Professional Experience
3M
User Experience Researcher, Customer Operations Insights Team. Sept. 2017 - Present.
Currently I am working with 3M in order to improve customer experiences when interacting with both our B2B and B2C interfaces. I have the opportunity to connect with a wide range of users from across the globe with usability tests, interviews, contextual inquiries, and surveys in order to gather insights for exploratory research and design validation. I work with a diverse team of designers, developers, and product owners from across a wide range of businesses.
User Experience Researcher, Customer Operations Insights Team. Sept. 2017 - Present.
Currently I am working with 3M in order to improve customer experiences when interacting with both our B2B and B2C interfaces. I have the opportunity to connect with a wide range of users from across the globe with usability tests, interviews, contextual inquiries, and surveys in order to gather insights for exploratory research and design validation. I work with a diverse team of designers, developers, and product owners from across a wide range of businesses.
Sandia National Laboratories
User Experience Researcher, Social Analytics Cyber Security. Jun. 2015 - Sept. 2017.
At Sandia, my work focused on improving the user experience of cyber security applications through contextual inquiry, usability testing, and heuristic evaluations. I also worked with the web design and development team to develop internal and external web sites and applications.
User Experience Researcher, Social Analytics Cyber Security. Jun. 2015 - Sept. 2017.
At Sandia, my work focused on improving the user experience of cyber security applications through contextual inquiry, usability testing, and heuristic evaluations. I also worked with the web design and development team to develop internal and external web sites and applications.
Iowa State University
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University. Jan. 2012 - May 2015.
My graduate research focused on how to facilitate collaboration between designers and engineers. My research also involved Immersive Computing Technologies and how engineers and designers can use this technology to inform their designs and work collaboratively. Over the course of my graduate study, I worked with undergraduates in design and engineering design programs to help them utilize VR in their design processes.
I also worked on a collaborative grant with the University of Michigan and Pennsylvania State University to study the role of cognitive style on the ideation flexibility of engineering students and the impact that teaming, framing, and heuristic tools have on ideation.
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University. Jan. 2012 - May 2015.
My graduate research focused on how to facilitate collaboration between designers and engineers. My research also involved Immersive Computing Technologies and how engineers and designers can use this technology to inform their designs and work collaboratively. Over the course of my graduate study, I worked with undergraduates in design and engineering design programs to help them utilize VR in their design processes.
I also worked on a collaborative grant with the University of Michigan and Pennsylvania State University to study the role of cognitive style on the ideation flexibility of engineering students and the impact that teaming, framing, and heuristic tools have on ideation.
3M
User eXperience | Industrial Design Intern, Maplewood, Minnesota. May 2014-Aug. 2014.
The User Experience and Industrial Design department within 3M is a unique mix of human factors professionals, psychologists, and industrial designers. This diverse group gave me the opportunity to work on a wide set of projects. I conducted a contextual inquiry of dentists using 3M dental products and competitive products. I also completed a visual identification user test to verify the effectiveness of new Scotchlite materials and designed the protocol for a user test of Augmented Reality Head Mounted Display Devices such as the Google Glass. My experiences allowed me to interact with many different divisions within 3M in a variety of different capacities. I was able to build my skills with tools like SolidWorks and Inkscape, in addition to tools internal to 3M.
User eXperience | Industrial Design Intern, Maplewood, Minnesota. May 2014-Aug. 2014.
The User Experience and Industrial Design department within 3M is a unique mix of human factors professionals, psychologists, and industrial designers. This diverse group gave me the opportunity to work on a wide set of projects. I conducted a contextual inquiry of dentists using 3M dental products and competitive products. I also completed a visual identification user test to verify the effectiveness of new Scotchlite materials and designed the protocol for a user test of Augmented Reality Head Mounted Display Devices such as the Google Glass. My experiences allowed me to interact with many different divisions within 3M in a variety of different capacities. I was able to build my skills with tools like SolidWorks and Inkscape, in addition to tools internal to 3M.
Exelon Nuclear
Balance of Plant Systems Engineering Intern, Cordova, Illinois. May 2011-Aug. 2011.
During a reactor outage in the plant, I conducted NonDestructive Leak Tests of the Hydraulic system responsible for engaging the control rods in order to manage the reactivity of the reactor. I also inspected the lines that penetrated into fire barriers in order to ensure continuity in the documentation for the renewal of the operational license for the plant.
Programs Engineering Intern, Cordova, Illinois. May 2010-Aug. 2010.
I generated the first compilation binder of the necessary license renewal examinations required for the 40 year license renewal of the reactor. I also completed the necessary training for NonDestructive visual tests, attaining a certification for performing nondestructive visual pressure testing examinations.
Balance of Plant Systems Engineering Intern, Cordova, Illinois. May 2011-Aug. 2011.
During a reactor outage in the plant, I conducted NonDestructive Leak Tests of the Hydraulic system responsible for engaging the control rods in order to manage the reactivity of the reactor. I also inspected the lines that penetrated into fire barriers in order to ensure continuity in the documentation for the renewal of the operational license for the plant.
Programs Engineering Intern, Cordova, Illinois. May 2010-Aug. 2010.
I generated the first compilation binder of the necessary license renewal examinations required for the 40 year license renewal of the reactor. I also completed the necessary training for NonDestructive visual tests, attaining a certification for performing nondestructive visual pressure testing examinations.
Iowa State University
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Iowa State University. June 2009-Dec. 2011.
Collaborated with graduate students and professors in order to complete various research projects pertaining to virtual reality. Interfaced with graduate students and research study participants in order to facilitate successful research studies. Prepared and presented a lecture and designed a hands-on demonstration to engage young girls interested in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Iowa State University. June 2009-Dec. 2011.
Collaborated with graduate students and professors in order to complete various research projects pertaining to virtual reality. Interfaced with graduate students and research study participants in order to facilitate successful research studies. Prepared and presented a lecture and designed a hands-on demonstration to engage young girls interested in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) fields.