Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program - Meet Sofia

Sofia ’26 took a lifelong fascination and turned it into hands-on research with the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program at Hope College.

“I have always been fascinated by how our universe works and how our Lord fashioned it and mankind,” she explained. “Learning about biochemistry means I have the opportunity to observe how so many small molecules and different reactions form our world.”

Originally from Naperville, Ill., Sofia has been transformed by the excellence in undergraduate research that Hope College offers.

When she’s not filling her days with rigorous studies or working as a teaching assistant, you can find Sofia in Dr. Leah Chase’s laboratory. Her work is complex and critically important. “We investigate the regulatory mechanisms associated with the protein System xc-, a cell membrane transporter implicated in the body’s regulation of oxidative stress. I am working on identifying and analyzing the ways in which the abundance, turnover rate and localization of System xc- is altered following post-translational modification with ubiquitin,” she shared.

Sofia’s fascination with God’s creation has led to a lifelong passion for research. She plans on attaining a Ph.D. in biochemistry and an M.D. to pursue research of complex biomolecular interactions. “I want to use the skill set of a physician to advance my research goal of creating targeted molecular therapies, perhaps in gynecologic oncology,” she said.

Sofia is thankful for donors like you. “I hope you realize the impact you have on students. This impact has inspired me to do what I can to pay it forward. I hope that by mentoring younger students in research or in my work as a T.A. [teaching assistant], I might have a similar impact on those working to discover their passions,” she added.

Change a student’s life with your gift to the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program today.