Sofia is a Master’s student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and a member of the Multi-Scale Environmental Graphical Analysis (MEGA) Lab. She is an AAUS Scientific Diver and NAUI Master Diver, and her focus is coral reef research with the application of innovative technologies such as Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry. Her thesis aims to decipher new relationships among reef fish and corals using a trait-based approach. With this approach, instead of classifying organisms based on their taxonomic identity, Sofia is grouping them based on similar physical and behavioral characteristics (i.e., traits).

After completing her Master’s degree, Sofia plans to continue with her education by attaining a Ph.D.

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