Tianran Zhang, a PhD candidate in earth sciences, has received the 2025 Guarini Graduate Student Teaching Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to undergraduate education.
What do you consider your hometown and where did you get your undergraduate degree?
I’m from Beijing, China, and I went to Colorado College for undergrad.
Why did you choose Dartmouth for your graduate degree?
I think it was mainly the expertise of my advisor, the brilliant faculty members, and the close-knit grad community of the Earth Sciences department that attracted me to Dartmouth.
What inspired you to pursue this field of research?
What drew me into the field of geology is seeing how much we can know about the ancient history of the Earth from simply studying the rocks. But what has been keeping me going is realizing how much we still don’t know about the planet that we live on.
What does it mean to you to receive the Guarini Graduate Student Teaching Award?
It is a huge honor and a much-appreciated recognition. I’ve always valued teaching highly, and have spent a lot of effort to become a better educator, so I’m really delighted to receive this award. It is particularly meaningful to receive the award as an international student, with English being my second language.
What do you like best about teaching, and what draws you to it? (What brings you joy about teaching?)
I think for me, there is immense joy in seeing my students “click” – seeing them grasping a new concept or achieving something they have not done before.
I also love the fact that this is a mutual learning experience. Students can always bring new perspectives and I always enjoy being challenged to think outside the box.
What has been your favorite teaching experience at Dartmouth, and why?
My favorite teaching experience at Dartmouth is being a TA on our off-campus field program, “The Stretch”. I’m a firm believer in the practical approach to learning, so I really enjoy seeing and guiding students to learning geological concepts by actually examining the rocks or observing real-life processes.
Plus, the nature of the field program also helps breaking down the barrier between students and instructors to facilitate a deeper connection with the students.
What do you hope your students take away from your classes or mentorship?
I simply hope that my students can leave with a spark of curiosity, plus a bit more knowledge, about our planet. I also hope that all my students and mentees can feel included, and feel like they have a place in the field of Earth Sciences.
What advice would you give other graduate students who are new to teaching?
I would encourage them to be prepared, always keep an open mind and try to enjoy the process! It might get overwhelming or challenging, but teaching as a grad student can ultimately be a very rewarding experience and an incredible opportunity for self-growth.
I would also encourage them to utilize the amazing resources that are available at Dartmouth, including the workshops by DCAL, feedback from the faculty, and the help/advice from other more experienced graduate student teachers.
What are your post-graduation plans, and do you see teaching as part of your future?
I will be starting a postdoc at UC Berkeley this summer. I don’t have a solid long-term plan yet, but one of my top priorities is to have a teaching component in my future career.
