James Okafor, PhD

Honestly, getting through Stanford’s Engineering PhD program was brutal, but it taught me everything about persevering through impossible research challenges. Now I use that experience to help students tackle their own academic mountains – whether that’s debugging a methodology chapter or surviving a particularly harsh committee review.

My journey started with a BS in Computer Science, followed by a PhD in Electrical Engineering with a focus on machine learning applications. Eight years later, I’ve worked with over 350 students across STEM fields, business analytics, and interdisciplinary programs. What I love most is taking someone’s messy first draft and helping them see the brilliant research that’s actually hiding in there.

I’m particularly strong with quantitative research methods, data visualization, statistical software (R, Python, MATLAB), and translating technical concepts into clear academic writing. IEEE, APA, and ACM formatting styles are second nature to me, and I’ve helped students navigate everything from NSF grant applications to conference presentations.

My success rate speaks for itself – 96% of my students successfully defend their work, and many have gone on to publish in top-tier journals. What my clients appreciate most is my straight-talk approach. I’ll tell you when something isn’t working, but I’ll also show you exactly how to fix it. No academic jargon, no beating around the bush – just practical guidance that gets results.

The Stanford startup culture definitely rubbed off on me – I believe in rapid iteration, testing ideas quickly, and pivoting when necessary. Sometimes your research question evolves, and that’s totally normal. I help students embrace that flexibility while keeping their timelines on track.

Outside of work, I’m obsessed with basketball (Go Warriors!), love experimenting with Ethiopian cooking, and I’m currently learning to play the saxophone (my neighbors are very patient). Life’s too short to only think about research 24/7.