Out in Tech UIUX is proud to host the RUXSTARS 2025 Research Showcase!
This year we’re gathering for one powerful day under the theme:
✨ The Future of Us: Navigating Uncertainties Faced by Our Community ✨
Our incredible UX Research Teams have spent the past 25 weeks diving deep into questions about resilience, belonging, and adaptation in uncertain times. They’ll be presenting their findings, methods, and insights—all designed to highlight perspectives from and for the LGBTQ+ community.
📅 One-Day Research Conference
Join us for a day of thought-provoking presentations, conversations, and community connection as we explore what lies ahead and how we can face it together.
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RUXSTARS
Rainbow UX Rockstars or shortened as RUXSTARS is a 25-week program by Out in Tech UIUX Leadership to enable volunteer UX research professionals to conduct real-world valuable LGBTQ+ tech related research projects in order to give back to the community while enabling folks to advance their careers, grow their networks, and leverage tech for social change.More about the program:www.outintech.com/ruxstars
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Out in Tech UIUX
#uiux is volunteer-led online chapter to foster & build community, among our UX professionals from research, design, to implementation. We aim to bring more learning and help you grow your UX, research, design, and engineering focused network.
To get more information about our chapter or interested on a future cohort, message us at [email protected].
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Out in TechOut in Tech is the world’s largest non-profit community of LGBTQ+ tech leaders. We create opportunities for our 50,000 members to advance their careers, grow their networks, and leverage tech for social change. Connect with 35k LGBTQ+ tech professionals in our Slack channel.
Each local chapter (and many virtual ones) provide opportunities for folks to engage with us and each other. Our events educate and inspire with panels, career events, and more. If you have felt inspired and supported by these events, please consider supporting our work by making a donation to Out in Tech.
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Note: Out in Tech's Code of Conduct applies to all our spaces, online and IRL. Photographs may be taken at this event. Please notify someone at check-in if you prefer not to be photographed. Need to reach out to OIT staff? Email [email protected] (we promise we check it)
Team Community - What does Queer community feel like?
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Tiff Branum (they/them) - UX Researcher
Tiff Branum (they/them) is a human experience researcher, storyteller, and advocate for accessible design. Tiff loves audiobooks, making deliciousness, and walking places. They live with their partner and pupper in DC but dream of a quiet, “crunchy granola” escape.
LinkedIn
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Ben Kozlowski (they/he) - UX Researcher
Ben studied UX research and design at University of Michigan's School of Information. After undergrad, he's worked in product management and UX research. He loves understanding users' frustrations and needs and enjoys working to make technology easier and more enjoyable to use. In his free time, Ben enjoys going to the beach, walks, biking, and trying new food.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Parys Gounari Khazaie (they/them) - Product Designer
I am a UX and memory researcher with a background in cognitive psychology. I specialized in games user research. Outside of research, I enjoy cocktails, Asian cuisines and musical theater.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Alesha Duncan (she/her) - Experience Designer/Founder, Century Dreamers
I practice digital alchemy, blending research, creativity and product strategy to turn ideas into impactful digital experiences. I guide early stage startups through the journey from vision to execution - shaping thoughtful products rooted in user insight and strategy.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Ethan Newburger (he/him) - Senior User Experience Researcher at ZoCo Design
Ethan is a Senior UX Researcher with a background in design and over five years of agency experience, leading research projects that help businesses achieve their goals through a deep understanding of their users. Skilled in both generative and evaluative research, he is always exploring new methods to uncover valuable insights. Beyond his work, he mentors students in UX, supporting the next generation of researchers. In his free time, he enjoys making art.
LinkedIn
Team QlimateQueens - How Climate Change Affects Queer-Identifying People?
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Van Lam (all pronouns) - Graphic Designer
Van is a designer that seeks to empower and amplify others' voices through their work. They have worked and volunteered with organizations across North America and East Asia. Their experiences living abroad and studying different languages has equipped them to better understand other backgrounds and cultures. Van speaks English and Korean fluently and is currently learning Japanese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese. In their free time, they enjoy singing and listening to music.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Marc Esposito (prefer name) - UX Researcher and Social Entrepreneur @WesGO
Environmental enthusiast into ecological systems-centered innovation and exploring the outdoors. Social entrepreneur for a sustainable transportation organization. Emerging professional in project management, user experience, and product / service design.
