In my industry roles, I've specialized in integrating research on non-verbal human behaviors into product design, with a particular focus on face tracking, avatar technology, and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR). My expertise in the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) serves as a daily compass for my work, guiding the application of cognitive science principles to both research design and data collection. I excel in environments that are grounded in scientific rigor and centered on enhancing the human experience, bringing a well-rounded skill set in both psychological and user experience research (UXR) methodologies.

January 2020 - Present

• Integrate user research insights into product strategy for AR/VR avatars, leveraging expertise in behavioral analysis, facial science, and qualitative research to continuously refine features, address user pain points, and enhance overall user satisfaction.
• Leverage user data insights to inform strategic AI enhancement decisions, conducting heuristic evaluations to identify 10+ opportunities for software or artistic improvements each month; recently led to a 7% increase in user preference following adjustments made to a model.
• Lead research projects, guiding 3+ concurrent initiatives involving usability testing, A/B testing, surveys, and user-centered design to align with product goals and user needs; introduced a novel approach to face tracking that outperformed the closest alternative by 2%, significantly advancing tracking accuracy.
• Conduct usability testing and iterative prototyping, delivering insights that guide software optimizations, resulting in enhanced accuracy, aesthetics, and overall user experience.
• Establish quality benchmarks using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) and UX evaluation frameworks, standardizing practices across 7+ research projects to ensure consistent model performance and alignment among teams.
• Coordinate with 5+ cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and design, to implement research findings and align development efforts with UX goals and quality standards.

Facial Action Coding System (FACS)

Behavioral research

Augmented Reality 

Virtual Reality

UXR Methods

Microsoft Office 

Google Workspace

iWork

Agile

Scrum

Waterfall

SellHound

Usability Analyst

May 2018

• Led a comprehensive usability testing initiative for a website and corresponding mobile app, collaborating with stakeholders to resolve 20+ usability issues before launch, ensuring a successful rollout with zero critical bugs.
• Developed and implemented participant recruitment strategies, using cognitive walkthroughs, semi-structured interviews, and direct observation to gather data, which led to significant insights that informed key design improvements.
• Presented findings and recommendations to the CEO and stakeholders, leading to the implementation of changes within one week and resolving 80% of identified issues, ensuring pre-launch usability readiness and a smooth user experience.

Data analysis

Data visualization

Meta (via VertiSystem)

Senior Research Assistant

June 2018 - January 2020

• Implemented data collection processes and established clear data standards, increasing usable data by approximately 30% and reducing collection errors.
• Defined and enforced data quality standards, enhancing data integrity and ensuring more consistent and reliable datasets for analysis.
• Streamlined communication with 30+ daily participants, reducing no-show rates by 25% through effective engagement and logistical support.
• Optimized data management processes using internal data management tools, improving data sharing efficiency across teams and facilitating faster project turnaround times.
• Trained 3 new Research Assistants, sharing best practices in data collection and workflow processes, leading to increased data output and enhanced team productivity.