Get to Know Us

15 Jun

Posted at 19:18h in 20th Anniversary, Get to Know Us

Twenty years is a long time. Long enough to fill a lot of shelves, queue up a lot of podcasts, and dog-ear a lot of pages. As we mark Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary, we wanted to share something more personal than a milestone — the 20 books, magazines, and podcasts our team can’t stop talking about right now.

Think of this as our staff-curated summer list. Twenty recommendations. One for each year. Organized by genre, so you can find your way to whatever you’re in the mood for — a gripping thriller, a quiet literary novel, a podcast that makes a long walk fly by.

Here’s what we’re reading and listening to.

Fiction: Literary

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

This one stayed with me long after the last page. As I read, I kept thinking about two things: how others see us isn’t always how we see ourselves, shown through the recipients of Theo’s paintings — and how a person’s greatest legacy may be the quiet, lasting impact they leave on the hearts around them. I didn’t want it to end. The characters felt like part of my life while I was reading. Recommended by Allison Caplovitz

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

I started this after seeing it everywhere — best-of lists, bestseller charts, bookstore windows. It’s a family saga, a sub-genre I’m drawn to, centered on twin sisters from a fictional Louisiana town known for its light-skinned Black community. Themes of racial identity sit at the forefront, so I’m settling in for a serious read with a lot to think through. And I can already feel the two sisters drifting toward very different lives. Recommended by Farrah Brensinger

Fiction: Historical

Katherine by Anya Seton

A fictionalized account of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, set in 14th-century England. Katherine isn’t widely known today, yet the modern English monarchy descends from her, and she’s an ancestral grandmother to four U.S. presidents. So little of her life is documented that the author researched what she could and filled in the gaps — though many of the major events really happened. I love learning about these figures and doing my own digging as I read. Recommended by Paige Frankovich

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

This novel follows Cyrus Shams, a young, newly sober poet and the son of Iranian immigrants. His mother died in a plane crash when he was very young, and the story moves between Cyrus’s present and his parents’ pasts. Obsessed with martyrs, art, and family history, he travels to Brooklyn to meet a dying artist. Because both author and protagonist are poets, many chapters open with a poem. I love that variation — the poems let you reflect on the story from a new angle. Recommended by Lia Abrams

We Don’t Talk about Carol by Kristen L. Berry

Sydney Singleton, a former investigative journalist, discovers she had an aunt — one of six Black teenage girls who vanished in Raleigh, NC, in the 1960s. The cases were never solved, mostly forgotten, until Sydney begins a deep dive. The author blends historical fiction, mystery, and journalism, three of my favorite genres. She also brings to light the ongoing crisis of missing Black girls, and the systemic disparities in how their cases are treated, underreported, and unsolved. Recommended by Stefanie Cousins

Fiction: Mystery/Thriller

Verity by Colleen Hoover

I’m only a few chapters into this one (reading for a book club with friends) and I’m already completely gripped. The movie is coming out later this year, so we wanted to read it before seeing the film. Recommended by Mona El-Hout

A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear

I’ve been working my way through the Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series. I love the protagonist — her approach, her process, the careful way she solves a mystery. Recommended by Sylvia Rusnak

Fiction: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I just started this one. I’ve heard wonderful things about both the book and the upcoming movie, and I can’t wait to keep reading. Recommended by Kelly Sheehan

Non-Fiction: History/Biography

Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas by Jesse Cole & Don Yaeger

Anyone who’s seen the Savannah Bananas play knows they are pure fun. As I listen to this audiobook, I’m enjoying how the Bananas think creatively — keeping the true essence of baseball while making it more exciting, engaging, and entertaining. Their bold ideas and willingness to take risks have led to remarkable success, and it’s a joy to be along for the ride. Recommended by Mary Meyn

The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything by James Barrat

I’m learning more about Artificial General Intelligence and superintelligence here than I ever did in a formal AI course. Barrat warns about the existential risks of advanced AI, making a compelling case that a recursive self-improvement loop could spiral into something uncontrollable. Despite some technical moments, it’s a genuine page-turner — fascinating, and occasionally a bit ominous. Recommended by Nellie Gregorian

Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu by Tom Freston

Written by MTV’s co-founder, this memoir chronicles a wild, wonderfully unconventional life — hitchhiking across the globe, selling clothing in India and Afghanistan, then helping launch one of the most iconic cable networks of all time. What a life. It also brought back great memories of my early research career, working on projects for MTV, Nickelodeon, and other Viacom networks. Recommended by Nellie Gregorian

