Meet Our Team

Having worked with thousands of people in her career, including both clients and participants, Trinh has developed a passion for employing innovative methods to improve products and services and with a goal of helping users and companies be more successful and productive. She feels incredibly fortunate that she gets to help form and create experiences that will pleasantly surprise and delight people. Trinh, originally from Vietnam, holds a Master’s Degree in Behavioral Psychology from Bastyr University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Idaho.

On the personal side, Trinh is married and has two boys. She enjoys playing sports and participating in outdoor activities. She is also the co-founder of Smartie Pants, a nonprofit organization that supports local women’s charities.

A native of Manchester, England, Justin studied industrial design and technology and holds a MSc (Master of Science) in Ergonomics from Loughborough University. “I define the company’s strategy and engage with clients, but more than that I’m passionate about new technology and how particular trends affect the experience of all different types of users,” Justin says. A martial arts enthusiast, Justin holds a fourth­ degree black belt in Shotokan Karate.

Hailing from Britain originally, Andy completed an MSc (Master of Science) degree in Ergonomics and Human Computer Interaction at University College London before moving to the US in 2002. “As well as designing and running research studies for our many clients, I like to innovate new testing methods that help us answer customers’ research questions more effectively,” Andy says. “I love findings solutions to problems!”

Andy is a self­-described “petrol head” who has raced motorcycles and cars, although his main interest now is watching his three kids grow up.

Adam brings over 14 years of executive operational experience inside hyper-growth companies. He specializes in scaling, building departments, and customer centric operations within fast-paced environments. Adam has a passion for continuous improvement and loves that his URI role allows him to have strategic impact that benefits both staff and clients. Adam possesses the ability to see opportunity in ambiguity, creating solutions that maximize results. He finds great satisfaction supporting people’s professional trajectory and seeks to motivate and inspire his staff. Originally from New Jersey, Adam earned a Business Administration degree locally at Western Washington University. When Adam isn’t focused on operations, he loves spending time with his wife and 3 children and, when possible, trying to be a kid himself. He likes playing soccer, basketball, and golf.

Ken is a Washington State native born and raised in Tacoma. He is an army veteran serving 10yrs in the military. Ken enjoys all things outdoors but his primary past time is fishing. In the winters he enjoys snowboarding and traveling to warm climates. Ken feels that being on the Recruiting team at URI is awesome because they are the point person between a bad, good, or great research project. It’s the best feeling when a Researcher let’s us know that the people we recruited for them were the exact right fit and gave them the intel they need to make their key business decision(s)!

Hailing from Arizona, Brooke earned a degree in Business Management from Arizona State University.Brooke enjoys maintaining client and vendor relations and performing a variety of tasks at URI.Brooke loves working in a busy office environment where multi-tasking and prioritizing is a must. Brooke loves food, beer, and the outdoors – sometimes all at the same time!

Tom has been working in UX for over 30 years. It’s something that he cares deeply about and is what drew him working at URI. He loves working with other researchers and sharing his experience to help others grow in the field. There are few things more satisfying than gaining business insights based on understanding customers. You are likely to find Tom with a (good) cup of coffee in his hand.

Isabelle serves as one of URI’s Senior UX Managers. She began her career in research in her hometown of Montreal, Canada and then moved to the United States in her pursuit of higher education. After completing her Ph.D. she worked in the medical device industry for over 15 years. She holds many patents and peer-reviewed publications. As a successful scientist, Isabelle developed a passion for user research and user-centered design. She values the rigor and ethical considerations reinforced through the application of standards, processes, and regulations. She has led teams of user researchers and designers for the past 7 years. Isabelle is passionate about serving the community through leadership and volunteering.

Jim is a Seattle native, and received his undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Washington, and graduate degree (MBA) from Seattle University. In his career as a researcher, Jim has worked with many industry-leading clients, as well as pioneering startups, on a wide variety of research studies. In marketing research there is always something new to learn, a challenge to meet, or problem to solve, which is why Jim continues to love this work after 30 years in the industry. When not working, Jim is likely to be reading, meditating, gardening, cooking a new dish, or watching one of his favorite Seattle sports teams.

Shawn has a Doctorate in Applied Cognitive Psychology/Human Factors – with an emphasis on Judgment and Decision-making. He has over 20 years of conducting global qualitative and quantitative research for various Fortune 500 companies in domains such as technology, manufacturing, agriculture, chemical applications, military leadership, and legal services. Shawn brings a passion for developing insights and conducting ideation sessions that will drive customer centric business decisions. In his off time, Shawn loves spending time with his daughter and he enjoys traveling and being outdoors playing golf, tennis, or hiking.

