UX Researcher Does Work That Leads to Actual Change!

Name: Courtney Tintzman (she/her)

PhD: Psychological Science, Montana State University, 2020

What was your main area of research?

My work focused on how social factors (e.g., stress, SES, health mindset) impact health and psychological outcomes (e.g., physical activity, physiological reactivity, BMI, social proclivity).

My dissertation focused on stress and its effects on vitality and cardiovascular reactivity, finding that feelings of vitality (aliveness and energy) were associated with lower levels of blood pressure reactivity to a stressful speech task. In other words, when people felt more mentally alive and energetic, they were able to more effectively regulate physical reactions to a stressor.

What is your current job?

I am a Staff User Experience Researcher for Workiva in Bozeman, Montana.

My job includes: quantitative research and mixed methods research investigating opportunities to grow products and expand offerings to fit user needs

What is your favorite thing about your job?

The research I do is used to make actual changes!

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

Storytelling with data, and adjusting the narrative to fit the audience

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

An internship, Nielsen Norman training

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

An internship opportunity

PhD candidate ➡️ UX research intern ➡️ PhD graduate ➡️ UX researcher

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Look for internships or contract positions to get any and all experience, and chat with those in the field to learn more and build connections.

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

I felt a lack of alignment with my values.

I value balance between work and life, and I did not align with the expectation to relocate wherever the job calls you to. Pay is also extremely minimal compared to the work involved, and I was ready for my work to make an actual impact.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

Look for opportunities to gather experience and grow your skillset outside academia. Grow your communication skills!

Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?

I am a first-generation student, so I had little to no guidance in making career and schooling decisions. My academic committee was also not well versed in industry careers, so I had to be resourceful in learning more about my options.