I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir by Keith McNally

“The Restaurateur Who Invented Downtown.” A candid, bestselling look at his legendary New York restaurants — Balthazar, Pastis, The Odeon — his health struggles, and his late-career reinvention as a viral Instagram personality. I probably spent a small fortune at McNally’s tables over the years. Zero regrets. Recommended by Nellie Gregorian

Non-Fiction: Self-Help/Wellness

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

I love hosting friends and family, and I’ve been on the library waitlist for this one for a month. The author writes about how to bring real intention and purpose to the way we gather. I can’t wait to dive in. Recommended by Aeliya Ahmed

The Natural Superwoman by Uzi Reiss, M.D. and Yfat Reiss Gendell

This is an accessible, science-backed guide to an often overlooked part of women’s health: the role of hormones in wellness and longevity. Women’s health — particularly in midlife and beyond — has long been understudied and underrepresented in research and clinical practice. I was drawn to it as a woman and as a researcher-practitioner focused on supporting women’s positive development across the lifecycle. Recommended by Amy Warren

Article/Periodical

The New Yorker — Multiple authors

I look forward to The New Yorker every week. There’s always a new topic to learn about and a short story to satisfy a fiction craving. And I can always count on the cartoons to put a smile on my face. Recommended by Dana Markow

Traces of Consciousness — Donald Hoffman, Chetan Prakash, and Manish Chattopadhyay

This paper presents a mathematical framework describing how an observer (a conscious agent) can perceive a larger, more complex system by focusing on only a limited subset of its states, effectively acting as an informational “window.”

It’s the latest development in Donald Hoffman’s groundbreaking work advancing the “case against reality”—the idea that the physical world is not fundamental, but rather a mental construct. At first glance it’s mind-blowingly far-out stuff, but its ambition is matched by its rigor and, in my admittedly limited understanding, the argument is remarkably convincing.

I give thanks every day for tools like NotebookLM, which help me make sense of dense material like this at my own pace. Recommended by Heath Cozens

Podcasts

Desert Island Discs — BBC

I love how the music choices create an anchor for a biographical conversation. There’s something revealing in what people choose to bring with them. And I’m always curious whether the people I admire would pick the same songs I would. Recommended by Dan Warren

Hardcore History: Blueprint for Armageddon — Dan Carlin

A deep, immersive dive into history that rewards your full attention. Dan Carlin has a way of making the past feel urgent and alive. Recommended by Sofia Polo

Blowback — Noah Kulwin & Brendan James

This podcast breaks down US interventionism — specific events, campaigns, battles, and their legacy. As the name suggests, there’s some anti-war perspective woven throughout. It’s a thoughtful way to understand how the past still shapes the present. Recommended by Sofia Polo

Prestige TV Podcast: “Widows Bay” Deep Dive — The Ringer

A recap series following Widows Bay, the new Apple TV drama. Perfect for anyone who wants to keep talking about a show long after the episode ends. Recommended by Sofia Polo

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud — Bella Freud

Bella Freud interviews artists, musicians, and designers about their relationship to clothes, fashion, and art across their lives. I love hearing everyone’s different experiences — to me, nothing is more central to self-understanding and identity than how we choose to present ourselves. My favorite episodes are her conversations with Jonathan Anderson, Rosalía, FKA Twigs, and Lorde. Recommended by Charlotte Beatty

A list built by people, for people

What strikes me about this list isn’t its range, though the range is wide. It’s how much of each person shows up in their pick. A historical mystery solved by a beloved protagonist. A podcast that turns music into memory. A memoir that brings back an entire era of someone’s career.

That’s the work we do, really. We pay attention to what people choose, and why it matters to them.

So here’s our invitation as we celebrate twenty years: pick one. Start it this week. And if it stays with you — if it becomes the book you didn’t want to end, or the podcast you recommend to everyone you know — come tell us about it.

What would make your list?

By Stefanie Cousins, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

22 Apr

Posted at 21:00h in Get to Know Us

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

This year marks a meaningful milestone for Fluent Research: our 20th anniversary.

When I launched Fluent two decades ago, the world looked very different. Social media barely existed. Smartphones were not yet in everyone’s pockets. AI was largely the subject of research labs and science fiction. And the questions we now ask every day — about how children grow up in digital environments, how girls navigate a world not always designed with them in mind, how media shapes who young people become — were only beginning to take shape.

Over the past 20 years, technology, media, and education have transformed how people live, learn, and connect. Throughout that time, our mission has remained constant: to generate insights that help organizations understand people — especially young people — in moments of rapid change.

