Howdy! My name is Sofia and I am a Psychology major and Neuroscience minor, with a certificate in Applied Behavioral Health. I'm originally from Bogota, Colombia but I went to high school in Katy, Texas and I'm currently on the pre-PA (Physician Associate) track. I'm very passionate about mental health and psychology and decided to pursue my degree in Psychology to dive into that before going to PA school.
I started my research experience in the fall of my sophomore year in Dr. Burte's Spatial Thinking and STEM Learning Lab where I worked for three semesters. My project focused on investigating the way in which individuals navigate through space and how they think about directions. This experience opened up many opportunities for me within research and really taught me the value of participating in the research process. In Spring 2022 I transitioned to the CHANGE lab, led by Dr. Idia Thurston. This lab encompasses all the things that I am passionate about – healthcare, equity, mental health, diversity and empowerment among minority populations. I'm looking forward to learning more about these topics during the research process and applying that information and experience whenever I enter the healthcare field.
I am also a part of Texas A&M's MEDLIFE, an organization dedicated to providing healthcare and education through mobile clinics and development projects to communities in remote areas around the world. Outside of school and research, I enjoy cooking, reading, and spending time with the people I care about. I also love traveling and trying new food! After many semesters of research, I have grown in ways that I would have never just within the classroom. I truly believe that research is an irreplaceable experience, especially as an undergraduate, and I'm looking forward to helping others take advantage of this opportunity!