I am a seasoned research leader with expertise in human-technology interaction. More recently, I have led critical efforts to address privacy and consent, fairness, inclusion, and transparency as they relate to AI experiences. Currently, as a User Research Scientist at Google, the majority of my research is centered on AI and creativity. I am fortunate to work alongside some of the most recognized artists in the world, to shape the user experience of Generative media tools that enable them to push boundaries while staying true to their unique vision.
My career has spanned diverse domains, where I have led human factors research for several groundbreaking technologies, including Microsoft’s custom neural voice and facial recognition to Medtronic’s Micra™ (the world’s smallest pacemaker). I wear many hats: research leader, strategist, storyteller, author, mentor, editor, keynote speaker, and sometimes adjunct professor. I have been cited by the American Psychological Association, the Economist, the Portuguese Economic Times, and included in LightHouse3’s 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics list, and was also the inaugural Fellow from Microsoft to the World Economic Forum. I have a PhD in Experimental Psychology (specialization in Human Factors and Ergonomics) from Texas Tech University and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science.
Book Editor
After working in the healthcare human factors field for nine years, I found a dearth of books for practitioners in the area. This inspired my debut as a book editor. I collaborated with several scientists to create “Design for Health”, a multi-author edited volume, which was published by Elsevier in 2020. This book took a comprehensive look at the critical and emerging issues in healthcare and patient safety, and covers a broad range of topics such as medical device design, workload management, medication safety, designing for self-care, and global health.
Storyteller
After the pandemic forced me to subtract out my social life, I decided to do something meaningful with all the extra time I had. I started a Fellowship with the World Economic Forum to address global issues of modern slavery and ageing. Through that Fellowship, I created partnerships across academia, industry, and civil society, and produced a report that outlined 14 guidelines for designing AI experiences for the ageing population. The first of its kind, the work focuses on a group often left out in conversations about technology: older adults.
Researcher
These days, my research centers on uncovering how AI can serve as a catalyst for creativity. In 2024, I had the incredible honor of working alongside Grammy-nominated and the most streamed songwriter in the world, Justin Tranter—whose impressive catalog includes hits like Justin Bieber's “Sorry” and Chappell Roan's “Good Luck, Babe”—to help shape Music AI Sandbox — a suite of generative music tools designed to amplify the creativity of songwriters and musicians everywhere. A short documentary that captures the essence of our 36-hour collaboration with Justin is available here.