Sophie is a qualified nurse who graduated with a second degree, majoring in Chemistry before joining CERG in July 2025. Sophie is studying how life history, health and epigenetics relate to chemical and structural changes in the forelimb bones of common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

 

MSc Project:

Based at the Cetacean Pathology Unit (CPU) in Auckland, Sophie's project uses Raman spectroscopy to examine the forelimb bones sampled from 130 common dolphins, spanning a full age spectrum (0-35 years) across both sexes. Specifically, Sophie is assessing if and how specific life traits such as sexual maturity, pregnancy, lactation and spermatogenesis, signal in the bone by measuring trace mineral and organic signatures. Her aim is to assess chemical and structural properties of bones in the context of dental and epigenetic age data, to identify markers of physiological change over time.

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Supervisors: Prof Karen Stockin, Prof Mark Waterland and Prof Keren Dittmer