Sophia Plata, Ph.D. '15 will join the Harvey Mudd College School of Engineering faculty in January 2024. Plata, who studies alternative water treatment and the water-energy nexus, aims to solve critical contaminant and energy challenges across industrial applications to increase water reuse. At present, Plata serves as a visiting assistant professor at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. 

Plata is an active member of the American Society for Engineering Education, she is committed to advancing underrepresented communities in STEM and has held regional and national leadership positions in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. She completed her bachelor of science degree in civil engineering at Widener University in 2015 and earned her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Southern California in 2021.