Caelus

Paul is a principal at Caelus, where he leads user experience research and design projects for complex organizations. He brings three decades of experience in evidence-based design, combining his role as affiliate faculty at the University of Washington, where he teaches graduate students about human-centered design and experimental methods. Prior to Caelus, Paul spent 14 years at Microsoft as a Senior UX Researcher and manager. He holds a PhD in experimental psychology from Tufts University. Paul also owns Dragonfly Bars, an organic nutrition company, and serves on several boards including the Natural Foods Products Association’s Northwest chapter.

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Gene brings 20 years of software development expertise to Caelus, with deep experience across the entire Software Development Lifecycle. He has served as Software Engineer, Software Architect, and DevOps lead, always taking time to understand the business needs behind the software. His startup experience includes bringing projects from concept to production, including core engineering work on a project that reached IPO. Gene’s development work spans environment control systems, road safety monitoring, aerospace industrial controls, and healthcare applications – experience that helps him translate UX research insights into robust, production-ready solutions.

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Katie is a UX researcher who combines her electrical and software engineering background with human-centered design expertise. She uses this multidisciplinary experience to help clients develop better products for their users. Katie holds a BS in engineering from Harvey Mudd College and an MS in human-centered design and engineering from the University of Washington. Before focusing on UX, she worked at Intel designing and building novel computing devices, giving her unique insight into both user needs and technical constraints.

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Robert brings over 23 years of experience improving customer experiences through research, design, and training. Before joining Caelus as an independent consultant in 2014, he spent 18 years at Microsoft specializing in user and design research. Robert has particular expertise in usability lab research, survey creation and analysis, and scaling agile UX practices for large organizations. As a member of Microsoft’s Engineering Excellence team, he contributed to UX best practices and presented courses across the US, Europe, and Asia. He holds a Ph.D. from Penn State in cognitive-motor behavior with expertise in neural network modeling.

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Kent specializes in integrating insights from diverse data sources to create breakthrough user experiences. During his tenure at Microsoft, he worked on a wide variety of products, most notably leading the exploratory research for Windows 95 that produced the taskbar and Start menu, as well as the iterative research that refined these now-ubiquitous interface elements. Kent believes strongly in fostering deep collaboration among team members and understands the challenges of achieving this in high-pressure corporate environments. Since leaving Microsoft, he has embraced consulting and partners with colleagues on a variety of innovative projects.

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Jeanine bridges engineering and design perspectives to deliver unique user experiences for clients. She is the author of the Customer Experience Capability Model, a strategic framework that helps teams assess their current capabilities and define transformation roadmaps. Her approach combines strategic vision with practical implementation planning. Jeanine holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Reed College and a Master of Industrial Design from Rhode Island School of Design. She stays connected to the next generation through her involvement with Destination Imagination and teaching design thinking at local schools.

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Vivian is a UX Researcher with a PhD in Information Science from Florida State University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor. She approaches each project with curiosity, empathy, and rigorous attention to detail to provide nuanced insights into user behavior. Her dissertation research involved leading usability testing of the FSU Allen Music Library’s online catalog, combining her background in Vocal Performance and Musicology with user research. Vivian has a proven track record of translating user testing observations into actionable insights and specific product recommendations. She brings over five years of teaching experience in technical communication, document design, usability, and accessibility.

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Kate is Lead Research Coordinator at Caelus, where she ensures smooth experiences for both clients and research participants. Her background in college recruitment and customer service helps her expertly manage study logistics, participant scheduling, and client communications. Kate’s attention to detail and interpersonal skills are essential to executing successful research studies. She holds a BS in International Studies, Spanish, and Art History from Central College. Outside of work, Kate practices and teaches yoga, enjoys outdoor activities, and spends time with her husband and two sons.

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Linda is a digital and traditional artist who creates visual solutions to support Caelus research and design projects. Her graphics capabilities include drawing, painting, vector graphics and illustration, portraiture, storyboarding, photo editing, 3D modeling, texturing, and 2D animation. This diverse skill set helps translate research insights into compelling visual communications for clients. Linda holds a BFA in Biomedical Art from the Cleveland Institute of Art and a Certificate in Computer Graphics from the Gnomon School of Visual Effects.

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Laura brings over 20 years of user experience research expertise to Caelus projects. Most recently, she served as Director of Experience Research Services at Fidelity Investments, where she led research teams supporting financial products and services. Her extensive experience includes both hands-on research and team leadership in corporate environments. Laura recently relocated from Boston to rural Maine, where she balances her consulting work with running a holistic event space and small farm.

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