Assistant Teaching Professor
Link Hall 367
kmarti87@syr.edu
Areas of Expertise:
- Curriculum Development
- Conceptual Understanding and Conceptual Change
- Classroom Assessment and Evaluation
- Dynamics and Control of Atmospheric Vehicles
Karen Martinez Soto holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech, complemented by an M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering (Virginia Tech) and B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering (The University of Oklahoma). Her research focuses on the development of aerospace curricula that support conceptual understanding, particularly in Sophomore and Junior level courses. This research includes the study of how to teach and assess student’s understanding and mastery of difficult engineering concepts. Her aerospace background focused on dynamics and control of atmospheric vehicles, particularly unmanned multi-rotor aircraft.
Honors and Awards:
- Best Student Paper Award at the ASEE Virtual Annual Conference | July 2021
- Best DEI Paper Award at the ASEE Virtual Annual Conference | July 2021
Selected Publications:
Martinez Soto, K. D., & Murzi, H., & Jurkiewicz, J., & Hernandez, R. A., Decolonization of Academia: Is the Word Latinx a Form of Colonization? ASEE Annual Conference, June 2023
Martinez Soto, K. D. & Murzi, H., Using Modular Assignments to Assess MATLAB in a First Year Engineering Course. ASEE Southeast Section Conference, March 2023
Woods, J. C., & Murzi, H., & Chowdhury, T. M., & Huggins, N., & Martinez Soto, K. D., Study Abroad While Studying Abroad: International Students’ Participation in the RSAP Study Abroad Program. ASEE Virtual Annual Conference, July 2021
Chowdhury, T. M., & Murzi, H., & Martinez Soto, K. D., & Schuman, A., Measuring the Impact of a Study Abroad Program on Engineering Students’ Global Perspective. ASEE Virtual Annual Conference, July 2021