Biology
A page within Tutoring & Learning Center
biology students
Biology tutors are available in the Tutoring & Learning Center: 251 Murphy Library.
The purpose of the Tutoring & Learning Center is to provide tutoring in the listed disciplines at no cost. All students can come to the Learning Center any of the hours listed. Please note that not all tutors can assist with all courses.
Here at the Tutoring & Learning Center, our tutors are all friendly, qualified individuals. All of our tutors have gotten good grades in the classes they tutor and have been recommended by faculty from their department. In addition to their knowledge our tutors are now taking a class designed to make them effective tutors. Meet our tutors!
Anastasia Grochowski
![Anastasia Grochowski](/globalassets/offices-services/murphy-learning-center/biology-tutors/anastasia-grochowski.jpeg/small)
Anastasia Grochowski
Major: Biology, Minors: Spanish, Chemistry, and Communication
About me: I am from Elkhorn, WI. I am on the Pre-Physician Assistant track and plan to specialize in Women’s Health. In my free time, I love to hang out with my friends, exercise, and hammock in the bluffs. On campus, I am a Vanguard, a tutor in the Public Speaking Center, and a Student Association Senator for the College of Science and Health.
Study Tip: The strategy that has helped me the most is “processing” my notes after each lecture. After a lecture, I write the most important points/concepts in a separate notebook to reinforce my knowledge. Then, I can use this notebook as a study guide.
Catherine Skindingsrude
![Catherine Skindingsrude](/globalassets/offices-services/murphy-learning-center/biology-tutors/catherine-skindingsrude.png/small)
Catherine Skindingsrude
Major: Biology, Pre-PA Track Minor: Psychology
About Me: I am a Sophomore from Whitewater, WI. I’m a biology major with a concentration in biomedical science. After I graduate, I wish to attend Physician’s Assistant school to become a Pediatric PA. In my free time, I like to hammock and go hiking, exercise, watch movies and spend time with my friends.
Study Tips: I recommend studying early and not cramming. Start at least one week prior to your exam and start re-learning the material a couple of hours at a time. The biggest tip I would recommend someone to do for studying is to take practice exams. Find one online based on the material you’re studying or create your own based on practice problems/ homework from class. Additionally, talk things out loud to someone else or even yourself. Teaching material to someone else can help secure the information in your brain.
Emily Erickson
![Emily Erickson](/globalassets/offices-services/murphy-learning-center/biology-tutors/emily-erickson.jpeg/small)
Emily Erickson
Major: Biology, Pre-Optometry Minor: Anthropology
About Me: I am a sophomore from Rochester MN. In my free time I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors, and taking my dog for walks. My only job during the school year is tutoring but over the summers I lifeguard and work at my dad’s bouncy house business. I'd like to get another job with an optometrist to gain some experience in that field.
Study Tips: Explaining and discussing or drawing out all the information on an exam forces your brain to make connections between different concepts and helps you zero in on specifics that you don't understand completely and may need to refer back to. Practicing activities that were demonstrated in class is a great tool. It's easy to watch a professor do something and think it’ll be easy for you but, until you practice it on your own, you don't know what difficulties you may potentially run into.
![Emjay Hilliker](/contentassets/d8afc3c4006a4f0a9d7713e9f2418ba6/emjay.jpg/small)
Emjay Hilliker
Majors: Biochemistry and Biology (double major)
About me: I am a sophomore from Two Rivers, WI, about 45 minutes from Green Bay and right on Lake Michigan! I added biology as a second major since it went so well with my biochemistry major. With them, I want to go onto graduate school and do medical research in genetics. This past summer, I did undergrad research with Dr. Anne Galbraith on the effects of a lab-made drug (SK-03-92) on various types of yeast cells. I tutored various STEM subjects in high school, and I wanted to continue in college. In my free time, I love to hammock, hike, weight lift and save some time to relax.
Study tips: Study in your most productive time, the time where your brain works the best and study consistently. It’s best to plan to study for exams and quizzes about a week out from them. I usually start with a big picture of everything covered in the exam/quiz and then do more practice on the trickier subjects/problems. It’s also better to figure out how you study best. It could be flashcards, rewriting notes, making note cards... everyone is different!
![Katie Johnston](/contentassets/7d11c23fedd54f59950123950b4d4527/katie.jpg/small)
Katie Johnston
Major: Biology, Pre-PA Track
About Me: I am a junior from Fall Creek, WI which is about 15 minutes from Eau Claire. I plan to apply to Physician Assistant school after this school year, and I am thinking of becoming a pediatric PA. I am involved in undergraduate research involving bone and breast cancer cells, and I also work as a CNA at Gundersen Hospital. During my free time, I enjoy running, reading, hiking, and fishing.
