Luis Perez
Location
New Haven, CT
Ivy Bound since 2026
Undergrad
College of the Holy Cross
Prepared to Tutor:
Tests
SAT
ACT
PSAT
STEM & Non-STEM Subjects
AP Physics 1
Biology
Chemistry
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
Algebra I & 11
Trigonometry
Geometry
About me
Luis Perez is a physics educator and researcher with a Ph.D. in Physics from Washington University in St. Louis, where his doctoral work focused on the relationship between mitochondrial physical properties and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. He also earned his Master’s in Physics from Washington University and his Bachelor’s in Physics from the College of the Holy Cross. Luis has extensive research experience in biophysics, cell imaging, data analysis, and mathematical modeling, along with several years of teaching and lab instruction experience. He brings a patient, clear, and analytical teaching style, helping students build confidence while strengthening their understanding of physics, math, and scientific problem-solving.
Education
Washington University in St. Louis
Ph.D. in Physics — May 2025
Attended: August 2019 – May 2025Washington University in St. Louis
Master of Arts in Physics — July 2019
Attended: August 2017 – July 2019College of the Holy Cross
Bachelor of Arts in Physics — July 2017
Attended: August 2013 – July 2017
Honors: 3x Cum Laude
Test Scores and Credentials
Test Scores:
SAT: 1520 (780M, 720V)
PSAT: 1400
Research Experience:
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Baylor University, Center for Astrophysics and Space
Engineering Research (PI: Ke Qiao, PhD)
May 2016 - August 2016
• Worked with a research group and faculty advisor to study astrophysical phenomena
• Studied characteristics and properties of laboratory dusty plasmas, also known as
Complex Plasmas
• Used Gasous Electronic Conference radio frequency reference cell for experimental
procedures
• Analyzed data using computer software such as ImageJ, Matlab, Microsoft Excel
Research Experience:
Graduate Research Fellow, Washington University in St. Louis (PI: Shankar Mukherji, PhD &
David Piston, PhD)
September 2019-Present
• Developed model correlating mitochondria biophysical properties to metabolism in beta-
cell like mouse pancreatic MIN6 cells
• Maintained pancreatic cells in culture, along with various transfections/staining protocols
• Used Nikon Spinning Disc Confocal Microscope for live cell imaging protocols,
perturbing cells with different media conditions and external stimuli/drugs
• Analyzed data using computer software such as Mitograph, ImageJ, Matlab, R
Graduate Research Fellow, Washington University in St. Louis (PI: Shankar Mukherji, PhD)
November 2017-July 2019
• Developed model correlating organelle size and abundance in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
• Fluorescently labeled six organelles, and an ATP-FRET sensor in yeast strains to
investigate metabolism
• Used Nikon Inverted Confocal Microscope for imaging procedures
• Analyzed data using computer software such as ImageJ, Matlab, Mathematica