Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry • Professor • Tutor

Understand it. Practice it. Walk into exams calm.

I tutor chemistry (general and physical chemistry) plus physics and math. Sessions are structured, friendly, and focused on results—so you’re not just “getting through homework,” you’re building durable problem‑solving skills.

Online worldwide In‑person (East Valley, AZ) 1:1 or small group

Subjects

High-yield tutoring for grades, exams, and long-term mastery—without the stress.

ChemistryHigh school → upper‑division

General & Intro Chem

Stoichiometry, equilibrium, acids/bases, thermochemistry, kinetics, electrochemistry, and more.

AP / IB Exam prep Lab help
Physical ChemThermo, quantum, kinetics

Physical Chemistry

Thermodynamics, quantum fundamentals, kinetics, and electrochemistry—clear intuition plus reliable problem-solving strategies.

Thermo & ΔG Quantum models Derivations & exam prep
Physics & MathConcepts → process → repetition

Physics I/II & Calculus

Vectors, forces, energy, E&M, and the calculus/algebra that make problems feel predictable.

Problem solving Derivations Confidence building
Not sure if your course fits?
Send your syllabus or topic list—I’ll tell you quickly if I’m the right match.

Student feedback

Selected quotes and summary metrics from official university course evaluations.

4.55 / 5Overall instructor effectiveness (CHEM111)

Students rated overall instructor effectiveness at 4.55/5.

4.52 / 5Overall instructor effectiveness (CHEM103)

Students rated overall instructor effectiveness at 4.52/5.

“Communicated new ideas and concepts very effectively… lots of opportunities for clarification and questions.”

— University course evaluation comment

“The way he teaches is very fascinating… it always makes sense; it never gets boring.”

— University course evaluation comment

“He is just a wonderful professor and over all good human. I am excited to work with him next year.”

— University course evaluation comment

“Very knowledgeable and used that knowledge to explain things in multiple ways.”

— University course evaluation comment

“Dr. Pochas was very helpful during office hours and was always willing to help me out when I was struggling.”

— University course evaluation comment

“He made the class fun and engaging… He answered every question he was asked very well.”

— University course evaluation comment

“Really great at explaining material so that it's easy to understand and remember… very easy to talk to and to get ahold of.”

— University course evaluation comment

“He was wonderful—engaging, entertaining, passionate, and funny. Created a safe space to answer questions.”

— University course evaluation comment

“Pochas is an extremely kind and compassionate professor… always willing to help and provide additional resources to ensure that the student is successful.”

— University course evaluation comment
Note: Full evaluation documents are available upon request. This site displays selected excerpts only.

Experience & credentials

You’re working with someone who teaches this material professionally—and knows where students usually get stuck.

Education

  • Ph.D., Physical Chemistry — Temple University
  • B.S., Chemistry — The Pennsylvania State University
Selected publications
  • Christopher M. Pochas, Extraction of Radiative and Nonradiative Rate Constants of Super-Radiant J‑Aggregates from Emission Spectra; J. Phys. Chem. B (2018) 122, 7185–7190.
  • Christopher M. Pochas & Frank C. Spano, New Insights on the Nature of Two‑Dimensional Polarons in Semiconducting Polymers: Infrared Absorption in Poly(3‑hexylthiophene); J. Chem. Phys. (2014) 140, 244902.
  • Christopher M. Pochas et al., Contrasting Photophysical Properties of Star‑Shaped vs Linear Perylene Diimide Complexes; J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2013) 135, 3056–3066.
I can also support study strategy, test anxiety, and how to learn efficiently (not just “do more problems”).

Teaching background

Assistant Chemistry Teaching Professor — Arizona State University
Aug 2025 – present

Course design and delivery for large general chemistry sections (in‑person + asynchronous online) and leadership of instructor/TA teams.

Chemistry Instructor — University of Northern Colorado
Jun 2024 – Aug 2025

Taught general chemistry (including a course of my own design), introductory chemistry lecture in large sections, an intro lab section, and supported physical chemistry. Responsibilities include demos, supervising TAs/SIs, and well-attended office hours.

Chemistry & Physics Lecturer — University of Colorado Boulder
Aug 2023 – Aug 2025

Taught general chemistry including ~300‑student sections, plus physics courses; exams, office hours, active learning, and TA/LA coordination.

How sessions work

  • Free consult (10 minutes): goals, timeline, and your biggest pain points.
  • Quick diagnostic: we identify the bottleneck (algebra, units, concepts, or method).
  • Targeted plan: I teach a repeatable process for each problem type and we practice it.
  • Optional follow‑ups: mini‑assignments and one‑page summaries to lock in patterns.



Rates

Straightforward pricing. Online worldwide or in-person in the East Valley (AZ).

$90 / hour1:1 tutoring

Best for targeted concept rebuilding, exam prep, and building a reliable problem-solving process.

  • Chemistry (general + physical), physics, and math
  • Zoom or in-person (East Valley, AZ)
$60 / hourSmall group (per student)

Great if you have a friend/classmate in the same course and want structured practice together.

  • 2–4 students
  • Same course / similar pacing recommended
Need something different (intensive finals prep, longer blocks, or recurring weekly sessions)? Tell me your timeline and I’ll suggest an efficient plan.

Contact

Tell me your course, what you’re stuck on, and your next deadline. I’ll reply quickly.

Fastest options

This page includes a Netlify-ready form. If you host on Netlify, submissions go to your Netlify dashboard and can also email you—no “open your email app” required.

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