ESP Biography



KRISTEN COTNER, MIT Bioengineering 2015




Major: 20

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: 2015

Picture of Kristen Cotner

Brief Biographical Sketch:

likes to build awesome things that are vaguely related to life

also likes music (plays viola, violin, piano, guitar, ukulele, and kazoo)

loves reading. huge harry potter nerd.

also huge doctor who nerd.

also just nerdy in general. hey, this is MIT!

but is cool enough to play soccer, volleyball, badminton, and (most recently) ice hockey

plus can cook. like a boss.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

X8868: Extemporaneous 5-minute Classes on Absolutely Anything in Splash 2014 (Nov. 22 - 23, 2014)
Ever wondered about how to properly handle a crocodile? Ever wanted to know how to spot a split infinitive? Now's your chance to find out ALL the answers! Give us a title, we'll teach a 5-minute class on the topic! The weirder the topic, the more you'll get to see us embarrass ourselves as we make up answers on the spot. Bring your silliest, awesome-est, ludicrous-est ideas! (shameless idea cred to Anna '14)


E7476: Programming Life: Introduction to Synthetic Biology in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Play god with cells! We'll explore the fast-emerging field of synthetic biology, with a focus on learning how to develop genetic circuits (like electrical circuits but with DNA) to control cellular behavior. By the end of the class you'll be able to design your own biological circuit and understand how to build it in real life - theoretically, anyway!


X7477: Swing Dancing with the Stars in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Out-class all your friends with some fancy swing moves at the next dance! Learn the basic steps plus awesome turns & spins, and maybe even a dip if you're adventurous. Plus we have tasty brownies!


C7502: How to Fold Anything!: Computational Origami in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Lots of people like folding origami, but have you ever wondered how those models were actually designed? Here in the 21st century, we have computers to help us! Come learn the theory behind techniques like "circle packing" and Robert Lang's "tree method," and even try your hand at designing and folding your own model! Already an origami expert and looking to break into design? Never made a paper crane, but interested in folding as a computational problem? This class is for you!


E6941: Synthetic Biology in Spark! 2013 (Mar. 16, 2013)
Play god with cells! Learn how to develop genetic circuits (electrical circuits but with DNA) to control cells.


X6972: Swing Dancing with the Stars in Spark! 2013 (Mar. 16, 2013)
out-class all your friends with some fancy swing moves at the next dance! learn the basic steps plus awesome turns & spins, and maybe even a dip if you're adventurous. plus we have tasty brownies!


M6132: Exploring Linear Algebra Through Love in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
d/dt(<3) = ? eigen(<3) = ? My usual approach is useless here... Sheldon likes Amy, but Amy doesn't like Sheldon. Both Amy and Sheldon are romantics, but they don't know how to express their feelings to each other, and their efforts to help or hurt usually end up doing the opposite. What happens? In this class, we'll show you one way mathematics could predict Amy and Sheldon's future love (or loveless) life. Starting with basic calculus and ending with one of the most significant results of Linear Algebra, we'll give you a crash course in college math, and probably make some more couples predictions along the way.


S6343: Cook like a Chemist in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
Cooking: it's just like chemistry, but you get to eat your experiments! Find out how to make perfect pancakes and mile-high meringues every time. Then chow down on our concoctions and take the recipes home to amaze your family and friends! No prior cooking experience necessary


A6502: Intro to Swing Dancing in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
Impress all your friends with some super classy swing dancing! Learn the basics of swing, and a few fun moves to get you started. Beginners welcome; it’s a ton of fun.


X5632: Cooking Probabilistically in Spark! 2012 (Mar. 10, 2012)
Sometimes the best ideas are total accidents. Come explore how to cook randomly! We'll look at some interesting applications of learning done by chance, and apply that to a few different types of food -- quesadillas in particular. Come, be adventurous, cook stuff that you'd never expect to work! **Students with diary/wheat allergies would not be a good fit for this class, as a large portion of it will be taste-testing. We will always tell you what you are eating, before you eat it, and you can choose not to add anything in your dish.


W5818: Swing Dancing! in Spark! 2012 (Mar. 10, 2012)
Impress all your friends with some super classy swing dancing! Learn the basics of swing, and a few fun moves to get you started. Beginners welcome; it's a ton of fun.