Résumé

INTRODUCTION

I started out my career as as a molecular biologist, which is surprisingly good training for information architecture (biology having invented the concept of taxonomy) and usability research (the scientific method). During my laboratory years, I co-wrote several scientific papers and have one patent to my name. Though I no longer work in the lab, I have a special interest in the behavioral science side of usability—I like to figure out what makes customers tick.

Since leaving the lab bench for the Web, I’ve worn many different hats: content manager, technical writer, marketing copywriter, editor, usability tester, information architect, content strategist, and more. In all of these, the goal of my work has been to distill what's complex down to something clear and easy to use.

I've found that my strong writing background is especially helpful in design-heavy projects (where content is too often a last-minute afterthought). You won't find any Click Heres or Lorem Ipsums in my wireframes! Just good content and design working together like they should.

SUMMARY OF UX SKILLS

User Experience/Information Architecture

Translating business requirements, analytics, user testing, and UX best practices into wireframes, navigation flows & site maps.
Developing personas and scenarios
Navigation and site categorization
Interaction design & clickable prototypes
Usability testing
Being a champion of user experience with non-UX professionals throughout the organization.

Content Strategy

Taxonomy and metadata development
Content development, management and strategy
Content migrations with enterprise CMS
Content standards and style guide development to ensure brand consistency and usability
Editing and copywriting
Content inventories and audits

CODING & SOFTWARE EXPERTISE

Coding: HTML, CSS, working knowledge of JavaScript
Wireframing & Prototyping Tools: Balsamiq Mockups, Illustrator, Visio, Dreamweaver, Axure
Content Management Systems: CQ5 Adobe DAY Software, Oracle® Stellent CMS, Wordpress
Analytics & Survey Tools: Omniture (Adobe Digital Marketing Suite), Tealeaf, Google Analytics, Kampyle, A/B Testing (e.g., Test & Target)
Enterprise Search Engines: Microsoft's FAST
e-Commerce Systems: Comergent
Other Programs: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat, Microsoft Office Suite, Webex, GotoMeeting

WORK HISTORY

Lead Content Strategist
Siteworx, Inc.
Interactive agency focusing on Web, mobile, and Content Management System development and design.
2014–Present

Led user experience and information architecture for the responsive redesigns of FisherSci.com and FisherHealthcare.com (launching Q2 2015; currently in invite-only beta), $1.4 billion/year ecommerce sites selling 1.9 million research products to scientists and clinicians at universities, hospitals, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
Led user experience and information architecture for the responsive redesign of McGladrey.com. McGladrey is the 5th largest accounting and financial services firm in the U.S.
Led user experience and information architecture for the responsive redesign of OpenText.com, a provider of content management systems and other technology services to enterprise companies.

Sr. User Experience Architect
Siteworx, Inc.
Interactive agency focusing on Web, mobile, and Content Management System development and design.
2012–2013

Led user experience for Fidelity's customization of SDL Tridion CMS, which they use to manage content on Fidelity.com and on the employee benefit sites of Fortune 500 clients such as Disney, Time Warner, and IBM.
Developing wireframes for the redesign of Time Warner Cable's consumer and business website.

Information Architect & Content Strategist
Life Technologies
Biotechnology company with 50,000 products, 11,000 employees, and $4 billion revenue/year
2008–December 2011

Led information architecture and content migration strategy for company’s new 50,000 product B2B and B2C e-commerce and corporate site (a combination of Invitrogen.com and Appliedbiosystems.com). The combined site is expected to generate $1 billion in 2012.
Created and tested wireframes and prototypes for CMS templates and e-commerce catalog pages.
Led team of Web production designers, graphic designers, and marketing stakeholders in creating 600 new marketing pages and migrating 10,000 pages of content into new CMS templates for site redesign and CMS re-platforming.
Developed and tested new taxonomy, metadata, and site categorization to improve site navigation and internal and external search.
Worked with marketing stakeholders, user experience team, and writers to define content vision, tone, best practices, and overall strategy for creating, updating, and retiring content.
Created Web content style guides and defined best practices for content management and editorial processes.
Led card sorting, navigation testing (tree testing) and other online and in-person usability studies.
Led content inventories and audits for content migrations from one enterprise CMS to another.

Information Architect & Content Strategist
Applied Biosystems
2004–2008

Led all aspects of information architecture and content strategy for two complete site redesigns (2005 and 2008), including the reorganization of Appliedbiosystems.com's scientific catalog of 15,000 part numbers and 900 product pages. Just 2 years after the redesign, catalog revenue increased by 800%.
Created the company's first-ever style guide and editorial process to enforce best practices for grammar and usage, voice, formatting, interactivity, information architecture, and many other Web features.
Worked closely with development, design, and marketing teams to improve Web usability, navigation, and content.
Wrote compelling copy for Web site tours, Flash and print tutorials, online Help sections, banners, e-newsletters, and more.

Technical Writer
Chiron Corporation
2004

Wrote user manuals and other technical documentation for Chiron's automated nucleic acid testing PROCLEIX® TIGRIS® Systems, which scientists and physicians use to screen blood for viruses (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis) and other microbial contaminants.

Senior Marketing & Technical Editor
LabVelocity, Inc
2000–2003

Led product-documentation team; created copy, artwork, and design for marketing collateral.
Published collateral both in-house and for global corporate clients such as VWR International:
- Print Marketing: magazine advertising and articles, brochures, direct marketing.
- Online Marketing: corporate Web site copy, banners, HTML newsletters, e-marketing campaigns, CD-ROM media kits, Flash movies.
- Technical and Business: print and online software user manuals, PowerPoint and Flash software tutorials, technology white papers, case studies, press releases, style guides.
- Scientific: peer-reviewed scientific articles, interviews with Nobel Prize-winning scientists.
Developed branding and marketing strategy.
Created print and online marketing campaigns.

Immunology Researcher
Chiron Corporation
1999–2000

Developed HIV vaccines, therapies for arthritis, lupus, and other related autoimmune diseases, and investigated cancer immunotherapy, inflammation, and DNA vaccines.
Co-discovered and patented novel small-molecule drug target.

EDUCATION

Adaptive Path & Nielsen Norman Group
User Experience Seminars & Training

University of California, Berkeley
Professional Sequence in Editing

University of Michigan
Bachelor of Science, Cellular & Molecular Biology (Major); English Literature (Minor)