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Diana Moore (she/her) - UX Researcher
Diana Moore is a UX researcher with a background in academic research and higher education. She is a recovering librarian and the previous owner of Starfire Yoga Studio, a creative space for discovering creativity and a gallery for local artists. As a creative herself, she is a locally-known fine art nature photographer and an avid writer with two finished novels and numerous short stories. When she is not writing or doing UX research, she has her camera out on adventures in the wilderness, where she leads groups on hiking paths or kayaking through waterways. She lives in a creaky old victorian house in New Hampshire with her partner and two cats.
LinkedIn | Portfolio | Instagram
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Flynn Robinson (they/them) - UX Researcher @ University of Washington
Flynn is a masters student finishing their degree in Human-Centered Design & Engineering at University of Washington, focusing on UX/User Research. Their research typically focuses on qualitative methods to uncover insights on VR/XR, AI, or human-robot interaction. They work for their department as a peer advisor, intern with the FMCSA, and are a part of several student organizations at the University of Washington. When they're not working, studying, or doing research, they can be found playing indie games, journaling daily, or exploring their home city of Seattle.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Team Litify - Responding to Policy Changes
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T.A. Green (they/them) - UX Researcher
Interdisciplinary to their core, T.A. has worn many hats as a designer, strategist, and literary artist. Throughout their work, they've stayed committed to liberation through a Black, queer, feminist lens, deploying their eldest-child-honed project management prowess to ensure justice movements have the resources needed to advance change.
T.A. holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), as well as a B.A. in Creative Writing and a B.S. in International Relations and Politics from Carnegie Mellon University. In addition, they received invaluable political education from countless organizers, healers, artists, and community members in justice movements within the United States and internationally.
Typical of a Black, queer, trans, agender, literary nerd, T.A. is often found with a stack of library books and a mug of perfectly steeped tea, while snuggling their assistance pup Ori or plotting their next fiber, metalsmithing, or zine project.
LinkedIn
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Irawo 'Star' Ajasin (they/them) - Design Researcher
Irawo 'Star' Ajasin is a multidisciplinary designer and researcher who works with interactive media, web-based interfaces, and visual design to critically investigate and reimagine our relationship with technology. They hold a bachelors degree in Computational Media from Georgia Institute of Technology, and are now pursuing an M.S. in Integrated Design and Media at New York University where their work is focused on researching liberatory technologies through design inquiry. Through their design research practice, they are interested in resilient data infrastructures, cybercultural studies, participatory speculation, and designing humanity-centered technology.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Muskan Gupta (they/she) - Software Engineer @ The Trade Desk. UX Researcher.
Muskan is a UX Researcher by education and a Software Engineer by profession, currently working at The Trade Desk on large-scale identity data systems that enable a more intelligent ad buying experience. With a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Virginia Tech, her academic research focused on social computing and mental health—especially around content and trigger warnings on social media. Originally from India and now based in the U.S., Muskan operates at the crossroads of human-centered research and technical implementation, bringing both empathy and engineering rigor to her work. She’s passionate about designing equitable digital spaces, advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion, and using technology to drive meaningful change. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with makeup, supporting community-focused initiatives, and watching RuPaul’s Drag Race or Trixie and Katya on YouTube.
LinkedIn
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Shreyna Patel (she/her) - UX Researcher
Shreyna is a UX researcher based in NYC with a background in industrial engineering, actively pursuing her next role in UX design. She enjoys 3D printing, binge-watching anime and K-dramas, and searching for One Piece. Shreyna is also a team lead with OIT’s Digital Corps, focusing on supporting LGBTQ+ organizations, and an event organizer with UIUX.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Tan Zhou (he/him) - Sr UX Researcher at First American
Tan is a UX researcher based in Pittsburgh, PA, who spends his days helping development teams build better insurance software—and his nights experimenting with new drink recipes 🍸, hanging out with his two cats (sibling troublemakers who love making surprise guest appearances on video calls), cheering at local drag shows, or tackling home renovations with his husband. He’s excited to connect, share knowledge, and be part of the 2025 Program.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Team Catdog - How AI Will Impact Our Lives: From the Personal to the Professional
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Wren L (they/them) - UX Designer @ Genesys
Wren is Chinese American UX designer working at a Saas B2B tech company. "In the past, they've worked as a tech consultant and accessibility designer. Outside of work, they enjoy snuggling with their cat Momo, reading AAPI memoirs, and baking.
