Sofia was born and raised in New York, with a few years living in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Thailand. She has always been drawn to the ocean, and first learned to scuba dive in Hawaii at the age of 13. She is particularly enthusiastic about corals and their critical role in tropical marine ecosystems. Prior to arriving at KAUST, she worked with the Coral Restoration Foundation to help restore the reefs of the Florida Keys. Sofia earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Cornell University. She is continuing her education at KAUST as a master’s student to contribute to marine exploration, conservation and ecotoxicology research, and to develop her fieldwork, lab-based and analytical skills.