Study Tip: The most important study tip I have is to begin studying early. By doing this, you will be able to pick out the information that you need to dedicate the most time to learning. The first thing I do when studying is read over all the notes I have for the upcoming exam and highlight the information that I don't know or understand. Doing this will help you identify the topics/information you need to focus on. From there, I take my highlighted information and draw diagrams or create concept maps from it to enhance my understanding. To have time obtain an in-depth understanding of the difficult material, beginning to study early is key.
![Sam Barrett](/contentassets/9656f315116e49a1b52682fdcd220238/sam-b.jpg/small)
Sam Barrett
Major: Exercise Sport Science
Minors: Biology, Psychology
About me: I am a junior from Prior Lake, MN (25 minutes south of MPLS). I work as a CNA on a Med Surg floor at a hospital in my hometown. I plan to attend PA or med school following undergrad. I’m on the Women’s Track and Field team here at UWL. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, watching shows/movies, and being outdoors. Although I’m from Minnesota, I am a huge Packer fan and attend the games on weekends I’m able.
Study tip: My biggest advice is to plan and begin studying far in advance. I would recommend writing valuable information out several times. Simply reading material does not enforce it in your brain as well as writing stuff down. Take advantage of learning objectives and study guides when they are given. Make sure to also spread out your studying and take breaks. It’s not sustainable to study for hours on end. Your brain needs a break to digest the information for you to truly learn it. Active recall is also a highly effective study strategy. This is when you recall/write down what you know about the topic without looking at notes. Studying takes time, so be patient and you will find what works best for you.
Sam Kick
![Sam Kick](/globalassets/offices-services/murphy-learning-center/biology-tutors/sam-kick.jpeg/small)
Sam Kick
Major: Biology (pre-dental) Minor: chemistry
About me: I’m a sophomore from Onalaska, WI, so not too far from here! I’m a biology major with a chemistry minor with the hopes of becoming a dentist one day. Some of the things I like to do in my free time are hanging out with friends, watching Netflix, and playing basketball, which I am a part of the men’s basketball team here at La Crosse. I also bartend at a local restaurant here in the summers when I have some more time.
Studying tips: Study early. That is the biggest piece of advice I would give to students trying to improve their grades and to really learn the material. Cramming can only do so much, especially with the amount of information that we are expected to remember. Instead, start studying at least a week before the exam, in smaller study sessions throughout the day, which makes studying much more efficient and successful. The other piece of advice I can give is to print off your professor’s lecture power points before class and take notes on those. This way, you can focus on the additional bits of information your professor is talking about that is beyond what is up on the slides instead of scrambling to write down the vague points up on the screen.
![Tyler Kaiser](/contentassets/e03b044effb2443998a49a4a4265660f/tyler.jpg/small)
Tyler Kaiser
Major: Plant and Fungal Biology
Minor: Microbiology
About Me: I am currently on my Junior year here at UWL, and I have lived here in the LaCrosse area my entire life. I am currently studying plant and fungal biology here at UWL with plans to attend grad school. In my free time, I enjoy growing weird plants and fungi, the most recent being peppers that are extraordinarily hot.
Study Tips: The biggest thing that has helped me out is taking good notes. Personally, I like to rewrite the information that is being presented to engage with the information rather than just copying it down word for word. I also like to review my notes regularly, especially the older ones just to keep the information fresh in my mind.
MacKenzie Caya
Major: Biology, Pre-Med
Minor: Psychology
About Me: I’m a junior here with a biology major and a psychology minor on the pre-medicine track. I’m from La Crosse so I’m very familiar with the city and the campus. After medical school I hope to specialize in cardiology or emergency medicine and currently work as a Cardiotesting Technician at Gundersen. I also do research on campus looking at the effects of oxidized LDL on platelets after cold storage or hibernation. In my free time I like to be outside going for hikes or walks, preferably with coffee.
Study Tips: Used spaced repetition when studying and most importantly make sure to leave time to spread that out throughout the week. I also have found reviewing the material before class helpful, because even if it makes absolutely no sense when you’re looking at it, during class the words and concepts aren’t new. I’ve found that it makes them easier to understand because they’re not as daunting and I’m able to relate them to a general category. Finally, just make sure to minimize distractions and be an active studier rather than passive.