Sofi Jeffrey Resume (PDF)

Chemical engineering × Mathematics

Mathematical thinking.
Real-world processes.

Hello - I’m Sofi! I'm a five-year student at Bucknell University where I work at the intersection of mathematical modeling, chemical engineering, and food and beverage R&D.

From fermentation kinetics to mass transfer, I’m interested in the science behind what we make—and how we make it.

Explore my work Download resume PDF

Bucknell University · B.S. Chemical Engineering + B.A. Mathematics
Expected May 2028

Sofi Jeffrey working with a glass extraction column in a chemical engineering laboratory
Models meet the physical world. Chemical engineering laboratory
700+Product samples tested
Dogfish Head sensory co-op
60+ bblProduction & packaging per week
Anheuser-Busch pilot brewery
2 disciplinesChemical engineering + Mathematics
One quantitative approach

01 / Industry experience

From data to the brewery floor.

Two co-ops connecting analytical work with sensory testing, product development, and pilot production.

Jan – Jul 2026

Milton, Delaware

Boston Beer Co. · Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Sensory Co-op

Applied transport modeling and data analysis within a brewery sensory program.

  • Developed a mass-transfer model to estimate dimethyl sulfide (DMS) levels in a reclaimed CO2 skid.
  • Analyzed historical brewing data with principal component analysis (PCA) in Python.
  • Facilitated internal product testing of 700+ samples.

Focus

  • Mass transfer
  • Python / PCA
  • Sensory testing

Jun – Dec 2025

St. Louis, Missouri

Anheuser-Busch · Research Pilot Brewery

Research Pilot Brewery Co-op

Supported new-product work through hands-on brewing, laboratory analysis, and process documentation.

  • Managed production and packaging of 60+ barrels (bbl) of product per week.
  • Collected and interpreted laboratory data for newly developed products.
  • Revised standard operating procedures for small-batch mixing and pilot-scale fermentation.

Focus

  • Pilot brewing
  • Laboratory data
  • Process documentation

02 / Selected modeling work

Putting mathematics to work.

Three food and beverage applications: fermentation kinetics, gas recovery, and coffee extraction.

Research · Spring 2023 – Spring 2025

Modeling single-yeast
sour beer fermentation.

How can a kinetic model represent changing yeast metabolism during fermentation?

The model
Developed a kinetic model to represent metabolic retooling during sour beer fermentation, including lactic acid production.
The experiment
Conducted an experimental fermentation with continuous gravity and pH measurements.
The analysis
Calibrated model parameters to capture fermentation behavior across multiple datasets.
  • MATLAB
  • Differential equations
  • Parameter estimation
Read the research abstract PDF

The abstract documents an early stage of this research.

Fermentation modeling workflow Measure gravity and pH during fermentation, model fermentation kinetics, and calibrate parameters using multiple datasets. Conceptual workflow, not experimental results. OBSERVATION → DESCRIPTION 010203 MeasureModelCalibrateContinuous gravity + pHFermentation kineticsParameters across datasets

A conceptual view of the research workflow.

Industry application · 2026

DMS in reclaimed CO2.

Bringing a transport model to a practical brewery question.

Question
How can mass transfer be used to estimate dimethyl sulfide levels in a reclaimed CO2 system?
Contribution
Developed a mass-transfer model for a reclaimed CO2 skid during my Dogfish Head sensory co-op.
  • Mass transfer
  • Process modeling
  • Beverage R&D

Academic project · Spring 2025

The transport behind a cup of coffee.

Turning an everyday brewing process into a first-principles model.

Question
How can flow, mass transfer, and diffusion during coffee brewing be represented mathematically?
Contribution
Applied engineering assumptions and simplifications to build a model of a Mr. Coffee brewer in COMSOL Multiphysics.
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Diffusion
  • First-principles modeling

03 / Technical toolkit

Model. Measure. Make sense of it.

An analytical toolkit grounded in experiments and experience with physical processes.

Mathematical & process modeling

Translate physical behavior into equations, assumptions, and computational models.

  • Differential equations & parameter estimation
  • Fermentation kinetics & mass transfer
  • MATLAB · COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Aspen HYSYS · Aspen Properties

Data analysis & computation

Work between mathematical structure and experimental or production datasets.

  • Python · principal component analysis
  • Mathematica · Java
  • Microsoft Excel · VBA
  • LaTeX · technical documentation

Experimental & pilot work

Understand the measurements, equipment, and people behind the model.

  • Pilot brewing & packaging
  • Fermentation monitoring
  • Laboratory data interpretation
  • Sensory testing support · SOP revision

04 / Mathematical research

The theory behind the approach.

Research in geometry and operator theory strengthens how I formulate questions, identify patterns, and communicate precise arguments.

Peer-reviewed publication

Published 2025

The Mathematics Behind a Visionary Artist: The Envelopes of Emma Kunz

Co-authored with Sumit Dhar and Pamela Gorkin in The Mathematical Intelligencer, 47, 222–228. Derived and applied mathematical envelope methods to compute algebraic curves in three artworks.

Read the published article
Manuscript under review

Summer 2023 – Spring 2026

Matrices with Multiple Crouzeix Extremal Functions

Authored an operator theory manuscript under review at the Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal. Generalized and proved patterns involving extremal functions for n × n matrices.

Explore earlier coursework & technical writing
Separation processes: course reference guide PDF Mathematical envelopes: 2024 course paper PDF

These are earlier academic materials. The 2024 course paper is distinct from the published journal article above.

05 / About me

Curiosity, with a quantitative foundation.

I’m studying chemical engineering and mathematics at Bucknell University. My recent work has brought those disciplines together in food and beverage R&D, where a question about a product can become a question about transport, kinetics, or data.

I also care about making technical ideas understandable. Teaching calculus and mentoring other tutors have made that part of my work especially rewarding.

Beyond the lab: backpacking, poetry, creative writing, and French language and culture.

Education

Bucknell University

B.S. in Chemical Engineering
B.A. in Mathematics

Expected May 2028 · Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Relevant coursework
Chemical Engineering Mathematical Modeling; Food Science and Technology; Heat and Mass Transfer; Reaction Engineering; Engineering Thermodynamics; Separation Processes.

Teaching & leadership

Quantitative Support Assistant
Bucknell Teaching and Learning Center · Aug 2023 – Present

  • Led weekly supplemental calculus lessons for 20+ students and hosted Calculus I–III study sessions.
  • Mentored and trained new and returning staff.

Vice President, MAA Bucknell Chapter
2024–2025 academic year

Organized mathematics events and hosted Bucknell’s first integration bee.

Let’s connect

Good questions make
interesting work.

I’m interested in opportunities in food and beverage R&D, process modeling, and fermentation. Let’s talk about where mathematical thinking can make a practical contribution.

Email me LinkedIn GitHub