Meet the 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.

Julie, originally from the Seattle area, attended the University of Washington where she completed two Bachelor's degrees. After completing her undergraduate studies, she relocated to London, England, where she earned her Master of Arts degree in Gender Studies and continued on to complete her PhD in Freudian Psychoanalysis in 2008 from the University of London. After finishing her doctoral research, Julie continued her studies completing a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychotherapy at the Tavistock Institute in London.

Julie worked for 5 years as a Clinical Psychotherapist in London and published her first book on Psychoanalysis in 2012. After moving back to the US, Julie transitioned career paths and has since focused on business development and client relations, which she enjoys greatly. Working within the field of UX research has allowed Julie the opportunity to work with some great likeminded individuals and be part of a discipline which, as she says, is “perhaps one of the most important aspects of product design and development”.

When Julie is not in the office, she enjoys scuba diving, traveling to tropical destinations and spending time with her family on their boat.

Originally from California, Jennifer graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Spanish and a minor in Psychology. She is passionate about the UX field and its ability to help companies continuously improve their products and services for the benefit of a diverse set of end users. Jennifer loves exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs.

A northwest native, Shawn was raised on the east side of Seattle. He received his BS in Metallurgy from the University of Washington department of Material Science and Engineering. Throughout his career, Shawn has worked as a design engineer, project manager, and in senior leadership, and he is passionate about product improvement and usability. In his time away from work, he spends his time with his wife and 3 children. He is an avid skier, loves hiking, camping and outdoor activities. He also spends time each month as a volunteer minister.

Allison grew up in Morgan Hill, California. She received a degree in Psychology from UCLA and a Master of Science in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington.

“I love being a researcher because it allows developers, designers, and other contributors to make informed decisions about their product,” Allison says. “UX research reveals the actions, thoughts, and needs of the user which in turn guide the product team to create something that best supports the goals of the user.”

When she’s not working, you might find her reading fantasy and sci-fi books or hanging out with her Standard Poodle Luna.

Oliva holds a B.S. in Psychology and a Master’s in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington. “As a researcher I study how users think, feel, and experience technology,” Olivia says. “Understanding the user’s perspective allows me to contribute to a team as we collectively find ways to make technology more intuitive and accessible. Delivering technology that is both research-driven and user-friendly is the most rewarding aspect of my job.”

She enjoys cooking (both her parents are chefs) as well as hiking, kayaking, and going to Sounders, Seahawks, and Husky games – basically anything that’s quintessentially Pacific Northwest.

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.

Allie comes to Washington from Lafayette, Indiana and earned her undergraduate degree in computer science from the University of Evansville. She came to Seattle to pursue her Master’s degree in Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington and loves connecting her experience working as a software developer intern with the end user.

Allie says “I know that engineers can get trapped in their own little world and forget that real people with different experiences are going to be using the things they make. So UX is important because it constantly forces them to break the bubble and hear from the real world.”

Ava is a Seattle native who graduated from Lake Forest College with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology/Anthropology. She completed her Master of Public Health from University of Michigan and worked for three years in the public health industry in several areas including research & program management before moving into UX.

When she’s not hiking, running or dreaming of Thailand, Ava can be found conducting UX research at URI to ensure all consumers’ experience with technology is efficient, intuitive and enjoyable.

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.

Originally from Pennsylvania and a Villanova University Engineering graduate (Go Wildcats!), 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 help meet the increasing demand for usability studies involving cloud services, DevOps, and developer tools.

Daren was born and raised in Kirkland, Washington, and received his Master’s degree in Human Centered Design & Engineering from the University of Washington. He loves to understand people’s relationships with the technologies they use and advocating for user needs in product design. In his free time, Daren is either playing basketball and frisbee when the weather is nice or staying inside to work on his music.

Kira is a Seattle native who graduated summa cum laude from Oberlin College in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Neuroscience. Her academic research experience includes using behavioral paradigms to examine child prosocial behavior, conducting quantitative analysis of national undergraduate neuroscience programs, and using EEG to explore how musical experience influences auditory processing. Kira’s excited about bridging the gaps between academic research and UX research. In her down time, you can find Kira practicing violin, cooking, gardening, and getting muddy with her yellow lab Daisy at the dog park.