Brad is a Seattle area native that graduated from Bellevue College with a degree in Information Systems. He joined the URI team back in April of 2017 with a strong passion for technology, securities, and software development. Bringing users and developers together to create amazing products is one of the best parts of the job for Brad. UX Research is such a crucial part of the development cycle and he is excited to be in this space with a company that has such a fun office culture.

Outside of work, Brad is a huge sports fan that loves to get out golfing and fishing when he can. His passion for technology doesn’t stay at work as he is always keeping up on new technology and video games.

After majoring in psychology at California State University, Northridge, Margaret came to Seattle to pursue her Master’s degree in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington.

Margaret is passionate about accessibility and community-building, and she believes that UX has the capacity to improve every aspect of our lives, from the computer software we use at work, to the websites that we browse for entertainment, to the mobile apps that we use on a daily basis. When she’s not working, you might find Margaret running, hiking, reading, or spending time with her husband and dog.

Andrew loves working with open source technologies and building tools that make a developer’s life easier. When he’s not working on code, you can find Andrew trying to keep up with his two active girls biking and hiking the Northwest and shuttling them to swimming and running events. At URI, Andrew uses his experience as a developer to meet the increasing demand for cloud services, DevOps, and developer tools.

Pierre was born in Montreal, Canada and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. He completed his undergraduate work with a B.A. in Psychology and double minors in English and Computer Science from Skidmore College in upstate New York. After moving to the West Coast in 2016, Pierre attained his M.S. in Human-Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. Pierre works to support the voices of users in need so that their challenges are identified and remedied. In his spare time, Pierre is a gaming enthusiast who plays, collects, and designs tabletop games.

Originally from China, Lucas Hou completed a BA degree in Mass Communication at Humboldt State University, followed by an MA degree in Journalism at Emerson College, before earning a Ph.D. in Communication and Information Science from University of Alabama. His academic research focused primarily on user behavior and preference, such as information seeking, news gathering, and social media usage. Lucas is extremely passionate to apply his research abilities to make real-life contributions, in terms of enhancing user experience and product performance. On his free time, Lucas love to do exercise, play Xbox, and share quality time with his domestic longhair Nina.

Allison is from Kansas originally but was drawn to the PNW by its vast outdoor beauty. She spends most of her free time sailing and fly fishing. Allison has a degree in Sociology and Anthropology from University of Puget Sound and has recently studied User Centered Design in UW’s program. She was drawn to the UX Industry because it falls at the intersection of her interests in research, technology and psychology.

Logan grew up in Pocatello, Idaho where he studied at Idaho State University. There he completed his B.A. in Accounting and Management while also competing on the Track and Field team. Logan enjoys playing anything from sports to complex board games. He loves learning new technologies and being able to contribute to the great research here at URI!

Lauren is a published author of several researcher studies that explore the relationship between human cognition and technology. Lauren attended Old Dominion University where she earned an M.S. in Experimental Psychology with a Human Factors Concentration. Her graduate work focused on the human aspects of cybersecurity. Lauren is passionate about exploring user experiences and human errors to innovate creative ways to solve common design problems using a human-centered approach. Her past research has introduced a new graphical authentication scheme, patent-pending, and explored the trade-off between usability and security. She loves UX Research because she believes that ‘When people come first, success will follow’. On the personal side, Lauren is a licensed cosmetologist. In her spare time, she enjoys doing hair, playing games, swimming at the beach and pool, watching shows, or spending time with her son, husband, and two mini dachshunds. Lauren resides in her hometown in the Virginia Beach area.

Julianne grew up in Princeton Junction, New Jersey and currently lives in New York City. She completed her BA at Vassar College and earned her PhD in cognitive psychology at The University of Chicago. She studied the relation between anxiety and math performance, researching adults, children, and their interactions with each other. Julianne is passionate about understanding how people think and behave, and excited to use her research skills to answer interesting questions at URI! In her free time Julianne enjoys running and cake decorating. She is also a Phillie Phanatic fan and aspiring pet owner.

