Ms Sara Esperanza Matendo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
🌍 Sara Esperanza Matendo is an Assistant Professor and PhD candidate at the Technical University of Madrid, specializing in hydrology and water resource management. With experience as a hydrological planning technician and consultant, she has contributed to flood modeling, water diagnostics, and sustainable resource projects across Spain, Latin America, and Africa. Sara’s research focuses on soil salinity mitigation and irrigation innovation 🌱💧. Fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, and Italian, she’s a dedicated UN volunteer and active in the Young Water Professionals network. Her work bridges hydrology, sustainability, and global development 🌐📊.
Publication Profile
Orcid
Education
Sara Esperanza is a dedicated PhD candidate at Matendo Technical University of Madrid 🌊📚. She earned her Master’s Degree in Hydrology and Water Resource Management from Alcalá University and Rey Juan Carlos University in 2020 💧🏞️. With a passion for environmental sustainability, she previously completed her Bachelor’s in Agro-Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Madrid in 2018 🌱🌾. Sara’s academic journey reflects her commitment to advancing water resource management and agro-environmental solutions. Based in Madrid, Spain 🇪🇸, she continues to deepen her expertise and contribute to research that addresses pressing environmental challenges.
Experience
Ms. Sara Esperanza is an Assistant Professor and Ph.D. Candidate at the Technical University of Madrid, specializing in hydrology and hydraulic studies. Her research focuses on integrating hydrological modeling and remote sensing for soil salinity mitigation and food security. She has contributed to international projects, including seed initiatives in Uganda and Kenya aimed at improving access to water and wastewater treatment innovation. Sara also served as a UN Consultant for solar thermal energy policy in São Tomé and Príncipe. Her previous roles include consulting, hydrological planning, and flood modeling. 🌍💧🌱👩🔬📊
Volunteering
Ms. Sara Esperanza has a diverse background in social work and research. From January to April 2015, she supported the Morobe Development Foundation by drafting academic research proposals, conducting book reviews, and assisting in research efforts to secure funding for WASH-related projects. Her work helped improve water, sanitation, and hygiene in communities. Additionally, from 2015, Sara worked with Cibervoluntarios on Digital Social Work, where she empowered individuals lacking access to technology by promoting digital literacy. Her efforts enabled marginalized groups to integrate technology into their daily lives, fostering growth and social inclusion. 📚🌍💧💻
Networks and Memberships
Sara Esperanza is an influential professional dedicated to water sustainability and youth empowerment. As part of the Young Water Professionals Spain – International Water Association (IWA), she managed international relations, increased visibility, and launched initiatives to enhance water management and sustainability. She promoted social and environmental campaigns and improved member training through webinars and events. At La Puerta de África, she advanced research on African affairs, Agenda 2063, and youth empowerment. As project manager for the AYOKA Social Innovation Lab, she worked to bridge African, Afrodescendant, and European emerging leaders. 🌍💧📚🌱👥
Research Focus
Sara Esperanza Matendo’s research primarily focuses on soil hydraulic properties, hydrological modeling, and the effects of arid and semi-arid environments on soil behavior. Her work includes estimating soil properties in salt-affected agricultural fields under different wetting conditions and utilizing infiltration models like Hydrus 1D to determine soil characteristics. She also explores spatio-temporal variability in storm events and its impact on hydrological modeling, aiming to improve predictions for water management in challenging climates. Her studies contribute to understanding soil-water interactions, essential for sustainable agriculture and resource management. 🌱💧🌍📊
Publication Top Notes