Engineering Human-Centered Systems
Follow along in my journey to unpack the mysterious ways in which humans and technology intersect.
Skills and expertise
Multidisciplinary strengths shaped by engineering, applied psychology, and design thinking.
Cognitive science
Human information processing, attention and memory, decision making, perception and psychophysics, and mental models across cultures and ages.
UX research and design
Usability testing, heuristic evaluation, interviews, personas, journey maps, wireframes, and high fidelity prototypes.
Data analysis
Statistical analysis, study design, R and Python, data visualization, and survey design with focus on validity and ethics.
AI and technology
Human AI interaction, alignment themes, ethical product thinking, scripting in Python, and applied work with AI tools in UX and research workflows.
About me
Hello and welcome! I'm Thema, a human factors and UX researcher who grew up online, asked a lot of questions, and never quite stopped. My early years sat between gifted classes, orchestra, hosting neighborhood kickball games, and long nights on the internet where I saw both the playful side of digital life and the harms that come with unregulated systems.
Mission and values
Designing with curiosity, care, and clear limits for both humans and machines.
Background
I first studied civil and architectural engineering through Project Lead The Way, then shifted into human factors and applied cognition at George Mason University when I realized my real question was how technology shapes people. I watched social platforms gamify attention, saw friends change themselves to match filters, and learned how features like streaks and feeds can support or erode wellbeing.
Today I bring that lived experience into research driven design work across web, mobile, and conceptual ecosystems. My focus sits at the intersection of internet culture, human computer interaction, and AI ethics, especially for young people who are the first to grow up entirely in the digital age.
Purpose
I aim to build and critique systems so that the next generation can grow up with tools that support their attention, identity, and dignity instead of mining them.
This means pairing rigorous methods with empathy, clear ethics, and honest communication about what technology is doing behind the screen.
Get in touch
Open to select volunteer projects and full time roles in human-computer interaction, UX research, and responsible AI.
Location
Washington, DC
Willing to relocate
Education
George Mason University