Chris Soria, a PhD candidate at UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science Fellow, and Wonderfest Science Envoy, investigates the impact of social networks on health outcomes, focusing on cognitive health and dementia in aging populations. Soria uses causal inference methods to examine how personal social networks affect cognitive aging and health disparities, and helps with developing dementia classification methods applicable across international settings. His work also explores mortality and disease inequalities among various groups, including political partisans, socially isolated individuals, and migrants, and studies how diversity within social networks can positively influence health outcomes. Additionally, Soria is exploring the use of large language models to enhance survey data collection and augment the research process in social science.

Outside of his academic pursuits, Soria’s personal interests reflect an appreciation for literature, nature, and his home state of California. A devoted fan of John Steinbeck, with whom he shares a birthplace, Soria particularly cherishes “East of Eden” as his favorite work by the author. His love for exploration extends to hiking and discovering lesser-known areas, often accompanied by his pet dogs, Gus and Bentley. At home, Soria’s enthusiasm for nurturing life has led to a veritable jungle of houseplants. In his spare time, he stubbornly persists in playing chess, his strategy best described as “optimistic confusion.” Each game serves as a humbling reminder that his true talent lies in creatively losing pieces rather than channeling Magnus Carlsen.