About Us

Meet our instructors

Students learning together in a classroom

Our Mission

Bringing academic excellence to every student

Our mission is to bridge the gap in school resources by providing exceptional academic support and instruction. We strive to ensure students transition smoothly to high school while encouraging them to delve deeply into their areas of interest. Our team of instructors, hailing from prestigious universities from around the United States, is dedicated to helping students uncover their passions and emerge as leaders in their chosen fields.

Our Story

From competition to community

With the goal of expanding academic opportunities for more students, the club leaders of the Basis Independent Silicon Valley USABO Club launched the BioBrawl biology competition in May 2024, featuring eight teams and over 40 participants. Building on this success, we soon founded HelixEd to broaden our educational offerings beyond biology by introducing online summer courses in Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Economics for middle school to early high school students. These courses are taught by instructors from top universities and supported by high school TAs with excellent academic records, creating a vibrant and supportive learning community. Since its inception, HelixEd has grown into a thriving community, providing valuable educational experiences to an increasing number of students.

UC Berkeley campus

Our Team

Founders

Ivan Zhang

Founder and President

Economics, Biology, Chemistry Teacher

University of California, Berkeley

Ivan Zhang instructor portrait

Ivan Zhang graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and is a student at University of California, Berkeley double majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and Business Administration through the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship (LSBE) program. In high school, he completed Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry while self-studying AP Biology and AP Chemistry. Ivan also led the Biology and Economics clubs and organized a Biology Bowl for middle school students.

Angela Wang

Co-Founder

Biology Teacher

Washington University in St. Louis

Angela Wang instructor portrait

Angela Wang graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and is a student at Washington University in St. Louis. Having taken Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry, Angela has earned 5's on both AP Biology and AP Chemistry. To further her passion for biology, Angela self-studied for various biology olympiads, becoming a two-time British Biology Olympiad gold medalist and USABO semifinalist.

Our Instructors

Kevin Zhang

Web & Technology Manager

Computer Science Teacher

Carnegie Mellon University

Kevin Zhang instructor portrait

Kevin Zhang is an incoming freshman at Carnegie Mellon University studying Computer Science with a concentration in Robotics. In high school, he led his high school robotics team to compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships after going undefeated in their division in the NorCal Championships. He has taken AP Computer Science A and is proficient in Java, Python, Javascript, and C#.

Antony Wang

Biology Teacher

Georgetown University

Antony Wang instructor portrait

Antony graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and is a student at Georgetown University. He has a strong background in STEM and has earned a score of 5 on AP biology. Antony has also achieved a top 125 score on the USA Biology Olympiad.

Justin Le

AP Calculus BC Teacher

University of California, Berkeley

Justin Le instructor portrait

Justin Le is a Data Science major at the University of California, Berkeley with a background in machine learning, math, and biology. He is passionate about making complex topics easy to understand. With over 2 years of experience tutoring, he focuses on helping students build confidence and grasp challenging concepts.

Alex Chen

Economics, Mathematics Teacher

University of California, Berkeley

Alex Chen instructor portrait

Alex Chen is an incoming freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. As prospective economics and mathematics majors, he received a 5 in both AP Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, and took econometrics, game theory/behavioral economics, and money and banking. He was the president and primary instructor for the National Economics Challenge Club at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, and he led many teams to finals and championships. After being a peer tutor for two AP Economics teachers, he hopes to share his knowledge to others and spark the same passion for economics that he first felt when he started pursuing it.

Brianna Zheng

Physics, Economics Teacher

Princeton University

Brianna Zheng instructor portrait

Brianna Zheng graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and is a student at Princeton University. She has taken all of the physics APs, receiving 5s on AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, and AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. She received an Honorable Mention at the United States Physics Olympiad. She hopes to share the beauty of physics and its connection to everyday occurrences with others.

Rex Ouyang

Precalculus Teacher

University of California, Berkeley

Rex Ouyang instructor portrait

Rex Ouyang is a student at the University of California, Berkeley studying Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science. At Formula Electric at Berkeley, he is a simulations electrical engineer. Rex has taken mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, relativity, waves and optics, statistical mechanics, multivariable calculus, abstract linear algebra, real/complex analysis, and convex optimization through UC Berkeley's physics, mathematics, and computer science offerings. He has a strong interest in applying computation to problems in the mathematical and physical sciences.

