Sofia Echavarria Email & Phone Number

I am currently a senior in the College of Engineering at Cornell University, majoring in electrical and computer engineering with a focus in environmental technology. I am fascinated in how emerging technology, research and development can ease the stress our society puts on the natural world. I have strong interests in conducting research that could have a tangible impact on our society. I am also very passionate about making a difference within the scientific community by representing the new wave of diverse scientists. As a young, gender-minority and Latina in science, I have had to persevere through adversity and sexism through being female-aligned while identifying as non-binary. Through my experiences conducting science while holding many underrepresented identities, I hold a unique perspective on ways to bridge the gap between students facing adversity and the scientific institutions that can support them. My interest in environmental research stems from my environmental engineering job at RMS Energy Consulting that I held for over 2 ½ years. During my time at RMS, I was exposed to a variety of projects and increased responsibilities in the environmental engineering industry in Southern California. I have led critical project development and research through this job giving me high level experience with a variety of environmental fields concerning Southern California. I collected market research data for workpapers, conducted engineering calculations, compiled training course for a Los Angeles utility and led business development efforts with SLAC (Stanford’s National Lab), MIT and other key stakeholders. Through this experience, I learned how to work with a variety of people and how to synthesize ideas into goals and objectives. In addition, I learned the importance of interdisciplinary thinking for the environmental field pushing me to pursue electrical engineering so I can apply it to environmental issues in a unique manner.