Kath Straub,
PhD, CUA
Chief Scientist

Job at HFI

• Models data-driven design in practice and research
• Advocates integrated usability practices through public talks and writing
• Distributes between institutionalization strategy, user interface analysis/design, usability testing, training/mentoring
• Creates and presents HFI's annual research update course "Putting Research into Practice" & pens the monthly newsletter
• Manages international project teams including usability specialists, graphics artists, technical writers and software developers (and sometimes even marketers)

Experience

15 years empirical research experience overlaid on 10 years of project management and interface design experience. Extensive teaching experience and curriculum design for both university and industrial/commercial settings. Design experience ranges diverse clients including:

• Citizen-centric government agencies
• Pharmaceuticals
• Aviation Industry
• Financial Transactional Interfaces
• Health & Medical Information Sites
• Education/Research Society Sites

Education

Ph.D. 1996, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

MA, 1992 Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

BA 1987, Psychology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Thrives on

Cultivating an integrated client/HFI project team that pushes the job one level higher.

Favorite Tasks

Anything that entails user-data-driven (re-)engineering.
Projects in which the marketing people are (eventually) won over.
Finding examples of real world usability that everyone can appreciate (e.g., What size IS Venti?).

Best Clients

Those who want to learn to fish.

Hobbies and Special Interests

Urban Anthropology

SCUBA/ Member of the National Aquarium in Baltimore Volunteer Dive Team

Food

List of presentations and publications

My motorcycle has 4 wheels....

Kath (upper right) in India with HFI clients Bill and Becca Ray, and HFI's Tracy Hayes and Eric Schaffer

Up close and personal with a ray.

Diving with the boss in Mamallapuram – before
.

Diving with the boss in Mamallapuram – after