Projects

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Sarah J. Smith, PhD

UX Designer

Profile

Analytical and innovative researcher transitioning from a background in molecular biology to UX design. I am an expert at synthesizing complex data into clear, impactful designs and presentations, with a proven track record of enhancing understandability for diverse audiences. I am passionate about bridging design and science to create user-friendly biotech products.

Projects

Yale Postdoctoral Association Website Redesign

March, 2024 - present

  • Led a successful redesign of the postdoctoral association website by collaborating with stakeholders to identify issues with the current site and implemented changes that enhanced user engagement by presenting the organization as active, fun, and professional.

  • Developed training documentation and established a website audit & schedule to ensure the website stays up to date and active.

Amber Waves - UX for Business project

February, 2024 - March, 2024

  • Redesigned a wholesale ordering system that allows users to efficiently customize their orders to reduce the number of order customization requests sent through email or text.

  • Implemented a streamlined and flexible ordering system that allows users to easily schedule and modify orders.

Experience

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Yale University

January, 2020 - Present

  • Honed skills in data visualization and translating complex scientific findings into compelling visual stories.

  • Worked collaboratively with a cross-functional team of biologists and engineers to plan, execute, and analyze experiments.

Graduate Research Assistant - University of Pittsburgh

August, 2013 - December, 2019

  • Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of scientists to strategically plan, define, and iterate on the scope of my thesis project.

  • Presented research to diverse audiences of all levels, including non-scientific audiences, and received multiple awards for presentation skills.

Education

PhD, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology - University of Pittsburgh

Skills

UX Research

UX/UI Design

Design Strategy

Information Architecture

Wireframing

Prototyping

Data Visualization

Tools

Figma

Illustrator

Photoshop

Optimal Workshop

Qualtrics

Framer

Scientific Skils

CRISPR

Confocal Microscopy

Light Sheet Microscopy

FLIM-FRET

Cloning

Transgenics

Gene Regulation

in situ hybridization

Immunohistochemistry

3d Cell Motion Analysis

Tissue Mechanics

PCR

Electron Microscopy

Matlab

Prism

Mentorship