Sofia Graça Aranha is a biologist and PhD student from the programme Marine, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Algarve, M.Sc in Marine and Coastal Systems and also, have a postgraduate degree in Marine Environmental Management. Throughout her academic and professional career she have always sought her development in the marine area. During her bachelor degree, she have studied the taxonomy of shark species of the genera Squalus and Cirrhigaleus. Sofia has developed a shark conservation project called 'Shark FREE' as part of her postgraduate studies in Brazil. Recently ,in the Master programme of Marine and Coastal Systems at the University of Algarve, she evaluated the trophic ecology and ecophysiology of seven deep-water shark species from the southwest coast of Portugal, using a novel methodology on sharks - the RNA / DNA ratios - as well as she also evaluated the diet and trophic position of these sharks using stable isotope analyzes (δ13C: 13C / 12C and δ15N: 15N / 14N). Currently, as a PhD student from CCMAR, she is continuing with the work developed for her master's degree, thus, expanding the focus to deep-water elasmobranchs and their survival rates from crustacean bottom trawlers, a project entitled DELASMOP.
In addition, she is the co-founder of the Rio de Janeiro chapter of the renowned marine protection NGO Sea Shepherd, having dedicated years of volunteer work in coordinating marine conservation projects and activities. As a volunteer, she have also worked on great white shark research projects (such as telemetry, ID, feeding) in South Africa, as well as assisted in research on tonic immobility in small sharks of the Triakidae and Scyliorhinidae families. Sofia is a dive master and host of a Brazilian diving TV show that depicts endangered marine animals (especially sharks). In addition to her work with sharks, she have also worked as a marine mammal observer on board a seismic vessel in the Rio de Janeiro coast.