upon achieving my PhD, I started working at a biotech company focused on using gene editing techniques to improve crops and make our agriculture system more sustainable.

Since high school, I have developed myself as a teacher and served as a tutor for a wide range of ages and subjects. Whether it was helping middle schoolers with geometry or college students with thermodynamics, I always found joy in helping students achieve a new level of understanding. My style of teaching involves using examples and analogies to ensure students grasp how new concepts fit into the “bigger picture” rather than just memorizing them. I prioritize incremental learning that focuses on small victories and the sense of accomplishment they bring.

Outside of work I enjoy running, painting, birdwatching, and learning new languages. I also have two cats that I enjoy pampering and playing with.