Katie was born and raised in Florida, where she graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Linguistics. Katie moved to Washington State in 2015 after visiting family and falling in love with the area. She joined User Research International because she liked the challenge of finding the perfect participants for every project. She excels at helping people and improving systemic processes and organization. In her free time, Katie likes to read, play video games, and learn to bake. She is also a huge fan of logic and word puzzles.

Tom was born in Tucson, Arizona and moved to the northwest to escape the heat. He made his way to URI because of the positive environment and people as well as wanting to make an impact on the products and services that millions of people use every day. In his spare time, he is often drawing, reading comics, or watching cartoons.

Archisa has a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from RV College of Engineering, Bangalore and a Master’s in Technology Innovation from University of Washington, Seattle. Her graduate work emphasized blending technology with design, business needs, innovation, and research which lead her to the field of UX Research. She has worked at AT&T, Blink, Microsoft, and Loopie. Archisa’s approach to UX Research emphasizes empathy – understanding how people feel and what their needs are, and then incorporating that information into design work. Archisa enjoys being in a consulting environment at URI with its diversity of products, projects, and clients. She also appreciates being part of a community of UX Researchers and the high standards and attention to detail that go into URI studies. Growing up amidst different cultures cultivated Archisa’s ability to empathize with others and a willingness to learn. During her leisure time, she enjoys exploring new board games and playing the ukulele.

Paige is finishing up her time as a graduate student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. While in school, her work has primarily focused on visual attention on e-commerce pages through eye-tracking. She is currently wrapping up her thesis examining how salience and star ratings effect product memorability, which will complete her Master’s in Experimental Psychology with a concentration in Human Factors. Paige has a relentless curiosity for exploring consumer behavior and motivations, and in turn, helping to create meaningful interactions. Paige was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and sticks true to laissez les bons temps rouler (letting the good times roll)!

Janet sought out a career in market research in college after realizing she can marry her love for psychology in understanding how people think and behave with her love for numbers and analysis. She is a quality-driven researcher with a passion for seeking truth in data and translating that data truth into actionable insights. A classically trained researcher, Janet specializes in custom research and pays particular attention to details. Janet is naturally a curiously minded individual who loves learning new skills and embracing new adventures. She enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, cooking and entertaining (especially with a nice bottle of wine). She gains great satisfaction from cleaning and watching her girls grow.

A native Nebraskan, Lori graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Business Administration. She has experience with several different types of studies in a variety of industries. Lori is passionate about data visualization and using research to solve problems and inform decision making. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and archery.

David is a curious, creative, and empathetic UX researcher originally from and currently residing in Chicago. David grew up overseas in Singapore before returning to the US for his bachelor’s of science in Business Information Technology from Virginia Tech. After graduation he found a love for user research and its emphasis on understanding other people. More recently he went to the UK for his postgraduate studies in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Bath to pursue a career in user research. Outside of work, David has strong interests in music and film, and often involves himself in creative endeavors. You can find him frequently playing guitar, experimenting with electronic music, attending live music events, watching movies, gaming, hiking, cooking, mixing cocktails and more.

Erika came to URI after cultivating experience in a variety of work environments, from developing university curriculum to designing UX research protocol at a data science company to moderating customer engagement studies at Microsoft. A graduate of NYU, Erika holds an interdisciplinary M.A. and enjoys applying her diverse qualitative research background to empathetic problem-solving in technical spaces. She considers it a privilege to shine a light on individuals and find out why they do what they do. When she’s not curled up with a book from her ever-expanding library, you will probably find her hiking on a trail in the woods, experimenting in her kitchen, or exploring the PNW with her husband and son.

Carl believes that to understand a technology, and especially to develop it, whether it’s a spear or a web-based digital service, one must understand the people who use it, how they use it, and what they want from it. At URI, Carl combines his passion for technology with his background in psychological research to help achieve these ends. Carl earned a bachelor’s in neuroscience from Columbia University, and a master’s and doctorate in experimental psychology from the University of California, San Diego. In his free time, Carl writes and produces pop music and enjoys adventures with his family and friends.

