Sonia Salunke in a graduation gown

Sonia Salunke

UX researcher · M.S. Human Computer Interaction, UC Santa Cruz

I study how people learn from and work with emerging technology, so that the tools built for them make sense in practice.

My work

Research on how people learn with, and rely on, emerging technology.

Research LeadInterviewsThematic analysis

Bringing on-the-job learning into education

A qualitative study of how students learn in a micro-role apprenticeship program. Published at CHI 2026.

A study of a micro-role apprenticeship program that teaches full-stack development. I was Research Lead, developing the interview protocol, running interviews, and analyzing the data from 12 participants. Students moved from disorientation toward independent, comparative problem-solving, but focusing too much on finishing tasks risked shallow understanding.

Read the full case study →
Diagram from the paper showing a project broken into micro-roles
ResearcherInterviewsSurveyPrototyping

Designing for patients’ AI use in healthcare

A Microsoft capstone on why patients don’t tell their doctors they use AI. In progress.

Patients are using AI more and more for health questions, but many don’t tell their doctors. We researched this in spring, with 9 patient and 3 medical expert interviews, and are now designing a pre-visit tool that helps patients prepare for appointments and share AI-generated summaries with their doctors.

Read the full case study →
Sketches of a pre-visit summary flow

How I research

My process, from planning a study to handing findings to a team. Hover over or tap a step to read more.

Plan

Protocols, interview guides, and a clear plan for the quarter.

I write research protocols, interview guides, and project documentation, and set quarterly plans and weekly priorities so the team knows what comes next.

Collect

The right method for the question.

I use interviews, surveys, usability testing, and competitive research, matched to the question. I'm CITI certified in human subjects research.

Analyze

Patterns, pain points, and needs.

I organize qualitative and quantitative data in spreadsheets and structured coding frameworks, then use thematic analysis to find patterns, pain points, and needs. I also use Python.

Translate

Findings into recommendations teams can use.

I turn findings into clear recommendations and work with UI/UX, research, and development teams. I test Figma prototypes with users and refine them from what they say.

My experience

Teaching, mentoring, and leading teams. Hover over or tap a role to see more.

Teaching Assistant

UC Santa Cruz · Sep 2025 to present

Four courses across disciplines: PSYC 10 (Developmental Psychology), ART 135 (Digital Painting), THEA 10, and CMPM 80K (Foundations of Game Design). I grade exams, written assignments, and visual design projects with detailed feedback, and lead discussion sections and office hours, including Adobe Photoshop workflows and critique.

Group Reader

Baskin Engineering · Sep 2024 to Jun 2025

Graded assignments, project submissions, and participation in upper-division Computational Media courses using standardized rubrics. I wrote constructive feedback and worked with instructors and TAs to keep grading consistent and fair.

Resident Assistant

UC Santa Cruz · Sep 2023 to Aug 2025

Oversaw more than 90 residents, handled disciplinary issues, and ran community outreach, events, and meetings. I connected residents to academic resources and peer counseling and built community engagement alongside my coursework.

COSMOS Senior Resident Assistant

UC Santa Cruz · Summers 2024 to 2026

Supported more than 300 high school students in a residential STEM program, with mentorship and academic project help. I worked with professional staff and mentored a team of 30 resident assistants, and helped run large educational and recreational events.

Social Media Marketing Assistant

Crown College Programs Office · Sep 2024 to Jun 2025

Created accessible content and managed social platforms using WordPress, Canva, Instagram, Slack, and Discord. I used engagement data to shape outreach, which raised engagement and resource visibility by 80%.

President, Indian Student Association

UC Santa Cruz · Nov 2022 to Jul 2025

Led an organization of nearly 300 active members, wrote funding proposals, and mentored a 10-member executive board and nearly 120 interns. As Culture Show Director, I led script-writing meetings and managed staging for a cohesive program.

Volunteer Coordinator, CruzHacks

UC Santa Cruz · Dec 2022 to Jan 2024

Supported organizers at a major hackathon for 500+ participants, mentors, judges, and sponsors. I managed supply distribution during overnight shifts, filtered project submissions, and set up the venue after food safety training.

Skills and education

Research

I
User interviews90%
T
Thematic analysis88%
S
Survey design80%
F
Figma prototyping80%

Tools

X
Sheets & Excel85%
C
Canva85%
Ps
Photoshop65%
Py
Python55%

Estimated proficiency, based on my project, course, and teaching experience.

M.S. Human Computer Interaction
UC Santa Cruz, expected Dec 2026

B.S. Cognitive Science
UC Santa Cruz, 2025. Cum laude, GPA 3.92, with a focus in AI and human computer interface.

Certification: CITI Human Subjects Research


Feel free to reach out, I promise I'm friendly!