Karla Muñoz Esquivel

Dr. Karla Muñoz Esquivel serves as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Computing at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Letterkenny campus, and contributes to the multidisciplinary WiSAR Lab's mission of delivering cross-disciplinary applied research with commercial impact.

Education:

• B.Eng. (Hons.) in Electronic Systems from ITESM, Mexico City campus
• M.Sc. (Dist.) in Computing and Intelligent Systems and Pg. Dip. from Ulster University (specializing in Teaching at Higher Education and Project Management)
• PhD from Ulster University (dissertation: PlayPhysics: An Emotional Student Model for Game-based Learning)

Research Focus: Her work integrates User Modelling with Sensor technologies to advance Human-Computer Interaction and Affective Computing, particularly in E-learning contexts. Current investigations leverage Artificial Intelligence and Data Science to optimize educational technologies and IoT applications across healthtech and agritech domains.

Scientific Recognition:

• 8-over-8 prize for best Master's specialization (December 2008)
• Runner-up for British Computer Society Distinguished Dissertation Award (2013)
• PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (2012-2017)
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Project Leadership: Co-led Interreg European Funded projects SEDOC and IT4Anxiety (2018-2021), securing EU AlBan and Vice-Chancellor Research Scholarships. Actively pursues international collaborations with socio-economic impact through the WiSAR Technology Gateway.

WiSAR Lab Affiliation: Contributes to this ERDF co-funded initiative developing IoT solutions for medtech, manufacturing, and marine industries, emphasizing practical commercialization of academic research through direct industry partnerships.