Damon Abraham
Bellevue,WA
Summary
Strategic UX Researcher and Consultant with expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analytics, and statistical analysis to deliver data-driven insights on user-product interactions. Known for fostering collaborative, cross-functional relationships and effective communication, as demonstrated through numerous public speaking engagements and first-author publications. Skilled mentor, manager, and thought leader with a track record of applying research methods to meet client objectives. Adept at problem-solving in diverse settings, both independently and within teams.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Scientist & Independent Researcher
Entangled Labs
Bellevue, WA
01.2023 - Current
- Orchestrated a highly successful cross-institutional collaboration resulting in the acquisition of thousands of subjective rating data points from diverse audiences establishing a comprehensive open-source stimulus database for psychological research and expanding its applications.
- Implemented AI-powered image data annotation tools, slashing research timelines, enhancing database searchability, and opening up new avenues for exploratory research.
- Principal Research Scientist at a tech startup, Entangled Labs, pivotal in steering vision and strategy, advancing UX design innovation, and pioneering data analysis techniques.
- Delivering impactful research through numerous dynamic conference presentations and first-author publications.
Quantitative User Experience Researcher
META
Bellevue, WA
07.2022 - 11.2022
- Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Data Scientists, and Engineers, to enhance Facebook App notifications.
- Designed and executed a large-scale global survey involving 18,000 users to gain insights into user pain points and motivations for disabling notifications.
- Leveraged SQL to analyze massive datasets, successfully linking user log data with survey responses, ultimately revealing key distinctions in notification sentiment between iOS and Android users.
- Spearheaded a multi-stage global survey in collaboration with Engineering to evaluate methods for assessing the quality of push notifications, impacting millions of users.
- Proactively identified opportunities to optimize sample sizes for survey-based ML models by conducting in-depth queries and analysis of pre-existing user data.
- Effectively communicated and presented research strategies and insights to diverse groups, gaining buy-in from partners.
Adjunct Professor
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Denver, CO
08.2021 - 04.2022
- Designed and delivered engaging undergraduate courses in Research Methods and Social Psychology, fostering a dynamic learning environment and consistently receiving positive student feedback.
- Recognized for excellence in teaching through the Department of Psychology's Outstanding Teaching Assistantship Award, demonstrating a commitment to educational quality and student success.
Graduate Researcher
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Denver, CO
08.2016 - 06.2021
- Led comprehensive research initiatives, overseeing all stages from design to execution, resulting in a series of impactful collaborative research projects and publications centered on the cognitive and affective aspects of emotional self-regulation.
- Established and nurtured cross-institutional relationships and collaborations, enhancing the research network and facilitating knowledge exchange among diverse experts.
- Developed and implemented user-friendly interfaces and coded experiments, streamlining data capture, cleaning, analysis, and visualization processes, leading to more efficient research workflows.
- Performed advanced statistical analyses on large datasets, extracting valuable insights informing novel research outcomes.
- Communicated research findings and deliverables as first-author in peer-reviewed publications, posters, and public presentations contributing to advancements in the field and enhancing understanding among both experts and the general public.
- Mentored and guided research assistants and supported honors student thesis projects, fostering the growth and development of junior staff.
Graduate Researcher
City University of New York
New York, NY
08.2010 - 06.2016
- Conducted and designed behavioral, neural, and psychophysiological experiments examining how students rebound from failure in academic settings
- Collected, analyzed, and synthesized quantitative behavioral data and qualitative self-report measures assessing participants’ emotional states, mood, and overall well-being informing our understanding of learning and memory processes.
- Managed the collection and preprocessing of Electroencephalography (EEG) and psychophysiological measures furthering our understanding of neural and physiological processes related to learning.
Senior Consultant
Bearingpoint
New York, NY
03.2006 - 08.2007
- Led teams of analysts to develop business requirements, validate testing materials, and write user training documents for a custom software application for a top-tier bank
- Interviewed key client stakeholders and subject matter experts to gather and validate business requirements and document system use cases
- Worked internationally with software development and testing teams to ensure requirements implementation
- Conducted gap assessments for government-sponsored entities, resulting in the identification and resolution of compliance issues, ensuring alignment between internal policies and government regulations.
Sales Team Manager
Countrywide Home Loans Full Spectrum Lending Division
New York, NY
09.2003 - 02.2006
- Led a team of 20+ loan officers, mentoring and coaching two individuals to break regional sales records.
- Developed and executed branch strategies that led to a 100% increase in loan closings within the quarter.
- Achieved the top-ranking position as the region's number one account executive for production within the first six months of employment.
- Provided comprehensive training to loan officers, contributing to one team member's ascent to the position of top sales producer in the region.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - Psychology
University of Denver
06.2021
Master of Arts (M.A.) - Psychology
City University of New York
06.2016
Skills
- Research Planning and Design
- Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
- Exploratory Research and Data Analysis
- Data Analysis and Visualization
- Management and Mentorship
- Writing, Public Speaking, Scientific Conferences
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Experiment Design and Surveys
- Data Collection and Preprocessing
- Requirements Gathering and Documentation
- Stakeholder Interviews
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES:
- MATLAB, Python, R, SQL, Qualtrics, MS Office, Adobe
Timeline
Principal Scientist & Independent Researcher
Entangled Labs
01.2023 - Current
Quantitative User Experience Researcher
META
07.2022 - 11.2022
Adjunct Professor
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
08.2021 - 04.2022
Graduate Researcher
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
08.2016 - 06.2021
Graduate Researcher
City University of New York
08.2010 - 06.2016
Senior Consultant
Bearingpoint
03.2006 - 08.2007
Sales Team Manager
Countrywide Home Loans Full Spectrum Lending Division
09.2003 - 02.2006
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - Psychology
University of Denver
Master of Arts (M.A.) - Psychology
City University of New York
Similar Profiles
Quinlan FergusonQuinlan Ferguson
Game Master at Entangled EscapesGame Master at Entangled Escapes
Nick PoteatNick Poteat
Chef at White Labs Inc. | White Labs Kitchen & TapChef at White Labs Inc. | White Labs Kitchen & Tap
MEKELL JILESMEKELL JILES
Principle Mechanical Engineer at Resonado Labs/Frontier Audio LabsPrinciple Mechanical Engineer at Resonado Labs/Frontier Audio Labs