Caleb Sponheim

About Caleb Sponheim

I research and teach AI and UX at Nielsen Norman Group. My courses on designing AI-powered experiences are among NN/g\'s highest-enrolled, and I\'ve been cited as an expert on AI in Axios, Futurism, Time, and CNET.Before UX, I was a computational neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, where I built brain-machine interfaces to restore movement in people with spinal cord injuries. I\'ve also done human factors research at NASA and visual neuroscience research at the National Institutes of Health.I spend most of my time helping designers, researchers, and product teams figure out how to make AI actually useful through NN/g courses, conference talks, and research.Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago. B.A. in Psychology & Neuroscience, Grinnell College.

Experience

1. Senior Experience Specialist

   Nielsen Norman Group

   Dec 2025 — Present · Durham, NC, US

   Serve as one of NN/G\'s subject matter experts on artificial intelligence

Education

• Grinnell College

  Bachelor’s Degree, Psychology, Concentration in Neuroscience

  2011 — 2015

• University of Chicago

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Computational Neuroscience

  2017 — 2023

• Lake Country Montessori School

  Elementary, None

  2000 — 2007

• Southwest High School, Minneapolis, MN

  High School, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program

  2007 — 2011

Skills

• Spss
• Fmri
• Audio Visual Support
• Public Speaking
• Matlab
• Macintosh Hardware
• Microsoft Office
• Neuroscience
• Experimental Design
• Psychology
• Microsoft Word
• Powerpoint
• Projection Mapping
• Data Analysis
• Os X
• Isadora
• Mac Os
• Research
• Minitab
• Statistics
• Windows
• Brain Imaging
• Teaching
• Sound Design
• Projection Design