Wesley was born and raised in Ohio. Finding his passion for technology at a younger age, he pursued and completed his AAS in Information Technology – Networking at North Central State College. His cloud specialty is with the Amazon Web Services platform, with which he was able to earn the SysOps Associate certification. His passion for technology and drive to continue improving is what makes him a great Cloud Operations Analyst for URI. Outside of work, he enjoys running, listening to audio books, and spending time with his family and friends.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Florida, Dennis went on to pursue his master’s degree in Human Systems Engineering from Arizona State University. Dennis is a curious problem solver who believes that research informs strategy and design. His passion lies in understanding people’s goals and motivations in order to improve their experience in an impactful way. During his free time, he enjoys playing golf, experiencing the outdoors, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Mark completed graduate degrees in both Entertainment Business and Game Design. After some time creating small-scale mobile games and streaming, he settled into User Experience Research. While gaining research experience in the gaming industry, he taught UX research at Full Sail University leading students through client-facing projects. He returned to industry to further hone his skills with a market leader in multifamily real estate software

Prasanna was born in Bangalore, India but grew up in Muscat, Oman. He completed his undergraduate studies with a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal. However, his interest in creative pursuits led him through a career in theatre and writing that eventually culminated in a position as a creative writer at Disney-BYJUs in Bangalore. Prasanna then attended the University of Washington, Seattle to complete an M.S. in Information Management, specializing in User Experience in the domain of Child-Focused Product Development and Accessibility. In his spare time, Prasanna looks for a new boardgame to play, enjoys hiking, running, playing the keyboard, soccer and watching his favorite sports teams (Liverpool F.C., Sounders, and the Mariners).

A native of Venezuela, Veronica received her Master’s degree from Full Sail University’s Human-Computer Interaction program and has performed as a UX Researcher with strength in statistics for over five years. She also received a degree as Chemical Engineer at the University of Carabobo from Venezuela. Veronica is passionate about human behavior and strives to understand user needs throughout the natural process of communication. During her free time, you will find her practicing acrobatics on aerial silks.

Carly received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Azusa Pacific University where her undergraduate study focused on qualitative research methodology. More recently, Carly completed the University of Washington’s UX & Visual Interface Design program. Carly is an empathetic researcher, passionate about understanding human needs, behaviors and motivations in order to create excellent experiences for end users. Outside of work you can find Carly biking around Seattle or exploring different trails in Washington.

Brigitte has a degree in Information Systems and Operations Management from the University of Florida. After graduation, she moved to Austin, Texas, completed certification in Health IT and Informatics at the University of Texas, and began working in research and development with a primary focus on healthcare SaaS applications. In product innovation, she discovered her passion for UX research and human-centered design to help uncover insights, inform development, and solve problems. An outdoor enthusiast, Brigitte enjoys running, hiking with her cocker spaniel, and reading a good book at the nearest park or patio.

Frankie was originally from Hong Kong and currently lives with his family in Irvine, California. He holds a master’s degree in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Information Technology in Education. He is currently a PhD candidate at New York University focusing on understanding the impact of design elements on motivation and engagement. Frankie is very passionate about applying scientific methods for understanding user needs and experiences. He believes UX research plays a crucial role in guiding design processes and decisions. Outside of work, Frankie enjoys playing video games, sports, and spending time with his family. 

Maurice was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia where he currently lives. He graduated from Christopher Newport University with a B.S. in Marketing. Maurice has worked extensively as a software tester and UX Analyst in the healthcare space. He brings a passion for discovering ways in which technology can help solve everyday problems. As a UX Researcher, Maurice’s strengths include benchmarking and usability testing. In his spare time, you’ll likely find Maurice traveling, doodling, or coming up with the next great Shark Tank idea.

Snehal was born and brought up in India, and her passion for technology motivated her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Engineering. Curious about the human mind and design psychology, she moved to Dallas, Texas in 2019 to pursue her graduate degree in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from the University of Texas. Snehal approaches UX Research from the intersection of technology and design psychology and she brings curiosity and empathy to her work. As a UX Researcher, Snehal is especially interested in the IT and Cloud spaces. Snehal is also a food enthusiast, and a good book with some peri peri french fries can make her day.

Sam was born and raised in Somerset, NJ. He’s always been a storyteller, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a problem solver by trade. He transitioned into UX by way of journalism after he began to empathize with the pain points news seekers were experiencing in the digital news landscape. Sam has worked in UX research on open-source projects, new product offerings, and product strategy. Sam is a patient communicator and passionate collaborator. Outside of work, Sam moonlights as an author. He also really enjoys sports, video games, and learning new domains.

Babatunde received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Randolph college and has a master’s degree in sustainable development from SIT Graduate Institute. He has over seven years of experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research in academic and business domains. Babatunde brings a passion for research and generating insights into actionable steps. In his spare time, Babatunde enjoys watching and playing soccer, listening to audiobooks and watching documentaries.

