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LIZA PESENSON

ABOUT

I am a tireless user advocate with an entrepreneurial spirit who thrives on collaboration. While pursuing my Master’s Degree in Cognitive Science at the University of Trento, Italy, I built unique interpersonal and cultural-navigation skills which allow me insights into customers’ behaviors and needs. My genuine empathy for users, inherent curiosity about different types of interactions, and solid foundation in User Experience Research enable me to effectively design services and products that people love to use.

EXPERIENCE
User Researcher

Microsoft, San Francisco, CA

Sep 2014 - Present

  • Streamline quantitative data collection and analysis methods

  • Develop and localize interaction sequences in 14 countries

  • Derive and synthesize findings from ethnographic research

  • Design a system for maximizing personalization

UX Research and Design Consultant

Trizic.com, San Francisco, CA

Jun 2014 - Sep 2014

  • Create and facilitate qualitative and quantitative research

  • Develop wireframes and interaction specifications

  • Establish a comprehensive information architecture

  • Ensure a user-centered web and mobile experience

User Experience Research Assistant

SmartCampusLab, Università degli Studi di Trento, Italy

Oct 2012 - Sep 2013

  • Facilitated focus groups, concepting, and brainstorming

  • Conducted an ethnographic observation study with children

  • Adapted a model of the tourist mobile experience to kids

  • Conducted participatory design with children

  • Derived design requirements and gamification suggestions

User Research Intern

SmartCampusLab, Università degli Studi di Trento, Italy

Sep 2012 - Mar 2013

  • Conducted semi-structured interviews on mobile privacy

  • Qualitatively analyzed data on privacy and risk awareness

  • Mocked-up three app schemes to present to users

  • Ran focus groups to decide which scheme to develop

SKILLS

NVIVO

Photoshop

Balsamiq

Axure

OmniGraffle

Illustrator

MS Office Suite

iWork Suite

METHODS

Ethnography

Design with Children

Participatory Design

User Research

Personas

Concept Validation

Qualitative Analysis

Usability Testing

Interviewing

Focus Groups

Storyboards

Surveys

Mock-ups

Prototyping

Competitor Analysis

Scenarios

Mental Models

Heuristic Evaluation

LANGUAGES

English (Fluent)

Italian (Fluent)

Russian (Good)

 

2010 - present

2010 - present

Country Research Specialist II

RiminiStreet.com, Pleasanton, CA

2009 - 2012

  • Researched tax legislation in eleven European countries

  • Communicated findings to system developers

Coach, Captain, and Player - Ultimate Frisbee

UC Berkeley and Trent, Italy

2004 - Present

  • Coached a 37-person, co-ed team in Trento, Italy

  • Competed in USA Women’s College Nationals

EDUCATION
M.Sc. Cognitive Science (Language and Multi-Modal Interaction)

Università degli Studi di Trento, Trent, Italy

2011 - 2013

Specialized in Language and Multi-Modal Interaction. My thesis research focused on participatory design of a tourism mobile application with children. Final Score: 110/110

B.A. Cognitive Science

University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A.

2004 - 2009

Relevant Coursework

InnovAction Lab Startup Seminar Series

InnovAction Camp - Startup Bootcamp

Research Design

Designing Graphical User Interfaces

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