Maria Karla Sotolongo earned her bachelor’s degree in 2020 and her master’s degree in 2024, both in mechanical engineering (ME) at Florida International University. There, she is pursuing her PhD in ME while working as a research coordinator for the Partnership in Research and Education Consortium in Ceramics and Polymers (PRECCAP) and assisting the Applied Research Center in its Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP). Her dissertation consists of describing environments through geometric equations using Bayesian Statistics to enhance confidence levels in environmental analysis. With PRECCAP, she has coordinated research activities, managed proposal writing, and mentored undergraduate and graduate students. The MSIPP project is focused on using LiDAR sensors and robotic platforms to detect salt closures at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. As a faculty member, she plans commence a project to detect changes over time of point clouds to enhance non-destructive evaluation methods for dynamic environments. As an educator, she will emphasize the “why” to integrate real-world applications, case studies, and project-based learning into the curriculum to encourage critical thinking, problem solving, and innovation. Further, Sotolongo will employ continuous assessment and feedback mechanisms to monitor student progress and tailor instructional strategies to ensure each student receives personalized support and guidance.