Howdy!
My name is Sophia. I began my life stomping around in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains of Arkansas, where I eventually earned my B.S. degree from the University of Central Arkansas in 2022. In undergrad, I worked in Dr. Arijit Mukherjee's lab at the University of Central Arkansas, studying plant-microbe symbioses. Through internships and coursework, I found a deep, unexpected love for entomology (despite being a former bug-hater) and was lucky to connect with Dr. John Mola at Colorado State University, where I began my grad work in 2023. I graduated with my M.S. in Ecology in 2025.
I am presently still posted in my graduate lab as a Research Associate and Lab Manager, where I am gratefully working with John and our other lab members to study bees and build out our group's education and outreach program. In my free time, I love volunteering on local farms, fishing, birdwatching, and crafting.
I am very early career and have very broad interests, from bees to sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices to science communication to art. I am slowly working to merge all of those things into a dream career, bit by bit. I am so passionate about my work and sharing science and nature with the world. I am open to work, collaborations, creative pursuits, and other opportunities, so please feel free to contact me if anything on this site speaks to you!
-- Sophia