WELCOME
I am a mixed-methods researcher with a PhD in cognitive psychology. I enjoy combining quantitative and qualitative research methods to understand user needs and develop meaningful user experiences.
How user research drives TomTom Navigation
In this presentation from the 2020 Car HMI Conference I explain how my team and I use a diverse methodological toolkit to shape the products we deliver to our end users.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
September 2021 - Present
USER RESEARCHER
ARRIVAL
September 2018 - September 2021
UX RESEARCHER
TOMTOM
January 2018 - August 2018
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEER
HUMAN INTERFACES INC.
August 2012 - May 2018
GRADUATE RESEARCHER
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
June 2017 - August 2017
UX RESEARCH INTERN
DELL TECHNOLOGIES
August 2014 - May 2017
TEACHING ASSISTANT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
September 2011 - July 2012
PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
August 2009 - July 2011
PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
SKILLS
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN & ETHNOGRAPHY
DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATION
EDUCATION
BA
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
2005-2009
I majored in ecology and evolutionary biology, graduating with a certificate in neuroscience.
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MA
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
2013-2015
I received my Master's Degree in cognitive psychology.
PHD
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
2015-2018
I received my PhD in cognitive psychology. I also earned the University of Texas Portfolio in Applied Statistical Modeling.
CROSS-CULTURAL RESEARCH
Cultural context plays a significant role in how people think and behave as well as what they believe and desire. For this reason, I have emphasized throughout my career, the value of understanding people within their context. Below are a few examples of the places I've conducted research.
Tanna, Vanuatu
In the summer of 2013 I spent ten weeks on the remote Melanesian archipelago of Vanuatu conducting international fieldwork. During this time I co-led a team of researchers to collect data for numerous projects on diverse topics ranging from folk biological beliefs to the development of supernatural beliefs. I used quantitative and qualitative research methodologies as well as informal ethnography. This work is exemplary of my ability to engage with multiple constituents and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
In 2018, I traveled to Amsterdam to collect contextual inquiry data on the digital life of our users. In collaboration with a local colleague, I went to the homes of users and interviewed them about the digital devices they use and how these devices solved daily challenges related to transportation and navigation.
São Paulo, Brazil
In 2019, I conducted remote interviews with locals from São Paulo, Brazil to garner a better understanding of how navigation products are used in the Brazilian market. This research is exemplary of the way in which a diverse cultural perspective can be obtained without incurring the major costs of travel.