Sophie Cochiolo grew up in Clovis, California, where her interests in science and medicine were sparked from a young age through shadowing her father, an interventional radiologist. Graduating summa cum laude with university honors and distinction from California Lutheran University in 2023, she earned her degree in chemistry with a minor in art. During her undergraduate years, Cochiolo was awarded the John Stauffer Fellowship in Chemical Sciences, which allowed her to conduct full-time summer research under the mentorship of Jesus Cordova-Guerrero. Her research focused on synthesizing a metal-organic framework as a novel drug carrier system for anti-cancer drugs. Following her graduation, Cochiolo pursued a one-year post-baccalaureate fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, where she worked in William D. Figg's clinical pharmacology lab. Here, she contributed significantly to pharmacokinetic studies for novel anti-cancer drugs, gaining expertise in drug development and advancing cancer treatment.
Cochiolo is motivated to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Sciences to deepen her understanding of disease mechanisms and advance treatments specifically tailored to pediatric cancer. Her goal is to contribute to cutting-edge research that translates into tangible improvements in therapeutic outcomes and quality of life for patients.
Hometown: Clovis, California