Oxford Admissions Tutor and educational consultant: Expert Help with Personal Statements, KIRA, UCAS and Mock Interviews.

Find out more about Dr Teddy

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  My love for research began while trudging through forests and national parks, covered in mud and mosquito bites, studying bird ecology and evolution. It might have been when I was knee-deep in Australian swamps, or perhaps while helping baby turtles hatch in Sri Lanka. After years of fieldwork and publishing scientific papers, I realized my real passion was helping students find their own path in research. Being a fellow and tutor at Oxford further sparked my interest in teaching, and now I love guiding students through dissertations, academic writing, and research techniques.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I teach research techniques, dissertations, and academic writing. I enjoy the challenge of transforming a vague idea into a robust, well-researched project. I love discussing how to craft a compelling argument, analyze data, and structure research papers. I even find literature reviews fascinating, and I'm always up for helping students wrangle their statistics. Like everyone, I'm less excited about the citation nitty-gritty-but don't it has to be done!

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  Absolutely! Richard Dawkins for his "selfish gene," Steven Pinker for his clarity and rationality, and Christopher Hitchens for his brilliant, unapologetic polemics. But in terms of teaching style, I take inspiration from Sam Harris for his depth and measured communication. These thinkers taught me that a good argument, like a good dissertation, should be both sharp and insightful, while always encouraging a student to question everything.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  To be a great tutor, you need to care deeply about your students' progress and be passionate about the subject you teach. I believe in challenging students by asking the right questions and guiding them to discover answers for themselves. It's also about being able to make complex ideas simple-and fun! Whether we're diving into research design or perfecting an argument, I focus on problem-solving and bringing out the best in each student.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  Once, during a class on ecology, we examined rabbit droppings under the microscope to identify plant cells in their diet. While the rest of the class was disgusted, I was completely fascinated by it! Rabbit poo was my gateway to scientific discovery-who knew that identifying undigested plants would ignite such curiosity? My enthusiasm caught my teacher by surprise, but it taught me early on that passion can make even the "gross" stuff fascinating.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still face in your subject?

  One challenge during my research was the looming threat of bird flu, which almost restricted our access to our bird study populations. We had to wear bright yellow wellington boots (yes, really) and meticulously clean them. We looked utterly ridiculous in the forest, but we powered through. Challenges in research often come from the most unexpected places, but they make the end results all the more rewarding!

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  My passion is meeting driven, curious students who remind me of myself in my early days-when the world was full of possibilities, and every question seemed like a new adventure. I love guiding young people through the process of discovery, whether it's in the field or behind a laptop. Teaching isn't just about imparting knowledge; it's about helping students realize what they're capable of.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P)?

  I bring a mix of practical field experience (yes, I've been rained on, bitten by mosquitoes and leaches, I was charged by a Rhino in Nepal, and I worked in some of the most incredible ecosystems) and the rigor of academic life at Oxford, where I've written papers, supervised dissertations, and interviewed undergrads. Whether it's research or writing, I'm here to make sure you're both clever and productive-without needing to don bright yellow wellies! I'm used to working online, so I know how to make remote lessons engaging and insightful. All in all, I'll help you conquer your academic challenges while having fun along the way.