Chase V. (IN A NUTSHELL)
What is it that you truly love doing? What is the topic you can't stop talking about, the dream that continues to drive you, the passion you want to spend your life pursuing? As a mentor, I aim to give my mentees the tools to answer exactly these questions. And, once they begin to find an answer, to give them the tools to understand and excel at the path they choose to follow.
Hi! I’m Chase, a recent graduate of Harvard University with a B.A. in Biology and Computer Science and an M.S. in Applied Math. Currently, I’m working at a design studio where I transform complex biological datasets into beautiful and effective visualizations.
In college, I hit the ground running with my love for animals and the natural world. I studied ecology, evolution, cellular biology, and so many other fields in the life sciences! At the same time, I was exploring how math and computer science could be used to understand and model the world we live in. I brought these fields together in a few different research projects. I first explored cellular biology research in genetics and evolution, learning what it means to work in a lab and how to effectively design a technical and precise experiment. After that, I was lucky enough to travel to Laikipia, Kenya, where I studied the ecology of ants and acacia trees. We began several research projects at the field station, including analysis of plant physiology in response to climate change and using state-of-the-art machine learning models to study the distribution of tree species across savannah landscapes.
As the science got more complicated, I realized it became harder and harder to explain to students, friends, and family. I shifted toward design and data visualization as a way to communicate complex scientific ideas. Now, I continue to use my background in science to create aesthetic and clear visuals. For example, we can visually explore the process of constructing an evolutionary tree using viral genetics data.
Learning is about doing. Whether that’s writing an essay about your local community, training a cutting-edge machine learning model to study your sleep habits, or building an artist’s portfolio online, I always ground new concepts in relevant and understandable examples. As someone who has studied both theories of learning and design, I bring those ideas to meet my mentees where they are at; if you’re not getting it and feeling confident, I need to learn how to engage you. My approach is very student-focused, unique for every student, and always designed to be fun.
In my free time, I love running around Boston, watching Liverpool (the best football/soccer team in the world) trounce their way through the Premier League and Champions League, and exploring different concert venues in my area.
I’m excited to work together, and would love to give you the tools to achieve all of your goals!
