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.

Brian has over 25 years of experience in consumer-informed design research and strategy development worldwide. He has held roles client-side, supplier-side, in government, and as an entrepreneur. His education includes an MSD in Industrial Design, an MBA, a BS in Marketing, and a post-graduate certificate in International Conflict Resolution. A dual-citizen of Ireland and the US, he has led studies in over 50 countries and currently has a seat on the industry-led MATRIX panel that advises the government of Northern Ireland on science and technology. When not working, Brian spends endless hours restoring his vintage competition sailboat.

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.

Ryan was born and raised in Seattle Washington and has always called it home. A year after getting his Psychology degree at the University of Washington, he went back to get his Master's in Human-Centered Design & Engineering after being inspired, or frustrated, by how difficult some of the tools and websites he uses have become.

In his free time, you can find Ryan eating ice cream, exploring new places to eat around the city, or playing his favorite video game, Dota 2. When he decides he wants to be a little more active you can catch Ryan biking around Seattle or playing basketball at his local park.

Jennifer is originally from New York state, where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in English at Cornell University in her hometown of Ithaca. She also attended the University of Washington, where she earned a Master’s in Library Science and Certificate in User Centered Design.

She moved into the UX industry after working for twenty years in the field of library and information science, including ten years with the Microsoft corporate library. She loves UX research because “it’s enormously gratifying to be able to make the connection between products and the people who use them.”

When not at work, Jennifer loves to spend time hiking, traveling and attending local arts events.

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.

Kate Yen, User Research Assistant Kate grew up in Taiwan before moving to Seattle to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. Her academic research experience focuses on examining family’s interactions with technology. Kate strives to help users feel in control of the interactive systems they use and is especially interested in advocating for users with different cultural backgrounds. In her free time, you can find Kate cooking healthy meals, tasting different kinds of tea and playing the cello.

Abbey studied the English language in college and then applied that to a technical career. She has worked in a variety of industries and loves to learn new ways of communicating around complex topics.

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.

Jonathan is from McMinnville, Oregon, and went to school at Oregon State University for computer science, although he remembers his time at the Oregon State University Open Source Lab much more fondly. Some of his hobbies include contributing to open source projects, playing (and sometimes making) video games, and setting up his own "home lab" made up of an assortment of older and used computers. In his job he likes that he can help improve cloud software that he is also using at home, and being able to learn a wide range technologies in the process.

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!

Originally from Chicago, Becca is a master’s student at University of Washington studying Human Centered Design and Engineering. She received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She moved into the UX industry after working in the fields of fundraising and training. Becca believes impactful research is driven by empathy and curiosity. She approaches moderation as an apprentice to the user: allowing participants space to share their knowledge and unique perspectives. When she’s not working, you might find Becca exploring Seattle or heading to the mountains to hike or ski.

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.

Brian was born and raised in California and graduated from University of California, San Diego with a degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in Music Performance. He then completed his MA degree in Clinical Psychology from Georgia State University. He is eager to leverage his academic research background to give a voice to users and to continue exploring factors that contribute to human behavior, thought, and emotion in the UX field. In his spare time, Brian enjoys squidding at the local pier, playing board games, jamming on his instruments, and exploring the brewery/restaurant scene in Seattle.

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.

Julie grew up in Kirkland, and recently graduated from American Public University System with a Bachelor's Degree in English. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and traveling.

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.

Swati is originally from London, Ontario, Canada but currently resides in Hoboken, NJ. She holds a MSc (Master of Science) in Speech and Language Sciences, as well as a MA (Master of Arts) in Speech-Language Pathology. While practicing as a clinician, Swati discovered the world of UX research and design, when she realized many of the communication devices that she used to treat her patients, were not designed with the end user in mind. She loves UX Research because it enables her to use her clinical and academic skillsets to build amazing products that impact the lives of so many. When she is not working, you will likely find Swati cooking, traveling, running or relaxing with a good book.

Akshara currently lives in the San Fransisco Bay Area. Her experiences intersect Psychology, Technology, Business, and Communication. Her Undergraduate Degree is in Mass Media Communication from University of Mumbai and her Masters is in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University. She also completed a Masters in Computer Science with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction. Akshara was drawn to UX research during her lab work at Stanford University where she helped build consumer hardware devices. Akshara’s research interests are in emerging tech. She enjoys untangling complex problems and presenting them in a simple actionable way. In her free time, you will find her outdoors trying out something new.

Jeremy loves research and seeing the discipline evolve and grow. He holds three master’s degrees: one in public health with a focus on behavioral health; one in health informatics; and one in human computer interaction with a focus on bias, visualizations, and AA/NA interface design. Jeremy has experience working as a UX Researcher for Indiana University and government organizations and he has also worked as a substance abuse therapist. Jeremy resides in Indianapolis, Indiana on a small farm with his wife, daughter, two dogs, and cat. In his spare time, he likes to run Tough Mudders, power lift, write and play fantasy football. He also has a small designer toy company.

After receiving his Psychology degree and Computer-Science certificate, Kyle moved to Pittsburgh to receive his Master of Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University, a nationally renowned school for Human Centered Research. In Pittsburg, Kyle made an impact in the local community and honed his research skills by conducting studies with non-profit groups and small businesses. Kyle was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, where he enjoyed eating cheese curds and watching the Wisconsin Badgers play on Saturdays. While not working, Kyle enjoys playing games like Among Us or Smash Bros with his friends, as well as watching his favorite Live streamers. Kyle lives in NYC. Kyle is always open to trying new things.

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)!

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.

Dillon is originally from California, he graduated from Fresno State with a B.S. degree in Business Administration with an option in Computer Information Systems. Dillon joined URI to help contribute to the growth of the company, having a passion in business development, project coordination, project management, and technology. Working at URI gives him the opportunity to help contribute to the growth of business internally, while simultaneously helping clients improve their businesses externally, by improving their products through our research projects. On Dillon's free time, he likes to explore Seattle, attend Mariners games, and keep up with the latest technology.

Nick is a 2016 UW Interactive Media Design Alumnus. His favorite hobby is Photorealism drawing, and learning how to paint with oil. What intrigues Nick about working at URI is having the opportunity to help our clients recruit a diversity of potential participants to test out their prototypes.

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.

Aspen was born and raised in West Seattle. She graduated from Western Washington University with a BS in Psychology. Aspen really enjoys hiking, and reading/writing somewhere near the water in her free time.

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.

Anahi was born in Oaxaca, Mexico and raised in Seattle. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a minor in Math. Anahi enjoys helping people and learning about new technology. She was drawn to URI because she was able combine her customer service skills and love for technology to help clients. In her free time, Anahi loves spending time outdoors, going on hikes, camping, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

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 brings nearly a decade of high-level Project and Technical Account Management experience to URI, predominantly within the Research and Development industry. She loves science in all its aspects, and she is passionate about working in research because “you are on the cutting edge of everything.” She truly believes that research is the key to bettering lives.Alex comes from an engineering background. She taps into her experience with other industries and brings problem-solving capabilities, and sales strategy, and expertise to her UX Client Account Manager role. The root of Alex’s approach to client services is long term, outstanding relationships. Alex was raised in beautiful Spokane, WA. She earned an Environmental Engineering degree from Western Washington University, where she also played college soccer. When Alex is not at work, you will find her running, rock climbing, fishing, or hiking. She also loves to travel, enjoying great food and beautiful scenery.

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.

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.