LinkedIn
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Bailey Rector (she/her) - UX Researcher
Bailey Rector recently completed her MA in anthropology at San Diego State University, focusing on healthcare, stigma, and digital experiences. She is passionate about inclusion, health equity, and accessible research and design. With experience in ethnographic research methods, psychology, and graphic design, she brings a thoughtful and creative approach to her work. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, cooking, and taking trips to Disneyland.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Carla Alexander (she/her) - UX Researcher
Carla is a UX Designer & Researcher from Toronto. Passionate about creating inclusive, accessible experiences. M.I. in UX Design from University of Toronto.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Sarah Stutts (they/she) - Anthropologist & UX Researcher
In their professional life, Sarah is a social scientist with a fervor for user research and 5 years' experience in the tech industry. They hold had a M.S. in Applied Anthropology and love applying ethnographic principles to conduct holistic and culturally-informed qualitative research. In her personal life, she enjoys spending time with their dog & partner, cooking vegetarian food, thrifting, and paddle boarding.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Team DEIvas - Shaping Culture and Diversity: Exploring the Impacts of Tech Company DEI Stances
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Serena Bohannon (they/them) - UX/UI Designer & Researcher
"Serena is an entry-level UX/UI Designer & Researcher passionate about creating intuitive, user-centered experiences through empathetic research and creative problem-solving. With a background in customer service and a certificate in UX/UI Design from the University of South Florida, they bring a strong foundation in understanding user needs and fostering collaboration.
Outside of design, Serena enjoys exploring new places, painting, and playing musical instruments. They are also a published artist in activism zines focused on gender equality and have a deep interest in the intersection of psychology, sociology, and neurodiversity."
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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RJ Urquhart (they/them) - UX Researcher and Digital Accessibility Analyst @ LoreHeart
RJ Urquhart is UX Designer based in Portland, OR. They are passionate about building inclusive accessible community based spaces in the digital and physical world. RJ a strong background in front end web development and uses that experience to bridge the gap between specialties, and facilitate cross-team collaboration. RJ is a nerd and when not working on design projects you may find them consuming stories (games, movies, tv, books etc), enjoying local parks or baking goodies in their kitchen!
LinkedIn | Portfolio | Website
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Teyna Nguyen (he/him) - UX Researcher
Teyna Nguyen (he/him) is an Informatics graduate from the University of California, Irvine. In his free time, he likes making digital art and connecting with his local queer community.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Noah Ahrens (he/him) - UX Designer @ Heymarket
Noah Ahrens is a UX designer and researcher based in San Francisco, California, blending a deep curiosity for human behavior with a passion for intuitive design.
Raised in San Diego, Noah pursued his love for research and design at California College of the Arts, earning a BFA in Interaction Design. Since then, he has worked with companies ranging from B2B SaaS startups to Fortune 500 fintech organizations, focusing on creating thoughtful, user-centered experiences.
When he's un-plugged, you’ll likely find him exploring the great outdoors, solo-traveling across the world, or volunteering with climate organizations like SF Climate Week.
LinkedIn | Portfolio
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Sabrina Del Moral (she/her) - Mixed Methods UX Researcher @ AnswerLab
Sabrina Del Moral is a UX Researcher, with over 8 years of experience in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Throughout this time, she has led in-depth interviews, focus groups, in-field research, competitor analysis, heuristic evaluations, and performed advance statistical analysis. She has conducted research in multiple industries, including emerging technology, e-commerce, social media, financial services, and entertainment. She is passionate about using empathy to drive compassionate action through her research. In her free time, you’ll catch Sabrina spending time with her loved ones, reading, making stained glass pieces, and playing with her adorable puppy, Salem.
LinkedIn
