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Daniela Napoli

Ontario, Canada
hello@danielanapoli.com
www.danielanapoli.com

Highlight Summary

  • User researcher with a PhD in HCI and nearly a decade of mixed-methods research experience across industry UX and academic HCI.
  • Pairs qualitative depth (discovery, contextual inquiry, journey mapping) with rigorous quantitative benchmarking (SUS, SUPR-Q, inferential statistics).
  • Most recently served as embedded researcher on CIHI's highest-priority program; 12+ studies delivered across two senior-role tenures inform design, feature prioritization, and technical requirements.
  • Domain experience in healthcare data, enterprise software, aviation training, accessibility, usable privacy.

Research Methods & Tools

  • Qualitative methods: Semi-structured interviews, contextual inquiry, journey mapping, concept testing, heuristic evaluations, think-aloud usability testing, affinity mapping, severity ranking, thematic analysis.
  • Quantitative methods: Unmoderated task-based testing, validated questionnaires (SUS, SUPR-Q, UX-Lite, NPS), descriptive & inferential statistics (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square).
  • Research platforms: Optimal Workshop, Loop11, Questback.
  • Surveys: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Microsoft Forms.
  • Analysis: Python, R, SPSS, NVivo, Excel.
  • Collaboration: Mural, Miro, Confluence, Figma.
  • Analytics: Hotjar, GA4.

User Research Experience

Senior User Experience Researcher
Oct 2025 – Current
Canadian Institute for Health Information, Toronto, Ontario
  • Lead 3 generative discovery studies (20+ user interviews, Canada-wide survey, concept testing) to guide modernization of legacy products serving clients across all 13 Canadian provinces and territories.
  • Conducted several studies within a longitudinal findability benchmarking program (2022–2026); the 2026 study quantified a 20% overall lift in task success and a 395% improvement on methodology-finding tasks in a redesigned product vs. its legacy version.
  • Serve as embedded researcher on CIHI's highest-priority program across two senior-role tenures; 12+ studies delivered to date.
  • Insights have directly informed design decisions, feature prioritization processes, and technical requirements definitions for the program.
  • Mentor a junior researcher on study design, analysis, research strategy, and stakeholder communication.
Senior User Experience Researcher
Oct 2021 – Mar 2023
Canadian Institute for Health Information, Toronto, Ontario
  • Designed and ran early studies in a longitudinal findability benchmarking program for a flagship KPI report, establishing the baseline and methodology that anchored multi-year measurement.
  • Led requirements discovery shaping the program's initial target model (future vision and modernization strategy): 15 user interviews and 10 stakeholder interviews.
  • Recommendations were implemented in the retirement of legacy offerings and the release of new products designed around the user needs surfaced in discovery.
User Experience Researcher, Intern
Sep 2020 – Dec 2020
Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Facilitated 2–3 cross-departmental workshops focused on refining user personas.
  • Contributed to ~10 user interviews to validate and develop user personas.
  • Developed Python modules to automate persona mapping from research findings and website metadata — replaced a manual process that previously took the team a week or more per cycle; became part of the team's ongoing persona refresh workflow.
Design Researcher, Intern
May 2019 – Dec 2019
IBM, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Conducted and analyzed ~15 user interviews across Design, Development, and Product Management to map workflows, identify organizational pain points, and uncover collaboration opportunities.
  • Designed and facilitated a cross-department design-thinking workshop (~20 participants) using as-is scenario mapping, value proposition analysis, and need-statement techniques to ideate solutions for workflow challenges.
  • Packaged and presented key findings to internal stakeholders and at an internship-related conference.
Human Factors Consultant, Intern
Jan 2017 – Jul 2017
CAE, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Collaborated with developers on a proof-of-concept for a cost-effective virtual-reality aviation training system; conducted usability studies (n=10) assessing impact on users' learning goals and situational awareness.
  • Co-designed and co-facilitated a director-level workshop using emergency-scenario simulations; captured findings and synthesized them into a recommendations report informing formal organizational response plans.
  • Systematically reviewed academic literature on AR in military training to support an R&D proposal.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
Sep 2018 – Aug 2025
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
Master of Arts in Human-Computer Interaction
Sep 2016 – May 2018
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario

Selected Publications

Selected Invited Talks

  • Considering Privacy & AI in Remote Healthcare Technology for Older Adults — Wisdom Exchange Project, Dec 2025.
  • The U in UX Can Be For Everyone: Accessible and Usable Privacy — uXperience Think Privacy Design Jam, University of Waterloo (workshop facilitator).
  • Design Tips to Help Non-Visual Visitors Stay Secure Online — 10th Annual Accessibility Conference, University of Guelph.

Professional Development

The Complete Games User Research FundamentalsCourse
Mar 2026 – Current
Nielsen Norman Group CertifiedCourses
Aug 2022
Nielsen Norman Group
Workshop OrganizerLeadership
Aug 2021
Mentoring Program Co-ChairLeadership
Aug 2020
Enterprise Design Thinking Co-CreatorCertificate
Dec 2019
IBM, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Learn more about the Co-Creator skillset and badge criteria.