Hi I’m Sonia!

I am a UX researcher at RentSpree. I was born and raised in Cupertino, CA, and now am based on San Jose, CA. I graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2020, with a degree in psychology and sociology. My certifications and distinctions include:

• Magna cum laude graduate from Loyola Marymount University, top 10% in graduating class

• Psi Chi (Psychology Honors) from Loyola Marymount University

• Alpha Sigma Nu (University Jesuit Honor Society) from Loyola Marymount University

• UI/UX certification from UC Berkeley Extension

• Top 10% in class for Interaction Design Foundation’s User Research: Methods and Best Practices course

• Top 10% in class for Interaction Design Foundation’s Data-Driven Design: Quantitative Research for UX

I believe that good research is the foundation for successful products. At VA Lighthouse APIs, I worked to create accessible and sustainable APIs that consumers use to build tools for Veterans. I was the first UX researcher hired at Liberty IT Solutions (now a Booz Allen Hamilton company) and have taken on several leadership roles to build our UX research practice. At VA Lighthouse, I was involved in ResearchOps as well as supporting various cross-functional teams.

I value the relationships that I have with the people I serve and work with. As a former lab manager and lead researcher, I thrive in collaborative spaces. I believe that good communication is necessary for teams to succeed and goals to be met. I was a lead researcher at Loyola Marymount University’s visual-vestibular perception lab, as well as the EEG & cognition lab. In addition to conducting and leading research, I was a teaching assistant for LMU’s Qualitative Research Methods. I have presented my research at symposiums across California, including the Society for Neuroscience (SFN), West Psychological Association (WPA), and Southern California Conference for University Research (SCCUR).