Nurbanu Ozbay

Entry-level UX Researcher & Designer with a strong foundation in psychology, 5+ years of experience in teaching, and human-centered research. Skilled in qualitative and quantitative methods, usability testing, and wireframing, with experience facilitating discussions, conducting needs assessments, mentoring diverse groups and synthesizing insights into actionable recommendations. Fluent in English and Turkish.

Lecturer at Penn State University & Ahi Evran University (2019-01 – Present)

Teaching psychology courses and facilitating interactive learning experiences

• Designed and taught psychology courses, applying decision-making theories, and cognitive science to real-world contexts.
• Facilitated interactive learning experiences through in-class and online discussions and mentored diverse learners, applying empathy, communication, and facilitation.
• Conducted surveys, experiments and feedback activities with student groups.

Research Assistant at The City College of New York, Dept. of Psychology, & TREND Partnership (NIH-funded) (2015-04 – 2018-08)

Conducted research on behavioral patterns and managed participant recruitment and engagement

• Designed and refined research questions and hypotheses to investigate behavioral patterns.
• Conducted systematic literature reviews (PRISMA) and synthesized findings into insights for manuscripts and presentations.
• Managed participant recruitment, consent, and engagement, including interviews, surveys, and experimental tasks.
• Collected and analyzed qualitative & quantitative data to identify trends across diverse populations.
• Collaborated with cross-disciplinary teams; communicated findings in clear, structured reports.

Assistant to the Executive Director at Women and Family Ascending Association (WAFAA) (2017-06 – 2017-12)

Supported women experiencing domestic violence and organized community workshops

• Supported women experiencing domestic violence by identifying needs, arranging housing and connecting them with resources.
• Assisted in counseling sessions, applying listening and empathy to uncover underlying challenges.
• Organized community workshops and seminars on anger management and cultural tolerance.

Psychological Counselor at Sevgi Masali Kindergarten (2011-09 – 2012-06)

Conducted evaluations of children's developmental skills and collaborated with families and teachers

• Conducted evaluations of children's cognitive, motor, social and language skills using structured developmental assessments.
• Collaborated with families and teachers, providing seminars and feedback sessions to translate findings into clear and actionable recommendations.
• Advocated for children's needs by communicating insights to caregivers and educators.

Certificate in Google UX Design – Coursera (2025-08)

Master of Arts in Psychology, General Psychology – The City College of New York (CCNY) (2017-06)

Bachelor of Science in Psychology – Hacettepe University (2012-06)