Jackie developed her research skills managing the consumer research program for a large private wealth management firm, at which she conducted both market research and UX studies. She is passionate about understanding human behavior and psychology, having studied Theater and Literature in college. She holds a certification in UX Research from Nielsen Norman Group. Outside of her time at URI, Jackie enjoys hiking, reading, and seeing new or classic films at the many movie theaters near her home in Portland, OR.

Megan was born in Grand Rapids, MI and now currently lives in Seattle, WA. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University. In 2017, Megan obtained her Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction and Design from the University of Washington. After completing graduate school, Megan spent 4 years working for Sony completing end-to-end research on video streaming products. She has also consulted for two separate fandom brands. Megan is passionate about helping companies investigate unique problem spaces and delivering actionable insights. In her spare time, Megan enjoys anime, video games, and attending concerts.

Stephanie moved to Washington State from Miami, Florida in early 2022, after graduating from Florida International University with a degree in Mass Communication. She discovered her love for research and the impact she could make on others through different internships. When not working, Stephanie loves to sit down with a book, bake, or play video games.

Born and raised in the former “butter and eggs capital of the world,” Michael escaped to the Seattle area out of a love for the rain and trees. His enjoyment of exploring the interplay between technology and human development brought him to the University of Washington and a BS in Human Centered Design & Engineering. When not at work, Michael enjoys reading, cooking/baking, playing video games, and exploring the world around him.

Vi graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work. Vi’s past experiences include conducting research surrounding digital integration and usability in health care delivery. She is passionate making products more accessible and inclusive through user research. In her free time, Vi enjoys hiking around the PNW and testing new recipes.

Piper earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Western Washington University with a focus pertaining to development, cognition, neuroscience, and health. She has worked on several research studies relating to vaccination intention, apathy, social support, and health & well-being. Piper was born in San Francisco, CA’s east bay and grew up on the West Coast and in the beautiful PNW. With a comprehensive study of cultural diversity, human health, the lifespan, and psychology, Piper delivers an outstanding experience for our end users while being empathetic, creative, patient, and respectful. Outside of work, Piper greatly enjoys traveling, paddleboarding, karate, and yoga, as well as, playing piano and being an active movie/film-score buff.

Prior to becoming a researcher, Elazar worked as a historical art restorer where he uncovered a passion for investigating people and objects in their historical context. Elazar holds a certification in UX Research and Design from General Assembly. Outside of URI, Elazar enjoys visiting nature preserves, making art, and meditation.

Jonathon is a recent college graduate from Western Washington University with a degree in Communication Science and Disorders. He enjoys working with others to provide outstanding customer service! He was drawn to work at User Research International because the company provides a supportive environment to learn and thrive as a team! Outside of the workplace, he trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Elite BJJ of Redmond!

If he’s not at URI, one can often find him on the mats!

Chad is originally from Texas and studied Psychology at the University of Texas. Before joining URI, Chad worked as a research assistant in the UX industry. In his free time, he enjoys nature parks and exploring different parts of Seattle.

Christina graduated from the University of Washington Bothell with a B.A. in Interactive Media Design. Having a background in project management, she’s had experience in the production of video games and software. Christina has a strong passion for tech, media, management, and user research. She especially loves working with a team and understands the importance it provides in the UX field. Outside of work at URI, she enjoys playing video games, reading, and spending time with her family and dog.

Kathryn is originally from Michigan but moved to Seattle with her boyfriend in 2015. She was drawn to URI because of the positive environment and has been interested in User Research for a while. In her spare time she likes to hike, take road trips, read books or comics, watch new shows, and hang out with her dog.

Kevin was born and raised in the Greater Seattle Area. He attended the University of Washington Bothell, graduating with a degree in Interactive Media Design. Kevin has a strong passion for technology, media, and design. Outside of work at URI, he enjoys playing basketball, collecting sneakers and doing photography.

Paramdeep grew up and currently lives in Everett, WA. He attended the University of Washington Bothell and graduated with a degree in Interactive Media Design. He was drawn to URI because of the inviting work culture and learning more about the world of user research. His hobbies include playing basketball and photography.

Sawyer was born in Suzhou, China. In 2019, he graduated from the University of Washington with a BA degree in Psychology. He has 2 years’ experience in the consulting industry and is happily to pursuing his career path at URI. Sawyer believes that good communication is essential in both professional and daily settings. He loves to explore the art of human languages and the power of communication on improving business relations and interpersonal relationships. Sawyer is an all-season outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, camping, road trips, and snowboarding.

