Plan II Writing Fellows
Plan II Writing and STEM Fellows
Plan II offers peer-led academic support in writing and STEM subjects to students of all levels to help them develop their skills.
Writing Fellows are Plan II students who will work with their peers to help them clarify their ideas, tighten the structure of their arguments, polish their prose, and generally support them in developing a clear writing voice and style.
Schedule Spring 2026--Writing Fellows
week of Jan. 20 - April 27, excluding March 16 - 20
Mondays: 10 a.m. - noon
Tuesdays: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursdays: 10 a.m. - noon
Fridays: 10 a.m. - noon
Email planii.writingfellows@gmail.com to request a one-on-one appointment time.
STEM fellows are accomplished in a range of topics including physics, biology, chemistry, math, calculus, statistics, pre-med and more.
Schedule Fall 2025--STEM Fellows
starting the week of Jan. 20, excluding March 16 - 20
Tuesdays, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 3-5 p.m.
Email planii.stemfellows@gmail.com to request a one-on-one appointment time.
For more information, including scheduling and availability, check the Plan II Newsletter.
Roopa Bindingnavele - Lead STEM Fellow
Hi! I’m Roopa, a Mathematics and Plan II major pursuing minors in History and English. It is my last year here at UT and I am currently applying to medical school. I love all things STEM and am also a peer mentor in the FRI stream microbe hackers. I am excited to help students with material from math to lab reports! I also have a lot of experience with all things pre-med from degree planning to preparing for the MCAT. I have also worked with people from all different STEM majors in creating a four-year plan and can help fit together your major with the Plan II requirements. When I’m not in class, I love to bake, do yoga, read books, and watch movies with friends.
Samantha Lien Ho - Writing Fellow
Hi! I'm Sam, and I'm a junior majoring in Special Education and Plan II, with a certificate in Creative Writing. Outside of Writing Fellows, I have experience working as a calculus and Spanish tutor at the Sanger Learning Center; a FIG mentor; a TA for the Plan II Signature Course, the Familiar Essay; and a math and reading tutor for Teach for America. On campus, I enjoy doing disability advocacy through Best Buddies, discussing equity and representation in education through Education for All, and volunteering wherever I can. In my free time, I love watching movies with friends, cooking, crocheting, running, reading, and of course, writing! My passions are teaching and words, and I love helping others find their authentic voice and tell their stories.
Anna Iskra - Writing Fellow
Hey y’all! I’m Anna, a second-year Mathematics and Plan II dual major. Outside of office hours, you can catch me evaluating pieces for Apricity Magazine in the Quad, tinkering away with ECLAIR Robotics in the GDC, or digging into research in the PMA (shoutout 16th floor!). I know better than anyone that writing can often feel like a self-torturous odyssey, so I’m here to support you through every step of the creative process. Feel free to bring me anything from philosophical papers to personal essays to experimental fiction—I love every form of the written word and I’m happy to dive into all of them!
Will McKinney - Writing Fellow
Hi! My name is Will McKinney. I’m a fourth-year Plan II/ Italian Studies double-major with minors in English Literature/History and a BDP certificate in Conflict Resolution, Prevention, and Management. I love the ocean, spending time outside, reading about theology, and hosting dinner parties! I have first-hand experience applying to and receiving the following: President’s Award for Global Learning Scholarship, Junior Fellows Program Scholarship, and the Plan II Honors Thrice Scholarship. I am passionate about helping people develop their writing style and rhetorical effectiveness.
Alan Shaji - STEM Fellow
Hi! I’m Alan, a junior majoring in Neuroscience and Plan II Honors with a BDP Certificate in Patients, Practitioners, and Cultures of Care and a Minor in Statistics and Data Science on the pre-med track. I’m deeply interested in pursuing medical school, with a particular focus on nephrology. I’ve conducted extensive research in kidney disease at the Center for Renal Precision Medicine under Dr. Kumar Sharma at the Long School of Medicine, and I’m currently involved in research on adult neurogenesis with Dr. Kimberly Nixon at UT Austin. I’ve also served as a TA for BIO 311C with Dr. Sathasivan for four semesters, where I discovered a strong passion for teaching and mentorship. I’m especially excited about helping students build confidence in the sciences, think critically about complex material, and connect coursework to real-world medicine. Ultimately, I hope to become a physician leader and educator who bridges research, clinical care, and education.
Molly Tompkins - Lead Writing Fellow
Hi! I’m Molly Tompkins, a third-year student majoring in English and Plan II and pursuing certificates in Core Texts and Ideas and Creative Writing. During my time in college, I’ve enjoyed writing for The Daily Texan, writing and editing for the Hothouse Literary Journal, exploring new restaurants and running trails, and finding beautiful spots in which to read and write. I love most literature, and a few of my favorite books are: The Brother’s Karamazov, Little Women, and Harry Potter. I fully understand the love/hate relationship that can accompany writing. I love to dream of ideas, but I often experience frustration when I try to communicate them in writing. I’m excited to help others talk through their ideas and realize how to communicate their thoughts in a coherent, compelling fashion. I can provide support for any scholarship applications, but I have first-hand experience applying to and receiving the following: Parker Prize for Fiction 2024; Parker Prize for Literary Criticism 2024; Plan II Continuing Scholarship; Plan II Travel Grant; Liberal Arts Academic Excellence Award; Liberal Arts Council Study Abroad Scholarship; and COLA Exchange Scholarship.