# Gabriela Villalobos-Zúñiga
**Source**: https://wp.unil.ch/persuasivelab/2022/02/gabriela-villalobos-zuniga/
**Parent**: https://wp.unil.ch/persuasivelab/2021/10/a-paper-summary-careless-participants-are-essential-for-security-research/
I create persuasive tech. My goal is to understand what motivates individuals to chase their objectives. Particularly, I support people to improve or change their behavior with temporary technology support. Health, Physical Activity, and Wellbeing are my focus fields. My research lies in the intersection between **behavior change**, **human-computer interaction**, psychology and software development.
I enjoy creating software, sharing knowledge and training and leading people. These activities were my routine while working back in Costa Rica -my fascinating home country-.
In my PhD research, I study **human motivation**. Particularly, the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (based on Self-Determination Theory) on physical activity. I do this through long-term mobile technological interventions.
When not wearing my researcher hat, I travel to new cities to enjoy concerts of my favorite music bands. I also love cooking and recently got immersed in the yoga world.
See more information on my work [here](https://wp.unil.ch/persuasivelab/2020/07/behavior-change-technology-and-physical-activity-agon/).
Contact: gabriela[dot]villalobos[at]unil[dot]ch
For more information visit my personal website: [www.gvillaloboz.com](https://www.gvillaloboz.com/)
#### Related Posts
### [Lahari Goswami](https://wp.unil.ch/persuasivelab/2025/06/lahari-goswami/ "Lahari Goswami")
19 June 202517 March 2026
### [Sadiq Aliyu](https://wp.unil.ch/persuasivelab/2021/02/sadiq-aliyu/ "Sadiq Aliyu")
27 February 202117 March 2026
### [Pooja Rao](https://wp.unil.ch/persuasivelab/2020/09/pooja-rao/ "Pooja Rao")
18 September 202017 March 2026
#### About Gabriela Villalobos-Zúñiga
[View all posts by Gabriela Villalobos-Zúñiga →](https://wp.unil.ch/persuasivelab/author/mvillalo/ "Gabriela Villalobos-Zúñiga")