Nava Zokaei

About Nava Zokaei

As a lead UX researcher, I drive product and business impact through multi-method research approaches that guide product design and strategy, building user empathy in every step of product development.Core Competencies: Consumer Behavior | Consumer Products Research | Creative Design Research | Data Analysis | Feature Prioritization | Product Development | Product Innovation | Professional Mentoring | Research-Based Content Creation | Strategic Business Decision MakingDomain Expertise:User Trust | Personalization | User Data Controls and Transparency | Privacy and Consents

Experience

1. Senior Ux Researcher, Personalized and Agentic Ai

   Google

   May 2023 — Present · NY, US

   Lead personalization research for Google Search’s flagship GenAI experience (AI Mode, I/O 2025), applying rigorous mixed-methods studies to advise VP-level stakeholders on user expectations, competitive insights, and infrastructure needs—directly shaping the frontend and backend personalization framework.Redefine Google Search’s personalization system and user controls through in-depth study of user mental models, delivering a prioritized list of user needs, usability recommendations, and iterative prototypes—resulting in a 6–11% improvement in task completion for personalization user journeys in Google Search.Support agentic capabilities within AI Mode, leading foundational research to map and prioritize 10+ distinct user journeys, enabling product teams to define a visionary roadmap and align cross-functional stakeholders across UX, PM, and Eng.Act as the cross-org domain expert on personalization, consulting with teams across Maps, Discover, and Shopping to align personalization strategies—anchoring design decisions in shared user narratives and creating consistency across Google’s consumer surfaces.

Education

• UC Berkeley Extension

  Certificate, Marketing/Marketing Management, General

  2020 — 2020

• UC Berkeley Extension

  UX/UI Certificate, UX/UI

  2017 — 2018

• University of California, Berkeley

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Computer Science and Cognitive Science

  2013 — 2017

Skills

• Java
• C++
• Javascript
• Microsoft Office
• Programming
• Windows
• Python
• C
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Agile Project Management
• Maya
• Embedded Linux
• R
• Sql
• Json
• User Experience Testing
• User Research
• Usability Testing
• Qualitative Research
• Persona Creation
• Human Computer Interaction
• Research Design
• A/B Testing
• User Interface Design
• Sketch
• Public Speaking
• Customer Service
• Html
• Teamwork
• Event Planning
• Powerpoint
• Remote User Testing
• Qualtrics