Patty hails from the Midwest, earning her BA in English at the University of Illinois and graduate degree in Library and Information Science from Dominican University. She has worked in both public libraries and corporate libraries. The transition into UX seemed natural as both librarianship and UX encompass many of the skills and values, with the emphasis on customer service and getting the right information to the right person. Patty enjoys reading, zombies and talking about the Cubs winning the World Series.

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.

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!

Originally from Montana, Jessi graduated from Montana State University with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Psychology. Before she lived in Montana, she lived in Oregon, so the Northwest feels like home! Jessi was drawn to the field of UX because she loves to see how technology and design come together to make a product more beautiful, functional, and enjoyable.

In her free time, she loves to draw, write, play video games, and watch horror movies.

Sigal grew up in Israel. Before moving to the US, she was drafted to the IDF for a couple years as a sergeant in the Airforce. Sigal earned a degree in Art History and Glass from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She believes that there is always a place to grow and explore new opportunities in life and we should always look to learn more from others. She loves that, at URI, we’re continually making changes based on fantastic feedback from our participants.

She’s is currently studying coding languages. When she is not busy, Sigal enjoys exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and spending time with family and friends.

Kirstin joined URI in 2016 and enjoys helping match great participants with UX studies. She thinks UX is important as “it creates a more enjoyable and easy to understand experience for users of all types of technology.” Having graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Interior Design, Kirstin has also helped her team at URI by using her design skills to create business cards, newsletters and more!

If she’s not at Disneyland, you might find Kirstin creating jewelry, reading or travelling to other fun destinations.

Nikki is a Junior Project Lead at URI, where she enjoys being part of a team that’s as passionate about user experience research as she is. A Seattle-area native, her passion for UX stemmed from conducting UX research for a mobile app that she and a team of UW students developed for a local non-profit. Nikki graduated from the University of Washington Bothell with a degree in Interactive Media Design, where she focused her studies on both UX and marketing. During her free time, Nikki enjoys wine tasting in Woodinville, watching movies, and wakesurfing.

Angana, enjoys working with User Research International in the capacity of Junior Project Lead. Having a background in human resources keeps her excited about finding the best participants for different studies. She was born and raised in Mumbai (Bombay), India where she completed her Bachelors in Psychology and Philosophy from University of Mumbai. She also has a diploma in training and development from Indian Society of Training and Development (ISTD).

When not at the office, Angana enjoys wildlife, traveling and exploring different types of cuisine.

Casey was born and raised in Seattle and has always had a passion for design. He graduated from Sandford-Brown with a BS in fine arts. In his free time, Casey enjoys discovering new parts of the Pacific Northwest and cheering on all of Seattle’s sports teams.

Ceylla grew up in Issaquah, WA. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology where she learned the value of research. She was first exposed to the field of UX during her undergrad but has been more inspired to be involved in the field these past couple years! She strongly believes in the benefits of UX and the importance of user research in helping shape products that are truly catered to the consumers. When she’s not at work, Ceylla enjoys traveling, enjoying the beautiful scenery here in the Pacific Northwest, and most importantly being surrounded by great company and good food.

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.

Reed was born and raised in the Greater Seattle Area. He attended The University of Washington, graduating with a degree in Interactive Media Design. UX became his focus since enrollment in the program and he sees great opportunity in the future. He’s been racing motocross since he was five years old. As he got older, two wheels turned into four as his passion for cars grew. If he’s not in the office, he’s out driving on some back roads.

Originally from NYC, Steph has moved to the West Coast in early 2018 with hopes of starting a new journey. She took the plunge and started working at URI because she believes it’s important to understand customers. She earned her degree in Marketing with a minor in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. In her free time, you can find her at the gym Olympic Weightlifting or reading on the bus.

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.

Kathryn is originally from Michigan and has lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost 3 years now. In her spare time, Kathryn loves to hike, read comics, and hang out with her dog and boyfriend.

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.

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!

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!