Along the way, we’ve had the privilege of working with extraordinary partners across children’s media, education, technology, philanthropy, and public interest organizations. Together, we’ve studied how young people experience the world — their mental health and wellbeing, their access to quality education, their place in a world of persistent inequality — and how research can inform better design, policy, and impact.

We’ve evaluated programs aimed at educating girls in underserved communities around the world. We’ve studied the digital wellbeing of families navigating an always-on world. We’ve helped technology companies understand their youngest users — and their responsibility to them.

This year we’ll be reflecting on that journey — and looking ahead.

Throughout the year we’ll share:

🎬 A short documentary on the history of Fluent.

💡 Insights from two decades of research on youth, media, and technology. 

🎤 Conversations with partners and leaders shaping the future of children’s digital wellbeing, trust & safety, and girls’ empowerment.

📊 New perspectives on designing technology responsibly — for all users, especially the youngest ones — in the age of AI.

Our theme for this year is:  20 Years of Insight for a Changing World.

For two decades, Fluent Research has helped organizations understand people in moments of cultural and technological change – shaping better media, safer digital experiences, stronger learning environments, and more human-centered innovation.

The pace of change isn’t slowing down. If anything, the questions ahead — about AI, children’s and teens’ mental health, youth wellbeing, and the design of digital environments that are safe, equitable, and empowering — are becoming more complex and more important. 

We’re grateful to the clients, collaborators, and team members who have been part of this journey. Twenty years in, we remain as committed as ever to the belief that good research — in service of the right questions — can make a real difference in people’s lives.

And we’re excited for what comes next.

With gratitude,

Nellie

CLICK HERE TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF INSIGHTS WITH US

20 Nov

Posted at 07:10h in Get to Know Us, Interns, Research

This June, for the second summer in a row, I returned to Fluent for a summer internship. Excited by the opportunity to learn from such a talented group of researchers once again, I was eager to continue building on what I learned the previous summer, while also challenging myself in new ways. 

From my first day back, I hit the ground running. As always, the team at Fluent Research was incredibly welcoming and supportive, which made it easy to find my rhythm and dive right in. I joined project teams across different studies, and after brushing up on certain skills and tools, I was able to take on new responsibilities. These new assignments allowed me to see how all the pieces of a research project fit together—from project proposals to polished reports.

Extending the Internship Into My Gap Year

Originally, my internship was set to be just six weeks long; however, since I had deferred my college enrollment to take a gap year, I was thrilled when I found out I would be able to extend my time at Fluent by three months. I took a short break after my initial six week summer internship, and in that time, packed up my life and moved to Sweden, where I would live and work remotely for the next 3 months. Having found a steady rhythm in the first six weeks of the internship, I was excited to continue making strides on various projects and learning how to conduct both qualitative and quantitative research.

Despite being (at least) six hours ahead of the rest of the Fluent team, the extension in my internship made all the difference. Given the length of time, I was able to attend client meetings, manage participants in various studies, conduct in-depth interviews, analyze data, and contribute to reports in ways that I could have never imagined. While I may have had the opportunity to do similar tasks and learn similar skills the previous summer and in my initial six weeks, this portion of the internship unlocked a whole new dimension of the work Fluent does. It opened my eyes to all that goes into the research process. 

Seeing the Full Lifecycle of Research

As a member of several research teams that worked on more fast-paced projects with quick turnarounds as well as long-term studies that evolved over months, I was able to see how research unfolds over time. Through it all, I began to appreciate just how much thought, care, and collaboration goes into every study Fluent conducts as well as the impact and difference all of those things can have on any type of project or work. Whether it was learning not to put quotation marks around italicized text, refining the tone of a topline summary, or keeping participant data clean and organized, I realized that small choices add up to clarity, credibility, and quality. These tangible lessons will stay with me far beyond this internship.

Lessons in Leadership and Collaboration

Another important lesson I’m taking away is what good leadership looks like in action. Throughout the course of my internship, I saw firsthand that leadership isn’t just about leading meetings or making decisions, it’s about how people listen, communicate, and build trust with one another in a team in ways that may even seem mundane.

Watching my colleagues balance professionalism with empathy showed me how leadership can be practiced every day, in both big and small moments, and how that cultivates a positive and enjoyable work environment. 

Growing as a Researcher

While I may not have realized it in the moment, when I think about the past few months, what stands out most is how much I’ve grown not just in my skills, but in my confidence as a researcher. I’ve learned how to manage multiple responsibilities, communicate effectively, and approach challenges with curiosity rather than hesitation.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at Fluent for their patience, trust, and encouragement. This internship gave me the chance to truly see myself as part of a research team, and to understand what thoughtful, human-centered work looks like in practice. What began as a short summer experience turned out to be a formative start to my gap year, and I am grateful it happened here at Fluent Research. 

