Research Projects
Overview
As an Applied Anthropology student in university, I spent the last four years studying human behavior through ethnographic techniques, mixed-methods data analysis, and scholarly frameworks. This foundation gave me the lens I needed to understand people, while UX was my canvas.
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As a UX Designer, you are not just creating solutions for users, but alongside them.
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Here are some projects I worked on to shed some insight into my background:
1
Revisiting The Mission: An Ethnographic Evaluation of Community Discourse and Advocacy Efforts in Non-Profit Organizations
Project Timeline: May 2024 - Dec 2024
Tools: MAXQDA, Excel, Figma, Miro
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Summary:
• Used MAXQDA software to conduct Applied Thematic Analysis (a qualitative method where you label common patterns in data using "codes/themes") on a dataset of 22 interviews with Non-profit members from a 2021 study
• Visualized findings on Non-profit members' perceptions and challenges using personas and affinity mapping to encourage stakeholders to empathize with their needs
• Presented a poster on this project at the SfAA (Society for Applied Anthropologists) 2025 conference in Portland and UNCC's Summer Symposium in 2024
2
Aware and Share: A Visual Guide to Phishing Scams Targeting International Students
Project Timeline: Jan 2025 - May 2025
Tools: Figma, Qualitative Research (Literature Review, Thematic Analysis)
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Summary:
• Worked with the SPEX (Security and Privacy Experiences) group at UNCC to raise awareness about phishing scams faced by International students by highlighting visual gaps in current security sites
• Used Figma to create 5 realistic mockups of phishing attacks across SMS, Email, and social media platforms to include on an informative webpage that will be hosted by the SPEX site
• Recommended incorporating the DAE (Describe, Analyze, and Evaluate) method into future research to empathize with International student needs and dissect cultural perceptions of security and privacy
3
Secure and Chained: Entrepreneurship as a Roadway to Freedom Among Indian STEM Professionals in the United States
(Click to view full report)
Project Timeline: Jan 2024 - April 2024
Tools: Interviews, Participant Observation, NVivo, Qualitative Research (Literature Review)
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Summary:
• Worked on a semester-long ethnographic project, exploring the trend of Indian STEM professionals in the US transitioning to Entrepreneurship 10-15 years into their careers
• Conducted 4 semi-structured interviews and a participant observation session
• Cleaned, coded, and visualized data using NVivo