Brandon Beltz Email & Phone Number

• Leading user research projects to address clients' business needs.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Gb

• Planned and executed multi-method research projects aimed at improving ease of use, increasing adoption, and enhancing the learnability of accounting and financial software for users. The findings from these projects validated proposed software design changes and informed updated priorities to product roadmap schedules. • Collaborated closely with user experience leaders and product managers to implement a multi-method measurement framework to determine the suitability of beta product features for general release.• Led a team of 3 user researchers, overseeing 24 projects within a year. Mentored and coached team members on balancing priorities and research techniques. • Engaged with senior company leaders and vendors to secure additional budget and introduced new data collection, analysis, and participant recruiting tools. These tools improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the team and other enterprise research teams.

Fairfax, Virginia, Us

• Established and led the company's first dedicated user research practice, starting with the setup and management of an in-person user research lab. Completed 14 in-person studies within 10 months, collaborating with product owners and user experience designers. Studies focused on ease of use, desirability of features, and clarity of content for digital health applications.• Successfully transitioned the user research practice into a fully remote operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secured necessary resources and implemented new tools to conduct remote qualitative discovery research studies and quantitative evaluative studies.• Conducted 33+ remote research projects over two years, working closely with user experience designers, product owners, and company executives. Projects addressed the unique challenges of large-scale digital health research studies, including recruiting underrepresented populations, collecting sensitive health research data using web-based tools, and leveraging mobile and web-based platforms for health research.• Facilitated the growth of the user research team by hiring and mentoring an exceptional junior researcher.

Mclean, Va, Us

• Led a team of 8, including interaction designers, visual designers, and user researchers. Successfully guided and coordinated their efforts across 30 projects per quarter, ensuring alignment of user experience skills with business and product goals. Provided coaching and mentorship to team members, fostering their skill and knowledge development to support their career growth. • Leveraged design thinking methods when collaborating with customers and project stakeholders, facilitating goal alignment and fostering a sense of collaboration. This approach enhanced the understanding of user needs and preferences, enabling the team to create user-centered designs.• Planned and executed tactical and strategic-level research initiatives to address both short-term and long-term business questions around the use of enterprise collaboration tools. • Distilled research findings into actionable recommendations, delivering valuable insights to product and management teams. These recommendations facilitated informed decision-making in the design process, ultimately enhancing the user experience and driving product success.

Falls Church, Va, Us

• Led user experience (UX) activities for a suite of web-based applications catering to major clients at Northrop Grumman. Served as an advocate for the applications' users, ensuring their needs and preferences were considered throughout the design and development process.• Collaborated closely with project stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of their requirements, aligning user experience goals with business objectives. Effectively communicated the value of user-centered design and its impact on overall product success.

Mclean, Va, Us

• Conducted extensive research to better understand user performance in complex tasks, leveraging both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Utilized statistical analysis and other research techniques to extract meaningful insights from data sets. Provided actionable recommendations for improving product usage and success rates.• Explored user behaviors and attitudes in diverse contexts such as collaboration, gaming, cyber security, knowledge management, web search, and critical thinking. This multidimensional approach allowed for comprehensive insights into user needs and preferences.• Worked collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including designers, developers, and product managers, to ensure research findings were effectively incorporated into the design and development process. • Actively engaged with customers to understand their specific needs and requirements, tailoring research studies and reports to address their unique challenges. Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in building and maintaining productive relationships with clients.• Stayed abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies in user experience research, actively seeking opportunities to apply innovative methods and approaches. Contributed to the advancement of the user experience field by sharing knowledge and best practices within the organization.

Fairfax, Virginia , Us

• Delivered engaging and informative instruction to graduate and undergraduate students in courses such as Research Methods in Human Factors, Cognitive Psychology, and Decision Making.• Developed and implemented course curricula, ensuring alignment with the program objectives and academic standards. Incorporated a variety of instructional methods, including lectures, discussions, group activities, and assignments, to foster a dynamic learning environment.• Assessed students' performance through assignments, exams, and projects, providing constructive feedback to support their learning and growth. Maintained accurate records of student progress and achievements.

Fairfax, Virginia , Us

• Conducted rigorous research in the field of visual cognition, specifically focusing on the effects of visual features on word processing. Designed and executed laboratory experiments involving human participants to gather data and analyze the outcomes.• Demonstrated expertise in experimental design, data collection, and data analysis methods, utilizing appropriate statistical techniques to draw meaningful conclusions from research findings.• Effectively managed research projects, including participant recruitment, scheduling, and data management, ensuring accuracy and adherence to ethical guidelines.• Presented research findings at academic conferences, showcasing the significance of the research and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field. Published research articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals, disseminating findings to the scientific community.

Woburn, Ma, Us

• Conducted user-centered research studies to evaluate the effectiveness of software product designs, employing human factors principles and methodologies. Designed and executed research protocols, including usability testing, cognitive walkthroughs, and task analysis, to gather data and assess user interactions with software products.• Analyzed collected data and generated comprehensive reports highlighting key findings and actionable recommendations for improving software product designs. Presented research findings to both internal stakeholders and external customers, effectively communicating the value and efficacy of company products.• Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including software developers, designers, and project managers, to integrate human factors considerations into the software development lifecycle.

Conducted laboratory experiments to test the effectiveness of medical device design on the clotting properties of blood. Designed and implemented a new organizational system to increase the efficiency of laboratory operations.

Successfully led and managed a small team of Soldiers from diverse backgrounds as a non-commissioned officer. Responsible for training and supervising soldiers in technical tasks such as medical logistics and water purification as well as common soldier tasks such as first aid and land navigation.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

Designed, implemented, and taught ecology and English courses to 10th and 11th grade Kazakh and Russian students. Developed a basic competency in the Russian language through cultural immersion experience.

Ph.D., Experimental Psychology

M.A., Experimental Psychology

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Philosophy