Clinical researcher turned UX designer — inspired by watching people struggle with tools that were supposed to help them.
I hold a B.S. in Clinical Psychology and B.A. in Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego, and a UX Design Certificate from UCSD Extended Studies. My research background includes a co-authored publication in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, and looking back, this describes a UX problem statement phrased in academic language.
Over five years in academic research I often encountered struggles with having digital tools work for me or participants. As a Clinical Research Coordinator at UC San Diego Health, I helped participants use a medication tracking app that, in theory, should have made their lives easier. In practice, I watched people disengage from their own care because of design that wasn't built with their needs or lifestyles in mind.
While working in research felt like a natural starting point after graduating with a degree in Clinical Psychology, it didn’t fully reflect my desire to create meaningful, scalable impact. As I considered the next step in my career, I realized the aspects I was most drawn to, problem solving through cross functional collaboration and connecting with people, aligned directly with UX design. I’m deeply committed to building a career in this field through persistence, continuous learning, and hands on practice. My background gives me something most designers don't have starting out: real experience building relationships with a diverse population and seeing people struggle to use digital products in a stressful context. Every decision I make is grounded in the idea that good UX design should reduce barriers. I'm focused on inclusive, accessible design, shaped by my clinical work and Ethnic Studies background.
Outside of building my UX design craft, I'm a rock climber and outdoor enthusiast. When I'm not getting outside with my dog, you can find me knitting, reading, baking, and throwing pottery.
Three years of clinical research gave me skills that can't be taught through a design certificate.
In clinical research, I worked with vulnerable participants often navigating stressful moments in their lives. I learned that making people feel heard is not only a soft skill, it’s a design outcome. I bring that same quality of listening to user research and center user needs in any design decision.
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Clinical research coordinators often need to figure things out quickly while balancing participant well-being and data quality. In an academic setting, this is required with limited direction and limited resources. I’m comfortable moving forward in ambiguity, making reasoned decisions without waiting for perfect information, and knowing when to escalate issues and collaborate with those in charge.
I notice the small things like the button label that creates friction or the onboarding step that frustrates users, without ever losing sight of what the product is actually trying to do. I hold the detail and the system in my head at the same time as I know that both matter in UX design.