By Paul Jakob.

19 Jul

Posted at 11:47h in Get to Know Us, Interns

This summer, we’ve had the pleasure of working with four smart, curious interns who’ve brought fresh energy and perspective to the Fluent team.

Paul, Ava, Caitlyn, and Anna have been exploring everything from research and marketing to data and strategy, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to real projects.

We’re excited to share more about them and the interests they’ve brought to their time at Fluent.

Paul Jakob

Paul is a returning intern and recent high school graduate. He is passionate about visual art and the history and affairs of the African continent. Paul plans to attend Claremont McKenna College, where he will study Art and Economics following a gap year. He’s excited to spend another summer at Fluent focusing on growth, learning, and building new skills.

Ava Leclezio

Ava is a rising senior with academic interests in business, research, and international affairs. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, experimenting with new recipes, baking for friends and family, listening to music, and watching TV. She’s looking forward to gaining first-hand experience in the corporate world and learning from the Fluent team.

Caitlyn Powell

Caitlyn is a recent high school graduate and will be attending Northwestern University in the fall, where she plans to major in Cognitive Science. She enjoys listening to music, staying active, cooking, reading, and making jewelry. This summer, Caitlyn is excited to build on her research experiences by exploring the intersection of research and marketing at Fluent.

Anna Sandy

Anna is a rising junior with strong interests in psychology, psychiatry, and the sciences. She is active in her school community as a student ambassador and a member of the student community board. She also competes on the school swim team. At Fluent, Anna hopes to deepen her understanding of data analysis and statistics, and she is eager to explore how data can inform insights into human behavior and mental health.

We’re so glad to have Paul, Ava, Caitlyn, and Anna on board this summer, and we can’t wait to see all they’ll accomplish.

12 Mar

Posted at 12:50h in Get to Know Us

As we mark five years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact continues to shape our lives in profound ways. From deepening our appreciation for healthcare workers to redefining how we connect with loved ones, the pandemic left a lasting imprint on both our personal and professional worlds. We asked our team to reflect on how their perspectives, routines, and priorities have evolved. Here’s what they had to say.

Farrah Brensinger, Senior User Experience Researcher

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly deepened my appreciation for healthcare workers, scientists, and epidemiologists. Hearing firsthand accounts, like my nurse friend describing the emergency room as a “war zone” in the early days, was truly staggering. One of my hopes coming out of the devastation of the pandemic is that more people are inspired to enter healthcare and medicine. However, these fields do require strong and resilient personalities, as it is such demanding work, and lots of familial, community, and financial support. We must as a nation find new ways to encourage and advocate for a strong, sustainable healthcare system that empowers the many people who keep it afloat.  

Allison Caplovitz, Director, Content Research and Evaluation

COVID changed the way I work and how I think about connection. I love that I can work from anywhere, but I’ve come to appreciate in-person interactions even more—there’s just no substitute for being in the same room with people. Watching my kids go through online school also gave me a window into what actually happens in the classroom. It made me realize how much learning isn’t just about sitting still and listening—it’s about doing, exploring, and engaging in ways that go beyond a screen or a lecture. More than anything, the past few years have reinforced how important it is to prioritize mental health, both for myself and for those around me.

Mona El-Hout, Quantitative Researcher

The pandemic had a huge impact on me in many different ways. Not only did I meet my now-husband during the lockdown, but learning to transition to fully remote work has been a quiet blessing in balancing my personal and professional lives. I also realized how unbelievably connected we are to the entire world thanks to the digital age we live in, and I now do a much better job staying in touch with friends and family in unique and entertaining ways. For example, my friends and I like to plan virtual arts & crafts dates to catch up with each other while also enjoying shared hobbies in our spare time!  

Mary Meyn, Research Director & Chief of Staff

The pandemic encouraged me to enjoy the outdoors all year round and start solo hiking. The winter weekends of the early pandemic felt so long and claustrophobic. Unable to see family and friends or go anywhere, I felt like every day was the same—like Groundhog Day . I needed to get out! I’ve always enjoyed hiking, but my kids were too young to hike very far, especially in the winter. I decided to make the leap and go out hiking on my own, even in the winter months. I spent time preparing, making sure to have maps, the right gear, and strategies to stay safe. I am now a confident solo hiker in all seasons. It is an amazing feeling to stride up an icy rock scramble with microspikes on my boots to see the view from the top!

