Sofia was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University leading to her working for almost ten years in the network communications field holding various roles. The COVID-19 pandemic piqued Sofia’s interest in the scientific field, specifically in gaining a broader understanding of where diseases originate, how they are discovered and tracked, and how preventive measures are developed - in short, epidemiology. This was the main driver in pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the University of Southern California (2022).

In 2023, Sofia joined UCLA as an Administrative Assistant III, where she provides support to some of the faculty in the division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine. She joined the HALab in 2025 where she has assisted in analysis of malaria vaccine clinical trials data, as well as providing administrative support to Dr. Herman and the lab. Sofia’s interest in infectious disease continues to grow and is excited to keep learning at the HALab.

Outside of the lab, Sofia loves dancing, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family, including her puppy Potato.

Contact: smachuca@mednet.ucla.edu