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Rochelle Edwards
User Experience Researcher at Google
Rochelle Edwards is a highly skilled User Experience Researcher with an impressive background in psychology and human factors, specializing in various aspects of iterative design and usability testing. With a passion for juggling multiple projects throughout all phases of the design cycle—from initial planning stages to testing and analysis—Rochelle has garnered extensive experience that has shaped her expertise in creating seamless and engaging user experiences. Her collaborative spirit and dedication to improving user interface design position her as a valuable asset within any organization.
Rochelle's journey began with her educational foundation at Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Building on this strong base, she pursued further studies at Rice University, obtaining both her Master’s and PhD degrees in Psychology with a focus on Human Factors. This academic background has equipped her with a profound understanding of user behavior and cognitive processes, essential elements in designing effective, user-centered interfaces.
Professionally, Rochelle has held influential roles in a range of prestigious companies, showcasing her adaptability and expertise in user research and usability evaluations. Currently, she is making significant contributions as a User Experience Researcher at Google, where she utilizes her extensive knowledge of human-computer interaction (HCI) to enhance user engagement and satisfaction across various platforms. Her role involves conducting detailed user research, iterative usability testing, and implementing HF/HCI methodologies to develop innovative design solutions that address user needs.
Prior to her tenure at Google, Rochelle excelled as the User Research Manager at Pogo, a division of Electronic Arts. Here, she was influential in improving the gaming experience by pioneering user research initiatives that informed design decisions and contributed to the overall quality of the gaming products. Her background also includes valuable experience as a Usability Engineer Intern at Oracle, where she focused on enhancing applications through rigorous testing and user feedback, and as a Human Factors Intern at Medtronic, where she applied her knowledge in medical applications. Her time as a Summer Intern at NASA-JSC with Lockheed Martin further broadened her skill set, allowing her to tackle user experience challenges in high-stakes environments.
Rochelle's capabilities extend beyond traditional usability testing; she has developed expertise in non-traditional interface design, including small-screen mobile interfaces, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), VUI (Voice User Interfaces), gesture-based interactions, and haptic feedback designs. This multifaceted approach allows her to create solutions tailored to various technologies and user needs, ultimately enhancing user interactions across different platforms. Additionally, her skills in questionnaire development and complex analyses, including regression analysis, ANOVA, and multilevel modeling, enable her to derive meaningful insights from data that influence design strategies and implementation processes.
In her earlier career, Rochelle honed her research skills as a Graduate Student at Rice University, where she contributed to the academic community as a Research Assistant at Washington University. Her comprehensive understanding of research methodologies and a keen attitude towards user feedback have been central to her success throughout her career, driving a commitment to continuously improve UX practices in whatever project she engages with.
