Resume
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
LeaD UX Researcher | Seattle, WA
Verizon | April 2024 – Present
Developed a comprehensive research roadmap for Verizon Skill Forward with edX to improve user experience, conversion rates, student retention, and program completion.
Defined and planned project approaches and methodologies to meet specific business goals and timelines within B2B environment.
Provided expert research consultation, support, and mentoring to colleagues across various work streams, fostering a collaborative research culture.
Promoted research impact within the organization to improve UX visibility and foster cross-functional partnerships.
UX Researcher | Redmond, WA
Meta, Reality Labs Research via Magnit | October 2021 – October 2023
Identified users’ jobs-to-be-done from remote ethnography and diary studies using Meta’s Project Aria glasses, and Ray-Ban Stories.
Crafted research studies incorporating proxy actions to capture use cases for planned technology in augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
Published design recommendations for explainable AI (XAI) from grounded coding of in-depth interviews and validated by intercoder reliability scoring.
Drove rolling research to rapidly iterate VR/AR based prototypes developed by cross-functional teams with weekly usability testing and reporting.
Demonstrated ingenuity in devising solutions within time and budget constraints while upholding methodological rigor.
Evaluated, hired, and managed vendors on large-scale data collection efforts.
Executed usability testing using a think-aloud protocol to evaluate an enterprise prototype of an LLM-driven qualitative analysis tool.
UX Research Expert | Seattle, WA
Applause | January 2019 – October 2021
Led comprehensive end-to-end research, encompassing moderated and remote unmoderated UX research across diverse sectors, including tech, healthcare, retail, and social media.
Delivered evaluative and generative research insights for various products: VR and AR devices, CGMs, IoT, mobile apps, virtual assistants, and websites.
Designed surveys using Qualtrics, crafted task assignments and developed interview guides to facilitate research.
Delivered benchmarking to clients utilizing NPS, USERindex, and heuristic evaluation.
Developed personas to steer research and design efforts effectively.
Successfully managed multiple research projects throughout various stages of the product lifecycle.
Led weekly agile prototype testing for client’s smart glasses, collecting qualitative feedback and quantitative benchmarking on voice assistant features and mobile app integration.
Managed B2B engagement with VR client ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their user needs and desired experiences.
Orchestrated and oversaw concurrent studies in supporting social media clients’ products.
Collaborated closely with internal and client stakeholders to align study objectives, recruitment strategies, and study execution plans.
Graduate Research Assistant | Bellingham, WA
Department of Anthropology, WWU | October 2012 – November 2013
Worked with lab manager and PI (Prof. Sarah Campbell) under a grant funded by WSDOT.
Evaluated usability and cultural sensitivity of various object management software for lab adoption.
Merged content using SQL from various databases into PastPerfect and WISAARD.
Streamlined department collections for accessibility to students and researchers.
Co-authored delivery of published grant report.
EDUCATION
Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA
Master of Arts in Anthropology | December 2017, Graduated
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (cur. Randolph College) | Lynchburg, VA
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology | May 2009, Graduated
PUBLICATIONS
Explainable Interfaces for Rapid Gaze-Based Interactions in Mixed Reality.
Yu, M., J. Harris, D. et. al. In Human-Center Explainable AI (HCXAI) Workshop at CHI 2024.
Using Generative AI to Produce Situated Action Recommendations in Augmented Reality for High-Level Goals.
Jones, B., Xu, Y., Hood, M.A., Kader, M.S., and Eghbalzadeh, H. In GenAICHI 2023: Workshop on Generative AI and HCI at CHI 2023. https://tinyurl.com/mut3m63y
CERTIFICATIONS
Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF)
How to Design for Augmented and Virtual Reality, August 2023
PHRP Online Training, Inc.
Protecting Human Research Subjects Online Trainings, October 2