Sofia Polo, Director of Research Strategy

The pandemic reshaped my perspective on connection and the importance of family. I now prioritize quality time, making family gatherings special, and staying consistently in touch with extended family members. Professionally, it accelerated my comfort with remote work and flexible schedules, demonstrating that productivity isn’t tied to a physical office. It’s left me with a stronger sense of resilience and a deeper appreciation for adaptability.

Kelly Sheehan, Senior User Experience Researcher

The pandemic made me a full-time remote worker, which I have been for several companies (including Fluent) since the start of the pandemic. Being a full-time remote worker allowed me to move closer to my family, spend more time with my spouse (who is also a remote worker), and be more productive at work AND at home. I love it! The pandemic also made me realize how quickly life can get turned upside down. I try hard to appreciate the small joys in every day!

16 Jan

Posted at 20:48h in Get to Know Us

As we dive into 2025, our team is buzzing with excitement about what the year will bring. Whether it’s picking up old hobbies, traveling to new places, or hitting fitness milestones, everyone’s looking forward to something special. Here’s a peek at what some of our team members are most excited about in the year ahead!

Farrah Brensinger – Senior User Experience Researcher

Lately, I’ve felt the urge to refine my handwriting. So this year I’m embarking on a journey back to the world of calligraphy. It’s been ages since my elementary school days of swirling letters with a felt-tip pen. Calligraphy offers a good blend of structure and creativity for someone like me who wants to do something artistic but doesn’t want to wade through the indecision of what to draw or paint. I’m imaging practicing the letterforms, a movie soundtrack playlist on loop, a nice cup of tea within arm’s reach, and my fluff ball Bernedoodle at my feet. Bliss!

Allison Caplovitz – Director of Content Research and Evaluation

I am looking forward to the possibility of more travel during the year. In addition, I hope to gain more arm strength by adding weight exercises to my workout routine.

Mona El-Hout– Quantitative Researcher

I’m looking forward to catching up on my arts & crafts projects that I started and never finished, like a painting and some embroidery. I’m also looking forward to doing some travel, visiting family around the world, and watching Wicked Part 2 over Thanksgiving!

Paige Frankovich – Associate Producer 

I’m getting married in June! I’m also excited to start volunteering at a local animal rescue.

Amber Gonzalez – Quantitative Researcher

In 2025, I’m excited to try aerial yoga, express myself creatively through painting, travel to new places, and discover new books that I won’t want to put down!

Nellie Gregorian – Quantitative Researcher

I can’t wait to watch the second season of Severance. I love how this mind-bending dystopian fantasy is set in a typical office environment. Wicked! I also have a trip to Jamaica scheduled for spring break. Yay!

Dana Markow – Associate Project Manager 

Being better at incorporating exercise and physical activity into my daily routine.

Mary Meyn – Research Director and Chief of Staff

It’s always fun to start a new year and think about what’s possible in the year ahead! In 2025, I am looking forward to trying some new baking recipes. I also recently joined a pickleball league and I’m excited to continue to play and improve my game.

Kelly Sheehan – Senior User Experience Researcher

Exploring more of New England, reading more books, and seeing my little girl turn three!

10 Dec

Posted at 17:45h in Get to Know Us, Research

Nobel Prize Day, celebrated annually on December 10, is a moment to honor the remarkable individuals whose groundbreaking achievements shape our world. At Fluent Research, we draw inspiration from the laureates who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge and perseverance to make the world a better place. From physicists who revolutionized science to activists fighting for education and equality, these Nobel honorees remind us of the power of ideas to create lasting change. Here, our team members share the laureates who have deeply inspired them.

Nellie Gregorian – Founder and President

Andrei Sakharov – The Nobel Peace Prize 1975 for his struggle for human rights in the Soviet Union, for disarmament and cooperation between all nations

One of the people I admire most is Andrei Sakharov—both for his extraordinary contributions to science and for his fight for human rights in the Soviet Union. As a brilliant physicist, he played a pivotal role in the development of the Soviet hydrogen bomb, demonstrating unparalleled intellectual prowess and commitment to advancing theoretical physics. However, it is his transformation from a leading scientist to a courageous advocate for freedom and democracy that truly inspires me. Recognizing the moral implications of his work, Sakharov became a vocal critic of nuclear proliferation and an ardent defender of human rights in the Soviet Union, despite facing severe personal and professional consequences, including imprisonment and internal exile. His efforts to promote peace, disarmament, and justice, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975, exemplify the power of conscience and the resilience required to stand against oppression. Sakharov’s legacy reminds me of the profound impact one individual can have in championing truth and humanity. He is my hero.