Josh graduated from Washington State University with a BA in Communications. He believes that a good recruiter can create an effective communication channel between the client and the participants. In his free time, he loves collecting film cameras and playing video games.

Sydney grew up in Montana and moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington where she studied biochemistry and graduated in 2016. Since graduating, she has worked in managing roles.Sydney excels as a UX Project Coordinator because she is flexible, determined, and always available to talk to clients. She has worked in customer service throughout her career and has learned how to anticipate the needs of clients and provide results in a timely manner. She works hard to ensure the client is satisfied with candidates she provides and that the participants feel valued for giving their feedback.In her free time, Sydney enjoys traveling, learning, reading, and trying new foods. She loves the outdoors and spends many weekends back home in the mountains.

Alex was born and raised in Seattle. He received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Central Washington University in 2020. Alex joined URI as a UX Project Coordinator because he wanted to utilize his customer service and tech skills to help clients find the best participants. In his free time, Alex enjoys exploring the outdoors and fishing as well as playing video games.

Sarah was born and raised in Houston, Texas and recently moved to Washington to pursue her career goals in Technology and Design. She earned her Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Houston. Sarah brings her knowledge, passion, and organizational skills to her work with clients. On her off time, Sarah likes to play video games, watch movies, and try new foods.

Alexis was born and raised in Washington state. She brings her love of customer service and for technology to her work at URI. She is highly organized, flexible, and communicative with teammates and clients. Alexis thrives under pressure. Outside of work Alexis enjoys baking, hiking, and spending time with her friends, family, and chocolate lab buddy.

Pamela was born in raised in the greater Seattle area. She graduated from the University of Washington with a major in Cinema and Media Studies and a minor in Digital Arts and Experimental Media. Pamela values URI’s welcoming culture and the opportunity to learn about the evolution of technology. She brings a calm perspective and a capacity for problem solving to her work as a UX Project Coordinator. Pamela enjoys traveling, concerts and art museums. In her free time, she likes to create experimental videos that explore the themes of memory, space, and human relationships.

Candida brings a background in Software Development and Testing as well as Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiatives to her role as a UX Project Coordinator. She builds meaningful connections as she executes projects, and continuously seeks to improve processes. Candida is a visual artist and storyteller. Her creative interests include interdisciplinary arts, science, and global issues.

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Kymea moved to Seattle to pursue a degree in Software Development. Kymea enjoys learning about databases, front-end development, customer interactions, and innovation. As a UX Project Coordinator, Kymea is flexible, adaptable, and solutions oriented. Kymea likes to spend her free time watching films, painting, and trying new foods. 

Asia is a California native and grew up in the Bay Area and Sacramento. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University. Since graduating, Asia has worked in administrative, managing, and customer service roles. She values URI’s focus on research and client relationships as well as the outstanding work culture. She has a passion for human behavior, science, and client satisfaction. Outside of work, Asia loves traveling, cooking, reading, and following and attending soccer games.

David lives near Seattle. He has a background in the military, serving five years in the Navy as a logistics specialist. David has a passion for design and creating a positive workplace culture. He completed a UX design immersive boot camp with General Assembly in 2021. His hobbies include traveling, trying new food, and riding café motorcycles.

Spending most of her life on the Eastside, Emma considers herself a native Washingtonian. She has always had an interest in market research and psychology, studying marketing at Bellevue College. “I really enjoy meeting new people and love being able to interact with our research participants and clients,” Emma says. “As the first face people see when they come into our office, I have the opportunity to make sure that our participants have a very positive experience”.

In her spare time, Emma enjoys drawing, trying out new recipes in the kitchen and visiting the local stand-up comedy hotspots.

Emily grew up in nearby Woodinville, WA. She brings several years of customer service and data management experience to the team and finds joy in creating a wonderful customer experience. Emily majored in French and International Studies as an undergraduate and most recently earned her MBA from Seattle University. Outside of work she is an avid traveler, an enthusiastic home cook and loves going on adventures with her dogs!

Taylor was born and raised in Bellevue WA. He graduated with ATA degree in cyber security from Edmond’s community college. In his free time he enjoys collecting comic books, playing video games, hanging out with friends and cheering for his favorite sports teams Seahawks, Portland Trailblazers and Seattle NHL Hockey.

