I'M
MELISSA
SMITH,PHD
LEADING RESEARCH FOR INNOVATIVE USER EXPERIENCES.
M
Hi, I’m Melissa, a Senior User Experience Researcher at Google/Stadia working in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I currently work on the Stadia inputs & peripherals team, improving and innovating the ways players engage with interactive entertainment systems. Previously, I worked on the YouTube team, working on improving creator monetization and the video watching experience for the YouTube mobile app and desktop site.
I actively volunteer with FIRST Robotics, a non-profit helping to get
K-12 kids interested in STEM through annual robotics competitions.
> EXPERIENCE <
2018 - 2020
YouTube, Google
Lead UX Researcher, Non-Ads Monetization
Zurich, Switzerland
Led research for YouTube non-ads monetization, including memberships, merchandise, ticketing, and brand-sponsored content. Led collaborative research with the Live and Superchat teams. Managed small team of rapid researchers.
Projects include: YouTube memberships; YouTube merch; YouTube memberships & merch on Live
2011 - 2016
PhD, George Mason University
Human Factors & Applied Cognitive Psychology
Dissertation research focused on human trust in automation and objective methods of determining trust in artificial agents.
2020 - present
Stadia, Google
Lead UX Researcher, Inputs & Peripherals
Leading research for inputs, peripherals, and controllers alongside cross-functional stakeholders such as industrial design, product design, engineering, product management, etc.
Projects include: Stadia touch controls; Stadia controller wireless play; Stadia screen switching, etc.
2016 - 2018
YouTube, Google
UX Researcher, Main App
Researcher for the YouTube video watching experience, focusing on how users interact with the video watching page and innovative features to improve an experience billions of users interact with daily.
Projects include: YouTube queue; YouTube desktop miniplayer; YouTube double-tap-to-seek; YouTube mobile fullscreen experience
2007-2011
B.S., Univ. of Central Florida
Psychology; Honors in the Major
Completed undergraduate honors thesis research in human trust in robotic teaching.