Mary Meyn – Research Director & Chief of Staff

Mary Curie – The Nobel Prize in Physics 1903 for the extraordinary services rendered by her joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel

Malala Yousafzai – The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education”

When I think of Nobel Prize Laureates, I immediately think of two women from different eras: Marie Curie and Malala Yousafzai. Both women, recognized as Nobel Prize winners 111 years apart, had to fight to get an education, although in very different ways. When I think of Nobel Prize Laureates, I will always think of these two remarkable women who fought for their education and who serve as inspirations and role models to so many people.

David Zax – Senior User Experience Researcher

Paul J. Crutzen, Mario J. Molina, and F. Sherwood Rowland – The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1995 for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone

I admire Sherry Rowland’s dogged research, along with that of his colleagues, which demonstrated chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) threat to the ozone layer, culminating in the Montreal Protocol which closed the ozone hole!

09 Nov

Posted at 11:01h in Education, Get to Know Us

Education shapes our work and how we view the world. In this blog, Fluent Research team members share some important lessons from their school experiences and offer advice for today’s students. Their reflections highlight the power of curiosity, resilience, and embracing new opportunities. Read below to discover how their academic journeys continue to inspire their professional lives.

Charlotte Beatty – User Experience Researcher 

• Boston University – B.A. Social Anthropology

• Johns Hopkins University – M.B.A. Business Administration

• Maryland Institute College of Art – M.A. Design

What are some lessons or experiences from your time in school that have shaped who you are and how you work today?

Studying anthropology was one of the best decisions I ever made as an undergraduate student. The contemporary school of anthropology exists at the intersection of many other disciplines, namely environmentalism, history, psychology and sociology, and provides useful frameworks for understanding and interpreting the world and culture around us. One of my favorite things about the field is how it both honors and builds off of established theory and frameworks, and also embraces the importance of considering new perspectives, iterating, and creating new frameworks in the world of social science.

These days, I am most excited and inspired by the emerging school of ecological anthropology, led by legends like Anna Tsing, Marisol de la Cadena, and other grassroots environmental activists and researchers. Anthropology inherently questions how and why we build the structures that we build, and embraces critique, plurality, and empathetic investigation as essential tools. Anthropology also deeply centers humans and human experiences by using first person experiences, a wide array of narrative analysis, artistic expressions, design, and plural histories to holistically understand experiences and cultural phenomenon. The field’s ability to embrace the range of human experiences and employ multiple ways of looking at a phenomena are essential in my everyday work as a researcher, and remind m to stay open minded, flexible, and curious in my work.

If you could give one piece of advice to students today, what would it be?

Take as many social science classes as you can, and look for ways you can learn outside of the classroom, whether that is through podcasts, movies, activism, community involvement, or artistic practice. Everything is connected!

Allison Caplovitz – Director of Content Research and Evaluation  

• Cornell University – B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences

• A semester in Bath, England under the tutelage of Oxford University

• The University of Texas at Austin – M.A, Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences

What are some lessons or experiences from your time in school that have shaped who you are and how you work today?

In order to gain the most out of work, be organized and strategic so that you don’t get overwhelmed and can retain the most out of the knowledge you are gaining,

If you could give one piece of advice to students today, what would it be?

Find something you are passionate about because when you like something it doesn’t feel like work!

Stefanie Cousins – Vice President of Marketing and Communications 

• Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT – B.A. in English and Italian, minor in Art History

• Middlebury College, Florence, Italy – Junior Year Abroad

• UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health – MPH in Program Development and Leadership

What are some lessons or experiences from your time in school that have shaped who you are and how you work today?

In undergrad, I studied English literature, nonfiction creative writing, and Italian. Beyond my classroom experiences on campus, however, I took advantage of so many opportunities to augment the typical four-year college experience. To build upon my interest in writing and film,  I spent the month of January in my sophomore year working for a film company in New York City and I attended the Breadloaf Writers Conference for nonfiction writing the summer after my senior year. To  improve my proficiency in speaking and writing in Italian, I attended an intensive summer language program at Middlebury and studied in Florence, Italy through Middlebury’s program during my junior year.  These experiences expanded my world and transformed my perspective.   

If you could give one piece of advice to students today, what would it be?

Keep an open mind, try new things, and don’t worry so much about grades as much as what you get out of your courses and the relationships you have with professors mentors, and friends.

