Mentor: Huilin Li, Ph.D.

Research Focus: Investigating the structural pharmacology of trpm4 channel

Experience: Sofia earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Alcorn State University. She has participated in several research projects, such as exploring curcumin drug treatment of an ovarian cancer cell line, evaluating the economic impacts of childhood obesity, and studying health disparity, increased obesity and cancer-triggering concerns in Mississippi. This latter project was presented at the 4th Annual Advancing Mississippi Conference and detailed in a publication. In addition to her research experience, Sofia has extensive tutoring experience in STEM subjects, supporting students from all academic levels.

Undergraduate Institution: Alcorn State University

Hometown: Voronezh, Russia

Publications

*Completed during time as a VAI graduate student

*Liu Y, Hu J, Xue C, Huang W, levleva S, Lu W, Du J, Cao Z. 2026. Noncanonical calcium-independent TRPM4 activation governs intestinal fluid homeostasis. Nat Commun.

Sarkar S, Taylor A, Dutta P, Bajaj M, Nash J, Ravola M, Ievleva S, Llyod C, Ola P, Jenkins B, Sengupta B, Roy D. 2021. Health disparity and COVID 19: a retrospective analysis. Health Sci Rep 4(3):e345.