About Trevor

Introduciton

Hello and welcome to my website. My name is Dr. Trevor Bontke, but please just call me Trevor. As someone who has been deeply immersed in academia, both as a student and a teacher, I have a profound love for learning and sharing knowledge. Tutoring is more than a hobby for me; it's a passion that brings me immense joy, especially when I get to witness the success of those I help.

I recently defended my PhD dissertation on high-pressure superconductivity and currently work full time as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Houston. At this time, I am working on a laser synthesis system to produce high-temperature superconductors, with the aim of realizing room temperature superconductors.

In my free time, I enjoy various activities such as spending time at the gym to stay active, playing video games with family and friends for leisure, and exploring Houston on my bike. I also have a keen interest in learning new skills, constantly seeking opportunities for personal and professional growth. One of my current long-term goals is pulling off a handstand push-up.

My Journey

Born in Central Texas, I grew up on a dairy farm surrounded by cattle and horses. Unsurprisingly, I learned to ride early on and began riding competitively in my early teens, which continued until I graduated high school. During this time, I also taught horseback riding to many kids and adults at a summer camp. Though it was a big part of my life as a young adult, I have since traded my leather saddle in for a less adventurous, but equally enjoyable bike saddle.

At the University of North Texas, I studied physics and chemistry from 2012 to 2016, graduating with two bachelor's degrees in science. Even during my undergraduate studies, I actively assisted students in learning math, chemistry, and physics through various student tutoring programs and personal sessions. In particular, I led student study groups for Dr. Sushama Dandekar's organic chemistry classes, helping new students grasp the course material.

During this time, I took my first steps into research by joining Dr. Justin Youngblood's organic chemistry lab to work on organic solar cells. Shortly after, I spent a summer as a research fellow at CDC Chamblee Campus, focusing on identifying biomarkers of diundecyl phthalate in the OAT Branch. In my final year at UNT, I collaborated with The University of Texas at Dallas on researching the magnetic properties of cobalt nanoparticles, under the guidance of Dr. Vladimir Drachev and Dr. Ali Aliev.

Before joining The University of Houston's graduate physics program in 2018, I worked as a substitute teacher in a low-income school district. Additionally, I contributed to a non-profit organization funded by TRIO grant programs, including Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, and Educational Opportunity Centers. These programs focus on assisting disadvantaged high school students and adults in attending college through counseling, guidance, educational assistance, and tutoring, with the aim of breaking the cycle of poverty in their local communities. Working with students from the UB/UBMS programs gave me a new appreciation for the educational opportunities I had been afforded. It also provided strong motivation for me to offer my services at discounted rates, making them affordable and accessible to low-income and disadvantaged students who may otherwise be unable to afford tutoring.