Rachel W.

Cognitive Science (AI/HCI) & Intensive Psychology @ UC Santa Cruz

San Francisco, California, United States

About

Experience

  • Tech4Good @ UCSC (11 mos)
    • Design Researcher
      Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

      - Conducted Wizard of Oz user testing with 8+ designers to evaluate an AI user flow tool, surfacing a 60% preference for AI-scaffolded ideation over unguided exploration and directly shaping the revised feature roadmap. - Designed low-fidelity prototypes and iterative wireframes for an AI design platform, synthesizing usability findings into a deliverable presented to a supervisor, resulting in 3 validated feature directions for the next sprint. - Applied prompt engineering and AI-assisted rapid iteration to cut prototype cycle time by ~40%, enabling same-session design critiques that surfaced accessibility gaps overlooked in prior manual reviews.

    • UI/UX Designer and Lead
      Aug 2025 - Present · 11 mos

      - Designed a screen-time reduction app concept, owning full user flows, brand style guide, logo, and feature set, and presented the polished prototype to an active Apple designer whose feedback drove 5+ targeted UX improvements. - Co-developed and led design curriculum for 15+ novice designers alongside a faculty professor, delivering 1:1 mentorship and critiques that produced measurable Figma, wireframing, and color theory skill gains in one quarter.

    • UX Research & Prototyping Lead
      Jan 2026 - Mar 2026 · 3 mos

      - Led a 7-person team through a full research cycle—thematic analysis of 10+ HCI papers, research design, and speed-dating user tests — producing a deliverable that earned faculty approval for an interactive lab framework. - Built storyboards and functional prototypes via Antigravity vibecoding to resolve a lab-wide gap in research pathway clarity, with member feedback confirming reduced onboarding confusion and faster role comprehension.

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, California, United States)
    • Cognitive Science Research Assistant
      Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

      - Contributed to 3 studies on AI and memory (ChatGPT vs. Google, photo-taking impairment), piloting across 70+ participants and identifying a mid-study data confound that was corrected to preserve experimental validity. - Coded thousands of open-ended participant responses using a structured answer key and Google Sheets filtering, cutting per-session coding time by ~30% while maintaining consistency and reliability across a large dataset. - Synthesized 10+ literature reviews into actionable research implications for 3 proposals on cognitive offloading and AI-assisted learning, presenting findings to the lab team to align on direction and methodological approach.

    • Cruz Ctrl Director
      Jun 2024 - Jun 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo

      - Directed 5+ competitive performances (choreography, blocking, scheduling), achieving Cruz Ctrl's first-ever competition placements, including a podium finish at World of Dance. - Created and implemented a structured training program targeting foundational movement skills, providing individual notes to 30+ dancers and achieving visible technique improvements within a single quarter cycle.

    • Neuromorphic Computing Group
      Sep 2024 - Dec 2024 · 4 mos

      Developed an image recognition model using Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) by studying biologically-inspired ML methodologies, producing a functioning proof-of-concept that deepened team understanding of how neural timing and spike-based computation differ from standard deep learning architectures.

  • Clinic Volunteer at University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine
    Jun 2021 - Aug 2023 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    - Shadow residents in the General Dentistry Clinic and Endodontics Clinic - Assist dentists in various treatments including teeth extractions, root canals, crowns, and dentures

  • Dental Assistant at Sunset Endodontics
    Jun 2020 - Aug 2023 · 3 yrs 3 mos

    - Assist endodontists with treatment, patient care, sterilization of equipment, preparation of treatment rooms, uploading patient insurance & files - Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills through interactions with patients and staff

  • CSF Chapter President at California Scholarship Federation, Lowell High School
    Aug 2021 - Jun 2023 · 1 yr 11 mos

    - Organize Lowell’s only free peer tutoring program, ensuring all students receive the academic support - Manage 100+ tutors and personally paired each with a student based on individual needs - Directed the application/interview process, hosted trainings on proper tutoring etiquette, and held informational meetings - Collaborate with administration, teachers, and CSF board to develop effective tutoring programs