Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation

Sophia Salinas recently graduated from Malden Catholic High School for Girls in Spring 2024 and will continue her undergraduate career at the University of Massachusetts Boston. During her high school career, Sophia conducted independent research under the MIT LAMM Moon Project Internship. Her first research project focused on expanding the possibilities of using the Tardigrade-produced protein DSUP to enhance radioresistance in human DNA. Her second research project aimed at increasing hydroponically grown watercress crop production by stimulating plant growth and eliminating pathogenic organisms through UV-C radiation exposure. Sophia has also been named a Young Biotech Scholar by the MIT Biotech Group and the Harvard Biotech Club. Outside of research, Sophia founded College Reach, a program that collaborates with the Malden Teen Center to provide Malden residents with college resources. This includes hosting informational meetings with university admissions officers and financial aid experts, as well as providing informational articles about the college process through the College Reach website. In her free time, Sophia enjoys writing poetry, learning new languages, traveling, and spending time with her family.