Sarah Abdellahi

What do I do?

I wear two hats: a Senior UX Researcher at Bank of America and an Adjunct Faculty member (Part-Time) at UNC Charlotte. 

At Bank of America, I lead UX research initiatives across B2B and B2C domains, driving user-centered design for a global audience.But my passion for innovation extends beyond the corporate world. At UNC Charlotte, I teach HCI and collaborate on groundbreaking projects like developing emotion-aware AI systems and creating interactive prosthetics for children.

 

How did I get to UX Research?

My journey wasn't linear. Before UX research, I started with a foundation in software engineering. I developed my communication skills as a research coordinator and teacher at the Isfahan Mathematics House. I even served on the design committee and jury for international math A-lympiads. A few years later, I held a full-time role as a UX researcher and trainer in a leading Iranian network research center.

While some might question my eclectic path, I see it as a collection of "handy tools." Understanding how people think from various perspectives – the analytical mind of an engineer, the empathetic nature of an educator, and the creative eye of an artist – allows me to truly connect with users and design solutions that resonate.

 

HCI is the perfect blend for me!

Human-computer interaction (HCI) research is the perfect culmination of my diverse interests. It allows me to analyze data (like the engineer), connect with users (like the educator), and create visually compelling experiences (like the artist).