Mary Meyn – Research Director and Chief of Staff

• Binghamton University – B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Law

• Rutgers University, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy – M.A. in Public Affairs and Politics

What are some lessons or experiences from your time in school that have shaped who you are and how you work today?

We have so much to learn from one another. Students and professors in both my undergraduate and graduate programs had a wide range of perspectives. While I was in school, I loved discussing topics with my classmates and looked forward to hearing what they had to say. Now, my work provides me the opportunity to hear the voices and opinions of people around the world on a wide range of topics, whether it’s qualitative or quantitative insights, and I never lose sight of what a gift it is that people share their thoughts and ideas with me.

If you could give one piece of advice to students today, what would it be?

Take a variety of classes and look for the value in them even when they don’t seem directly relevant to your career.

Kelly Sheehan – Senior User Experience Researcher

• Providence College – B.A. in Psychology

• Northwestern University – M.S., Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology

What are some lessons or experiences from your time in school that have shaped who you are and how you work today?

In undergrad, I was considering taking a year off before applying to grad school. My undergraduate advisor told me, “If you’re not going to apply this year because you don’t think you’ll get in, then you’re wrong.” She taught me to not doubt myself and to go after what I really want. In graduate school, my advisor would always share this quote with first-year PhD students, “A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms.” It’s so easy to look at others and feel bad that you’re not doing as well or have not accomplished as much, but we’re all on our own journeys, and success now does not ensure success down the line (or vice versa). All you can do is do your best work and trust in the process!

If you could give one piece of advice to students today, what would it be?

When considering a career or learning area of focus, find something that you not only love but also feel motivated to get better at. You never stop learning, so finding something that you’re inherently interested in will allow continued growth and success down the line!

15 Oct

Posted at 15:18h in Employee News, Get to Know Us, UX

David Zax, our Senior User Experience Researcher, brings a unique mix of journalism, playwriting, and research expertise to Fluent. In this interview, he shares insights from his career, how he tackles challenges, and what excites him most about his role.

1) Tell us a bit about your career journey. What led you from a successful career in business journalism to becoming a user experience researcher?

A journalist is two things: a researcher and a writer. Actually, they are three things: a researcher, a writer, and lowly paid. About 10 years ago, I  completed a MFA in playwriting and began to identify as a different sort of writer in my creative practice. What was left over was that I had research skills and no money. That’s how I became a user experience researcher.

2) What’s a unique challenge you’ve faced in your career thus far, and how did you overcome it?

I have had some challenges. I had lectures on ethnography and statistics in my journalism school classes, for instance, and being a journalist inherently makes you practiced in interviews and lit reviews. However, I found that there can sometimes be a bit of a cultural disconnect between my approach and that of some of my colleagues and clients. I’ve overcome this by just being more aware of it, learning to “speak social science,” and taking the temperature of my client’s methodological bent before I get into research with them. I love scrappy, improvisational research (I began my UX career as an ethnographer), but if the client needs rigid uniformity to the data, I, of course, accommodate that.

3) With a diverse background in journalism and research, what skills have you brought from your career as a journalist into your work as a researcher?

I think more than anything, deep listening. My favorite thing to do in an interview, whether journalistic or research in nature, is to “probe” (in researcher parlance) or simply “ask follow-up questions” (in normal journalistic human speech). Wait, the person you spoke to just said something surprising — you felt it, your intuition says there’s something there, and now it’s time to go off-road from your discussion guide and see what you can dig up. That’s where the richest stuff — the most moving stories, the deepest insights — are mined.

4) What brings you joy outside of work?

I love to take my two dogs, Buddy and Junie, for walks in the park with my wife Shayna. I’m also a cinephile and go to see the latest auteurist film with my other movie-junkie friends.

5) What are you most excited about in your new role at Fluent Research?

I’m excited to focus on projects that increase wellness for children and families, just as I’m about to start a family of my own. I’m dying to work for Sesame Workshop and fulfill my lifelong dream of interviewing Big Bird.

6) What advice would you give to somebody just starting out their career in user research?

Try not to pigeonhole yourself in terms of methods. I thought of myself as a “qual guy,” but some of the most enjoyment I’ve gotten out of research studies in the last few years has been learning quantitative methods, and even doing a self-directed Codecademy course in Python. Don’t be scared of numbers! And ChatGPT can talk you through any methodological or spreadsheet issue you face.

Connect with David on LinkedIn!

27 Aug

Posted at 16:14h in Get to Know Us, Quantitative Research

We’re so happy to have Quantitative Researcher Mona El-Hout on the Fluent team! With a diverse background in psychology, statistics, and research design, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. In this interview, we learn about Mona’s journey from academia to the world of quantitative research and the challenges she faced along the way.

