Hi! My name is Sophia Cestar. I am a senior at Marin Academy in San Rafael, California. STEM classes are consistently the highlight of my academic experience, and the Marin Academy Research Collaborative has allowed me to continue to pursue my passion in science through research. My time in the program has led me to develop my interest in zebrafish heart regeneration. 

Outside of academics, I Co-Captain the Marin Academy Swim team in the spring, and swim with the Olympic club team in the fall and winter. I also have a passion for volunteering and teach swimming to underprivileged 2-4 year olds and lead the first California chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation to raise funding for Type 1 Diabetes research. Additionally, I spent my childhood years in Hong Kong and speak Mandarin. In my free time, I enjoy sailing, spending time at the beach, traveling with my family, and hiking.