UX/HCI Researcher

Shae Esmaeili

ć ****.****@*****.*** ] shaghayegh-esmaeili

657-***-**** u cise.ufl.edu/~esmaeili a ShaghayeghEs SUMMARY

DynamicuserresearcherwithaPh.D. inHuman-

Centered Computing and over 7 years of trans-

ferable experience conducting mixed-methods,

data-driven research to study user behavior and

optimize user experiences across diverse do-

mains. Expertise and research background in

human perception evaluation in Data Visual-

ization, Visual Analytics, Human-Centered AI,

and immersive technologies (XR), with a proven

track record of uncovering actionable insights to

enhance user experiences.

EDUCATION

PHD, HUMAN-CENTERED

COMPUTING

University of Florida

May 2025 (expected) Gainesville, FL

MS, COMPUTER SCIENCE

University of Florida

Dec 2021 Gainesville, FL

BS, COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Sharif University of Technology

June 2016 Tehran, IR

SKILLS

RESEARCHMETHODS

Multivariate Analysis • Mixed-Methods

Research (Qualitative and Quantitative) •

Experimental Design • System Log Analysis •

Sampling • Questionnaire Drafting • Power

Analysis • Regression Analysis • Statistical

Models • Hypothesis Testing • Psychometrics

• Thematic Analysis

UX RESEARCH & DESIGN

Usability Testing • Wireframing •

User-Centered Study Design • Surveys •

Interviews • Focus groups

TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES

UserTesting • Qualtrics • Miro • NVivo • Unity

• Figma • Sketch • Adobe Suite • Git • SAS

DATA VISUALIZATION

D3.js • ggplot2 • Three.js • Tableau

PROGRAMMING

R • Python • SQL • JAVA • JavaScript • C#

EXPERIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Graduate Student Researcher Jan 2017 – Present Gainesville, FL

Interactive Data and Immersive Environments Lab

• Conducted 10+ studies investigating user behavior, graphical perception, and VR experiences. Applied quantitative techniques

(e.g., ANOVA, exploratory factor analysis) and qualitative analysis to uncover actionable insights, including perception thresholds and design improvements for interactive systems.

• Authored 12+ manuscripts in leading HCI venues, including CHI, CSCW, VIS, and VR, delivered 5+ conference talks, advancing knowledge in human-computer interaction and data-driven UX strategies.

GOOGLE UX Research Intern

Sept 2022 - Dec 2022 San Francisco, CA

Google Play UX Discovery and Search Team

- Led a research project to enhance context-aware app discovery on Google Play, from research questions to execution.

• Conducted in-depth interviews and usability tests with 20+ participants.

• Delivered insights resulting in the development of app discovery features to optimize AI-driven recommendation algorithms.

- Conducted a user study evaluating Google Play mobile designs for app search, recruiting and managing 40+ participants via UserTesting.

• Analyzed qualitative data to identify design strengths and user preferences to optimize user engagement.

• Delivered a comprehensive presentation of actionable insights to stakeholders and the UX design team.

EPSILON Research Intern

May 2022 – Aug 2022 Chicago, IL

Decision Sciences Visual Analytic (DSVA) Team

• Analyzed user behavior on an in-house data visualization platform, uncovering trends across roles and identifying usability pain points using statistical modeling and machine learning.

• Designed and tested a visualization recommendation feature tailored to user roles and historical usage patterns, leveraging quantitative insights to improve platform usability and user experience.

ACCENTURE LABS Research Intern

June 2021 – Aug 2021 San Francisco, CA

Digital Experiences R&D Team

• Reviewed and synthesized research from top-tier conferences and industry practices to enhance user interactions with AI interfaces.

• Developed and presented strategic recommendations on AI for intelligent agent design to cross-functional teams, leading to adoption in ongoing R&D projects.

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