Vivian Long

Chemistry Teacher

Wellesley College

Vivian Long instructor portrait

Vivian graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and is studying Chemistry and Mathematics at Wellesley College. She has taken AP Chemistry as well as a college-level chemistry courses. She has experience as a chemistry peer tutor, a teaching assistant, and a research assistant.

Jack Xu

Economics Teacher

University of Michigan

Jack Xu instructor portrait

Jack Xu graduated from William Fremd High School and is a student at University of Michigan, studying Business Administration and Data Science through the Ross School of Business. He has taken and scored 5s on all of the AP Economics exams offered and spent his past year as an intern for his teacher’s AP Macroeconomics class.

Sidhant Chaliha

Physics Teacher

Princeton University

Sidhant Chaliha instructor portrait

Sidhant Chaliha graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and a student at Princeton University, studying physics and mathematics. He has taken all of the AP Physics exams offered, has scored numerous bronze medals at the US Physics Olympiad, and he considers himself a lifelong student of physics, with the belief that it holds the deepest possible description of nature.

Derrick Liu

Chemistry Teacher

Johns Hopkins University

Derrick Liu instructor portrait

Derrick Liu graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and is a at Johns Hopkins University studying chemical engineering. He has taken Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and college-level introductory and inorganic chemistry and excelled in all courses. Derrick also has extensive tutoring experience, having been a teaching assistant for introductory chemistry at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and a mathematics tutor at AlphaStar academy.

Emily Dai

Chemistry Teacher

University of California, Berkeley

Emily Dai instructor portrait

Emily Dai graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and is a student at University of California, Berkeley studying chemistry. She has taken Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and college-level introductory chemistry. Emily has tutored high schoolers at Berkeley High School and is a tutor for the UC Berkeley Peer Tutoring Center.

Cindy Xue

Economics Teacher

University of California, Berkeley

Cindy Xue instructor portrait

Cindy Xue graduated from Torrey Pines High School and is a student at University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business, studying Business Administration and Data Science.

Our TAs

Liam Tran

Calculus BC TA

Basis Independent Silicon Valley

Liam Tran instructor portrait

Liam Tran is a Senior at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley.

Eric Li

Biology TA

Basis Independent Silicon Valley

Eric Li instructor portrait

Eric Li is a rising senior at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. He has excelled in honors biology and participated actively in the USABO club, enriching his understanding of the field of natural sciences. He aspires to empower others to learn biology by sharing effective learning tools and resources.

Larry Zhao

Biology TA

Basis Independent Silicon Valley

Larry Zhao instructor portrait

Larry Zhao is a rising junior at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. He has achieved gold for both the UKBC and the BiBO. He also made quarterfinals in the NBB, and teaches for the middle school branch of the USABO club.

Carolyn Zhang

Economics TA

Mission San Jose High School

Carolyn Zhang instructor portrait

Carolyn is a rising junior at Mission San Jose High School with a strong interest in economics and mathematics. She has 3 years of teaching experience and has taken AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics. Carolyn is actively involved in her school’s Math Club and DECA chapter, where she serves as Director of Finance and placed 1st at California’s SCDC.

Edward Han

Physics TA

Basis Independent Silicon Valley

Edward Han instructor portrait

Edward Han is a rising 9th grader at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. He has USAPhO Honorable Mention. Passionate about physics and math, he hopes to share his enthusiasm for physics with students and explore the subject together.

Nathan Zhao

Chemistry TA

University of California, Los Angeles

Nathan Zhao instructor portrait

Nathan Zhao is a senior at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. He has achieved gold for duos and bronze for team in the Berkeley Chemistry Tournament (BCT). He has also received a 5 on AP Chemistry.

Lucas Quan

Physics TA

Basis Independent Silicon Valley

Lucas Quan instructor portrait

Lucas Quan is a rising Senior at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. He has taken AP Physics 1 and got a 5. He has received the same number of USAPhO gold medals as Sidhant Chaliha. He was also on the BISV science bowl team B as a physics main.