about

I’m a mixed methods researcher with over nine years of experience across behavioral science, human factors engineering, and cognitive neuroscience. I specialize in integrating qualitative and quantitative insights to understand how people engage with information—especially in high-stakes or emotionally charged environments. My work bridges basic research and applied product development, with a focus on perceptual design, memory, and emotional salience.

I earned my PhD in Cognition and Neural Science from the University of Utah in 2025. My academic research examined how emotional meaning influences visual attention and memory during reading, using tools like eye-tracking and EEG. I’ve also worked in clinical and translational settings—collaborating with engineers and clinicians to design and evaluate medical technologies that support communication, recovery, and neurological assessment.

Most recently, I’ve been consulting as a Human Factors Engineer, supporting FDA submissions and usability testing for neurotech startups. Whether running user interviews, designing an experiment, or analyzing behavioral data, I’m driven by the same goal: to make complex systems feel more intuitive—and more human.

background

I grew up surfing, drawing, and singing in the car along coast highway in California.

Before moving to Utah, I spent 11 years living in SF/Oakland where I worked with children and adults navigating communication disorder (e.g. ASD, aphasia), traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative disease in a variety of settings. I also completed clinical & graduate training in communication sciences and disorders (speech pathology), and have helped develop assistive technologies for people with learning disabilities.

When not working or traveling, I’m usually running on steep forest trails with my dog or trying to trust my feet on granite crystals.