1) Tell us a bit about your career journey. What inspired you to become a quantitative researcher? How did you navigate your path to Fluent Research?

My journey started the way most students begin their undergraduate degrees — with no clue what I wanted to do in the future. I took a wide variety of courses over the first couple of years and worked in different research labs through a work-study program. During this time I realized that the classes and research I found most engaging and interesting were all happening in the Psychology Department.

I went on to earn my M.S. in Health Psychology and my PhD in Social Psychology with the intention of one day becoming a professor. I spent two years as a Research Scientist at the University of Washington, where I conducted research on stereotypes, discrimination, and labor market outcomes. I also taught leadership and DEI courses to burgeoning engineers. As much as I enjoyed my time in that position, I realized that my skills, interests, and work-life balance desires were better suited to an industry position.

After a few months of reworking my resume, partaking in informational interviews, making connections with peers and recruiters, and putting my name out there, I landed my first industry position as a Quantitative Researcher with the Reliability User Research team at Apple. My time there was invaluable. It gave me my first taste of the world outside of academia. However, I knew that I wanted to be in a field that would allow me to experience and learn about diverse sectors and work on unique projects.

I began to seek out opportunities in market research. When I got the job alert for a Quantitative Researcher position at Fluent, I knew immediately that this was the job I had been looking for. I connected with our Founder and President Nellie Gregorian on LinkedIn after cold-applying for the position, and the rest is history. I genuinely could not be more thrilled to be one of the newest members of this incredibly intelligent, supportive, and hardworking team.

2) What’s a unique challenge you’ve faced in your career as a quantitative researcher and how did you overcome it?

There were two main challenges I had to overcome on my path to becoming a quantitative researcher. First, I had spent nearly a decade studying and working with the sole intention of one day becoming a professor. Choosing to switch gears away from academia took a lot of time, mental energy, and pros-and-cons lists. It felt like an identity crisis and a huge decision to make after what felt like a sunk-cost experience in the last decade of my life. Once I made the decision, though, I felt extremely relieved and I was able to focus on my new path forward.

What I didn’t anticipate was the next major challenge on my journey: the extremely tough job market I was entering that only got tougher as the years went by. Major layoffs were happening at massive and impressive tech companies, filling the job market with thousands of experienced individuals. Getting noticed in such a crowded market felt nearly impossible. Nevertheless, I knew that my time would come if I kept applying for jobs, making personal connections, and showcasing my skills, passion, and commitment to excellence.

3) With your extensive background in psychology, statistics, and research design, what advice do you have for those looking to pursue a career in quantitative research?

My first piece of advice is to acquire the necessary skills for a career in quantitative research. This could be through higher education courses focused on research design, methods, statistics, etc. It could also be through free or low-cost self-paced online courses, certificate programs, or even free websites and YouTube videos with tons of helpful tutorials and examples. There are a multitude of ways to learn quantitative research skills right at our fingertips. Take advantage of whatever opportunities are available to you to learn what you need to get your foot in the door.

My second piece of advice is not to give up when it starts feeling impossible and to think more broadly about companies and positions that would benefit from the skillset researchers offer. Coming out of academia, the only non-academic career path I ever heard about was UX Research, so that’s what I looked for when I began my job search. But there are so many ways to apply research skills across different industries, and a multitude of job titles other than UX Researcher that conduct impactful research and utilize the same skillset. Do your research (it’s what we’re good at, after all) and figure out what keywords to look for on your job search that will land you the career you want. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help along the way.

4) What’s your go-to hobby or activity outside of work that brings you joy?

I like to consider myself a dabbler in a lot of hobbies. I love to read or listen to audiobooks. I picked up painting during the pandemic. I used to do a lot of hiking when I lived in the Pacific Northwest. Lately, I’ve been really enjoying baking and experimenting in the kitchen. My favorite thing to do, though, is to travel with my husband, exploring new countries and cities. With the right person, even a coffee shop down the road that we have yet to try or a trip to the grocery store can be fun.

5) What are you most excited about in your new role at Fluent Research?

The work that Fluent has done and continues to do is so impactful, both to our clients and their users. A great portion of our work directly benefits families, children, and their collective wellbeing. The Fluent team is also extremely supportive of professional growth and learning opportunities, which is one of the things that attracted me to this position. It’s wonderful to be a part of a firm that cares about its clients, users, and team members. I am excited to dive into a wide variety of projects all the while learning from my talented colleagues!

Connect with Mona on LinkedIn!