Meet the MURFs: Sofia Calabretta

Sofia Calabretta is a member of the Class of 2028 in the School of Foreign Service majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. As a MURF, Sofia has worked on launching an academic journazine with her faculty mentor Emily Mendenhall and on other research projects at the intersection of global health, migration, and the environment. On campus, she is a proud member of the Georgetown Track and Field team and leads Hoyas for Immigrant Rights. In her free time, Sofia loves salsa dancing and volunteering.

Tell us about a research project you worked on as a MURF

Over the summer, I participated in a field school studying food security and stigma in the Guatemalan highlands. This utterly transformative experience was pivotal for my evolution as a MURF, as I engaged in direct participant observation and conducted interviews that taught me how to contextualize information into critical and meaningful understandings. I learned how to think critically within and critique the field of global health. I observed that collectivist communities view individual sickness as a communal responsibility and rely on community strength and support for the wellbeing of the whole.

What is a skill you’ve gained from your participation in the MURF program?

I’ve practiced ethnographic methods, the process of conducting research, refining research questions, the nitty-gritty of launching a journal or publication, and coding for analyzable data within studies. Perhaps more valuable, I’ve also learned how to collaborate across a group in academic and research settings and the role of storytelling in science.

What advice would you give to students considering the MURF program?

Find a faculty mentor who shares the same passion, curiosity, and excitement that you do. Professor Mendenhall’s energy continually motivates me in my research, academic goals, and aspirations. Allow yourself to be challenged!

What do you enjoy doing outside of the program?

I love collaborating with the Georgetown and greater DMV community on social justice work, especially in the immigrant justice space, and dancing any opportunity I get!