PhD candidate in atomic physics with more than 8 years of teaching experience offering physics and maths lessons. Available at short notice.

Learn more about Horatio

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

  Physics has always fascinated me for as long as I can remember. I also enjoyed helping my classmates with their homework back in school and even now. Sometimes you might even learn something new. So I thought, why not combine the two together and become a tutor?

• 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 anything physics related, whether it's maths, engineering or chemistry. I specialise in atomic physics and therefore work with quantum physics aplenty. I like to discuss topics which would change my students' fundamental understanding of physics, such as the fact that electrons don't orbit the nucleus.

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

  Definitely! I come from a family of engineers and craftsmen, so my uncle was very tech-savvy. An engineer in practice, he spurred my young self to tinkle with tech and inspired me to explore the natural sciences. He also introduced me to A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, the very first popular science book I'd ever read.

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

  Strive to be a teacher first before an expert. Too often I have encountered teachers who get visibly frustrated when their students don't grasp a concept immediately. This will undoubtedly discourage students from learning. As such, the most important quality a tutor should have is understanding. It's fine if you don't have all the answers, no one expects you to. But you must always be patient as every student's needs are different. Remember, there are no stupid questions nor answers.

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

  Throughout my undergraduate years in Durham University, I have been taught and tutored by impressive academics, some of the best experts in their respective fields. They are excellent scientists. Despite this, not all of them are excellent teachers. I realised that to become a teacher, not only do you need the technical knowledge in a particular field, but more importantly, you need interpersonal skills. The best kinds of teachers are those who would be willing to give up their time to ensure you have understood what was taught.

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

  Physics is an ever-evolving field, you are always learning new ideas and concepts. You'll also come to realise that your preconceptions of a certain topic will need to get frequently updated. So while you can claim to be an expert in a specific field, there's no guarantee that you are always correct. There are always new discoveries that challenge our understanding of physics.

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

  I like helping others and leaving a lasting impact in their lives. Teaching is one of the most straight-forward ways to accomplish this. I try to depart as much experience as I can to my students, especially the tricks and technique I have acquired from learning physics for more than 7 years.

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

  I have taught all kinds of students, from budding scientists to adults who are still looking to learn more about science and maths! Whatever it is that you are trying to learn, I will have a way to teach it to you!