Ryan is a technology leader and software developer with over 10 years of experience architecting and building software. He has a passion for solving complex problems and a strong desire to help his organization and fellow employees succeed. At URI, Ryan helps bridge the gap between technology and the business by working hands-on in the code while also serving as a product manager. Working collaboratively to build innovative solutions that exceed user expectations is what drives Ryan each day. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys beach volleyball, snowboarding, traveling, hiking, and working with his hands. Ryan and his wife enjoy spending time with their two kids at the beach and traveling in their converted camper van.

A passionate builder and problem-solver, Andrew has been developing software professionally since graduating from the University of Florida in 2009. With a background in both Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Andrew has built applications and products for and within numerous industries including health, bio-tech, real estate, and education. He was also the co-founder of iWinks, a startup specializing in sleep tracking hardware and software. When not working Andrew is likely practicing jazz piano or outside gardening. He has also amassed a borderline unhealthy number of board games from which he draws inspiration for his original creations that he hopes to one day publish.

David has spent most of his life in Washington where he earned his B.S in Interactive Media and Web Design. With over 17 years of experience, David is a design generalist with extensive experience in visual design and branding. David enjoys working with cross-functional teams to solve complex communication challenges through visual storytelling and clear design. Though David’s main responsibilities are to oversee the URI brand, he also supports the research and the product teams with materials needed to present their findings and effectively communicate their ideas. David loves golf, snowboarding and walking his corgi on the Seattle waterfront.

Christina loves working with people and designing work ecosystems. Her approach to HR has been formed by green commerce and entrepreneurialism. As URI’s HR Generalist, Christina seeks to continuously improve employee engagement and build a high-performance culture. Her work includes: designing benefits offerings; running staff surveys; administering the retirement plan; managing the HRIS and payroll; assisting with talent acquisition and employer branding strategies; keeping URI in compliance; coaching managers and staff on request; forming policy; and implementing the HR structures necessary for a multi-state workforce. The HR function at URI keeps her very busy and the URI staff are a delight to work with. Christina earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance from the University of Miami, and a Master of Divinity with a Post-Master’s Certificate in Transforming Spirituality from Seattle University. She is SHRM-SCP certified. Away from work, Christina rock climbs, runs, practices Tai Chi, and writes songs. She has a college-age son, a very nice spouse, and an Australian Shepherd named Murphy.

Nick grew up and lived most of his life in Florida before making the journey out west Nick comes from a diverse audio-visual background specializing in live events, corporate AV and IT support. He utilizes his knowledge at User Research International by supporting our research and recruiting teams’ AV systems. He was drawn to Washington because of its many state parks, diverse food culture, plethora of outdoor activities and to be closer to a lifelong friend. Nick likes to go camping, boating around the sound, reading about history, and going on walks.

Matt is a native of the Nevada high desert and a recent addition to the Pacific Northwest. Graduating from the University of Nevada Reno with a Bachelors in Environmental Studies, Matt cares about improving our community, one interaction at a time. For this reason, Matt is a natural for the front desk- it’s his goal to put a smile on your face with each visit. While away from the desk, Matt enjoys taking in the natural scenery of the Puget Sound, creating art and caring for his large family of houseplants.

Johnny brings his expertise in high level audio and video recording and his familiarity with many kinds of AV events to his role as User Research International’s Lab Technician. Johnny provides technical installation and support for both on-site and off-site URI User Research Labs. Johnny’s background features a variety of technical and management roles including: Head Recording Engineer at AVAST recording, Senior Web Conferencing Specialist for Microsoft, and Director of Event Technology for PSAV. Johnny’s experience includes streaming for small business meetings as well as leading technicians and event support staff on large-scale AV productions. Johnny was born and raised Washingtonian and enjoy spending time with family on the coast. Johnny spends his free time outdoors, watching local sports, and playing and recording music.

Jeff brings over 20 years of recruitment experience in the clinical research industry and he has prior experience building a Recruitment and Human Resources Department. Jeff is adept spotting talent – he excels at identifying essential skills and qualifications to fill highly specialized roles. He is an ambassador for URI and delivers positive candidate experiences through integrity and consistency. Jeff was born in Cape Town, South Africa and grew up in the greater Puget Sound area of Washington. He completed his undergraduate work with a B.A. in History from Western Washington University. When Jeff is not recruiting, he enjoys skiing, traveling, and spending time with his wife and their three sons.