Sophie takes on each student personally, working to understand both the individual and the goals behind the mentorship. LabMom services are modular and flexible, allowing support to be tailored to academic challenges, executive function skills, confidence-building, or application planning.

 

Transparency and communication are central to Sophie’s style. Students and families value clear expectations, honest feedback, and practical strategies that help students take ownership of their progress. The skills developed through mentorship extend beyond school, strengthening relationships with teachers, mentors, peers, and future colleagues.

​

Sophie McCoy is an Associate Professor of Biology with extensive experience mentoring students across the educational pipeline. She has served in academic leadership and advisory roles and has conducted alumni admissions interviews for highly selective institutions, including Phillips Academy and Brown University, for over a decade.

​

Sophie is herself a graduate of Phillips Academy and earned an Sc.B. with Honors in Chemistry from Brown University. She completed her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago, where she received the award for Best Dissertation in the Biological Sciences. As a graduate student, she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and a National Defense Science and Engineering Fellow.  She completed postdoctoral training as a Marie Curie Fellow in the United Kingdom and has held faculty positions at major research universities for the past ten years.

 

Years of experience advising students of all ages, formal mentorship and leadership training, and her experience as a mom shape Sophie’s calm, direct, and supportive coaching style. If you don’t see what you’re looking for in the current mentorship or application packages, Sophie is happy to design a customized plan.