Rachel Bryan
About Rachel Bryan
Rachel Bryan is a Usability Specialist with extensive experience in enhancing the usability and accessibility of information. She has worked at the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Tennessee, where she focused on user experience and academic reading behavior.
Work at U.S. Geological Survey
Rachel Bryan has been employed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) since 2022 as a Usability Specialist. In this role, she focuses on enhancing the usability and accessibility of information across various platforms. Prior to her current position, she worked at USGS as a Contract Usability Specialist from 2021 to 2022. Her experience at USGS contributes to her expertise in improving user interactions with online resources.
Education and Expertise
Rachel Bryan holds a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, which she completed from 2009 to 2011. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Berry College, studying there from 2003 to 2007. Her educational background supports her research interests in usability and accessibility, particularly in how users interact with online resources.
Background
Rachel Bryan has a diverse professional background in usability and user experience. She worked at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for eight years, serving in various roles including Use-eXperience Lab Manager and UT CCI-ORNL User-Experience Lab Coordinator. Her earlier experience includes positions as a Research Coordinator and Project Manager at the University of Tennessee, where she focused on academic reading behavior and source trustworthiness.
Research Interests
Rachel Bryan's research interests center on studying user interactions with online resources. She aims to improve usability and accessibility for websites, publishers, libraries, and companies. Her previous research has explored how academics determine the trustworthiness of sources, reflecting her commitment to enhancing the user experience in digital environments.