Teaching & Mentoring
I teach chemistry, geology, and planetary science courses for high school to graduate students
“Science is not only a disciple of reason but also one of romance & passion.”
STEPHEN HAWKING
I have undergone professional pedagogical training for five years and acquired STEM teaching certification from the Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington University. I have taught several classes as undergraduate and graduate student and as a postdoc, both offline and online. At UTSA, I teach both undergraduate and graduate courses for the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences.
- EPS 3373 Geochemistry | UTSA Core Curriculum | Fall 2023 and 2024
- EPS 6973 Chemistry of the Solar System | UTSA Elective | Spring 2024
- EPS 6973 Astrobiology | UTSA Elective | Fall 2024
- Awarded ‘Outstanding Teaching Assistantship’ at Washington University for Earth & Environment and Hydrology.
- Developed open educational resources (OER), including video lectures on geochemistry and planetary science, used in flipped classroom model. Link to YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKaushikMitra
- Pedagogical training [CIRTL] completed with ‘Practitioner’ Level certification in Professional Development for Teaching.
- Taught a short course on ‘The Quest for Life & Habitability on Mars’ for the New York Master Teachers Program
Teaching experiences
Teaching philosophies…
Utilizing a Three-Prong Approach:
- Discussion-focused classrooms.
- Collaborative, student-owned learning environments.
- Application-based learning with real-world problem-solving.
- Flipped classroom approach with recorded lectures and in-class discussions, quizzes, and use of OERs.
- Promotes collaboration through activities like Think-Pair-Share, crowdsourcing an OER for Geochemistry, and Mind Maps.
- Real-world applications include deconstructing research papers and capstone projects such as writing a proposal similar to NASA’s FINESST.
"In learning, you will teach; in teaching you will learn"
Classrooms at UTSA
PHIL COLLINS
Teaching & Mentoring Feedback
The most interesting lecture I have ever heard a graduate student give
Prof. Robert criss, washington Uni.
Kaushik has an exceptional teaching & mentorship style that results in incredible skill development for his mentees and students. The research experience & confidence in my abilities I have today is a direct result of the opportunities & guidance from him
ELLIE MORELAND, GRAD STUDENT@ RICE uNI.