Safa A
- Research Program Mentor
MS candidate at University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Expertise
Biology, chemistry, and Genetics
Bio
I'm deeply passionate about biology and the life sciences, and I love helping students discover that same excitement. With five years of experience as a learning assistant and teaching assistant for introductory biology courses, I've guided countless students through challenging material and helped them build real confidence in their abilities. My approach is all about meeting students where they are and giving them the tools and support they need to succeed, no matter their starting point. Outside of teaching, I enjoy staying curious and exploring new things, whether that's diving into the latest research in the sciences or spending time outdoors appreciating the natural world. I believe that a great mentor is someone who not only knows their subject but genuinely cares about each student's growth, and that's the energy I bring to every session.Project ideas
How Energy Drinks and Caffeine Affect Reaction Time and Heart Rate
The student would test whether common energy drinks, coffee, or caffeine pills measurably affect reaction time (using free online reaction time tests) and resting heart rate compared to a control. They'd design a self-study or recruit family members, track variables over multiple trials, and analyze whether the "boost" people feel is reflected in actual performance data. This connects to exercise physiology, neuroscience, and nutrition, topics that resonate with student athletes and anyone who has grabbed a Red Bull before a test. All you need is a phone, a free reaction time website, and some beverages.
Does Screen Time Before Bed Actually Affect Sleep Quality?
The student would track their own (or family members') sleep patterns over several weeks, comparing nights with heavy screen time in the last hour before bed versus no screens at all. They'd log variables like time to fall asleep, number of times waking up, total hours slept, and a self-reported quality rating each morning. They could also layer in factors like blue light filter usage versus no filter to test whether those settings actually help. The data gets analyzed for statistical significance using Google Sheets or Excel. This connects to circadian biology, melatonin suppression, and neuroscience, all while investigating something every teenager personally deals with and argues with their parents about. No equipment needed beyond a phone and a spreadsheet.
Analyzing Microplastic or Water Quality Data from Public Databases
The student would pull open-source environmental data from databases like the EPA's Water Quality Portal or NOAA's Marine Debris dataset and use Google Sheets or Python to find patterns, like whether contamination correlates with urban density or seasonal changes. Climate and pollution are consistently top concerns for Gen Z, making this a natural fit.