Teaching Consultants Program

Tracy Asamoah is a second-year Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago and an NSF National Research Trainee (NRT) in Artificial Intelligence for Molecular Engineering. Her research focuses on developing sustainable materials and electrochemical systems for next-generation energy storage. She hopes to incorporate artificial intelligence and data-driven modeling into her work to accelerate materials discovery and design. Tracy’s academic journey reflects her commitment to advancing clean energy technologies through interdisciplinary research that bridges computation and experimentation. Outside the lab, she is actively involved in mentorship and collaborative initiatives within the PME and UChicago community.

Amanda Doyle is a 5th year Ph.D. student in Geophysical Sciences studying macroevolution, paleobiology, and macroecology. Her dissertation work focuses on body-size evolution and interhemispheric differentiation of bivalve faunas. She has been interested in effective science communication and teaching since she began working as a tutor as a first-year undergraduate student and has been an active participant in outreach activities like the South Side Science Festival throughout her graduate education. She is passionate about the natural world and learning, greatly enjoys going to museums in her spare time, and is a consummate bibliophile and cinephile.  

Siobhan Finnerty is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science researching the localized political effects of international development. At the University of Chicago, she has served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses in comparative politics and research methods. Before coming to Chicago, she worked as a GIS Analyst for a DC firm specializing in telecommunications. She holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago as well as a BA in International Relations and Geography from George Washington University. As a CCTL Fellow, Siobhan hopes to develop resources that will support effective and empowering teaching in social science fields.    

Esther Kim is a joint Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Literature and French & Francophone Studies (in Romance Languages and Literatures). Her current dissertation project, a comparative analysis of North African and Francophone Korean diasporic literatures, illustrates how multilingual authors navigate their linguistic repertoires to reshape identity, re-articulate memory, and forge new form to cultural expression. Esther has previously taught elementary and intermediate Arabic, and she currently teaches intermediate French. In Spring 2026, she will teach her designed seminar on North African literature and cinema that explores diaspora, multilingualism, and postcolonial identity through literary texts, critical theory, and film.

Vivian Li is an M.A. student in Philosophy and East Asian Civilizations and Languages.

Avi Oberoi is an M.A. candidate in Computational Social Science with a background in Computer Engineering. He has worked as a Software Engineer in the Healthcare Sector. Avi's research interests lie at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence Alignment and adaptation, drawing on disciplines such as Psychology, Sociology, and Cognitive Science. He has served as a Teaching Assistant for Deep Learning and Cognitive Models courses. Avi is also exploring and advocating for the adoption of generative tools in pedagogy. 

Maggie Sandholm is a Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy. Her research examines what psychopathologies reveal about the nature of consciousness, perception, and subjectivity. She taught as both an instructor and as a teaching assistant for various courses in philosophy of mind and ethics, and she received the Wayne C. Booth Graduate Student Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2022. She also serves as Senior Graduate Fellow at the CCTL and enjoys collaborating with instructors on how to develop inclusive and student-centered learning practices.