Sofiya is a graduate student in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, specializing in Plant Breeding and Genetics. She joined the Schnable Lab in 2024 and is working under the able guidance of Dr. Vladimir Torress- Rodriguez on gene expression data and CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing in corn. Sofiya earned her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (Honors) from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. She is passionate about directing her research efforts towards crop improvement through modern, data-driven approaches to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.