RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

User Experience Researcher 
Adobe (contract) | 2022- Present
Design, conduct, and analyze research to uncover actionable, data driven insights to advocate for users and elevate their user experience with the product
  • Lead creative + rigorous studies (i.e., moderated interviews, unmoderated tests, concept testing, longitudinal studies, etc.) for foundational and generative research to identify and understand underserved user needs and determine opportunities within workflows to add value to the product​
    •  Optimized product readiness for launch through critical user insights, mitigating potential roadblocks and challenges  
    • Influenced crucial design iterations, boosting user experience and product performance
    • Delivered research-driven insights that shaped product roadmap, aligning it with user needs and market trends
    • Shared timely and actionable insights to cross-functional partners (PM, PMM, Design, Engineering) to help inform and guide business strategy and decision making

Graduate Researcher
UCSD + Scripps Research  | 2015 – 2021
Led a team of 20 to conduct quantitative and qualitative research to evaluate the effectiveness of educational scaffolds, such as explanation prompts and counterfactual questions for 1500 children and adult respondents. 
  • Authored 3 first author, peer reviewed publications in high-impact journals and presented at 5 national conferences to broadly share findings and insights to academic and general audiences, including stakeholders

Research Technician
California Institute of Technology | 2013 – 2015
Collaborated with senior scientists to investigate and analyze key proteins in the brain that regulate behavior
  • Co-authored 3 publications in high-impact journals

HIGHER ED + OUTREACH 
Interim SI Coordinator 
UCSD | 2021-2022
Hired, trained, and managed 114 Supplemental Instructors in 46 unique courses to support undergraduates through collaborative learning opportunities. 
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Interim Graduate Coordinator
UCSD | 2021​
Counseled current graduate students and the Dept. Chair on university policy and procedures, provided academic advising, and managed $2M budget for 80 graduate students 

DiVERGE (Diversity Visitation Event for Research and Graduate Education) mentor
Scripps Research | 2021
Served as mentor to undergraduate students from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds, providing feedback on internship/graduate applications
 
Outreach Co-Chair for Network for Women in Science (NWiS)
Scripps Research | 2015-2019
Advocated for inclusive policies and developed programs to expand participation among historically marginalized groups

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Neuroscience                                                                                                                          Scripps Research Institute (Neuroscience) and UCSD (Psychology)                                                  Advisors: Dr. Leslie Carver and Dr. Caren Walker (UCSD)   
B.S. in Biological Sciences                                                                                                      University of California, Santa Barbara  

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