Tom Dufor

Hi,

I am Tom an experienced researcher in Biology and more specifically in Neurosciences.
I obtained my PhD in Sorbonne University (Paris) and moved to London 5 years ago as a post doctoral research associate for the University College of London (UCL). I am studying the molecular and cellular underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer Disease.

I have valuable experience in presenting scientific projects in international conferences and peer reviewed scientific journals. I also have experience in giving lectures, tutorials and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students.
I thoroughly enjoy sharing knowledge with audiences that are not necessarily familiar with the latest breakthrough in research, aiming to generate great interest about science and its impact on society.

I have learned through my career that the best way to teach and transmit complex scientific concepts, is to start with a simple and entertaining introduction, to get the students attention. I like to then build up layers of complexity so that the student can experience a “learning journey” where progression is a key factor.

My teaching philosophy will always emphasize the central role of the learner, thus private tutoring is an excellent way to design tailor made lessons for each students. The more I get to know the students the better I can adapt to their need. I see it as a very dynamic bi-directional process.

Finally teaching students how to have a critical mind and how to source their information is key to my philosophy. I believe that it will give them the necessary tools to learn much further than what I can teach them. It will also make them feel responsible of their own education rather than just passively receiving information from the teacher.