Recommendations
Former Supervisors
“A joy to work with, David is thoughtful, inquisitive, analytical, and creative, a rare combination of qualities. In addition to a superb meta-study he conducted for us, he also offered an unexpectedly robust expert review that revealed design and flow issues no one else was aware of. Overall, he dives deeply into data and theme extraction, leaving no doubt his detailed work is objective and credible. If given the chance, I’d happily work with him again.”
Research Director, Viator
“David is the caliber of staff a department head dreams of. I regularly receive messages commending his clarity, depth of knowledge, command of resources, and friendliness. The epitome of the above-and-beyond, call-of-duty team member, I rely on him completely to ensure things are done ahead of schedule and with care, precision, and integrity.”
Department Chair (retired)
“I could spend all day singing David’s praises. He brings a criticality to his work rarely seen these days, and has raised the bar of what’s expected across our programs. Thanks to his innovative ideas and the regular backflips he performs, we work in a different place now. He changed my own job into one that could be done reasonably, and I guess it was always supposed to be that way.”
Chair of Graduate Studies (Emerita)
“In my 30 years of teaching, I haven’t collaborated with a manager and advisor who has demonstrated such levels of initiative, maturity, rigor, and ownership. David is the embodiment of steady temperament, emotional intelligence, expertise, and service.”
Director, Arabic Flagship Program (Emeritus)
Former Colleagues
“I had the opportunity to work closely with David on the implementation of AI in the UAV domain space. He possesses a unique blend of analytical prowess and creative problem-solving skills that makes him a standout researcher.
A fantastic collaborator and communicator, he excelled at translating complex research findings into actionable recommendations driving significant safety, usability, and reliability improvements on pilot-AI interactions during multi-UAV operations. He also took the initiative to coordinate across different stakeholders to set up a dedicated lab environment for operator-in-the-loop testing, but also as a shared resource for other teams and their testing objectives — a demonstration of going beyond the role to help all teams succeed.
His approachable and enthusiastic demeanor fosters a positive team environment, encouraging open dialogue and innovative thinking. I wholeheartedly recommend David to any organization seeking a skilled and passionate UX researcher.
“Our previous managers worked hard, but David changed the feeling of our program, not simply by designing more efficient processes, but by devising experiences free of unpleasant surprises, being somehow aware of of our individual needs and circumstances as they changed. He brings a humanistic quality to his work — always lending an interested ear to our academic rumination and conflicted emotions — and cares about our collective progress. His presence among us motivates me to work harder on my research and be a responsible and professional student.”
“David quickly became an integral, irreplaceable part of the team, whose research-backed, enterprising, and graceful contributions seemed endless at times. He always has a solution where others see none, it’s always quick, and he has a way of interacting that makes us feel valued, that our concerns matter. He’s such a talented communicator that sometimes it feels like he’s the glue that holds us together.”
“Ever the innovative researcher, David has answers not only to the questions I ask, but also the ones I didn’t ask but should have. He’s resourceful without fail and I love how he floats options I wouldn’t have thought of myself. This man is a wonder and I hope he never leaves.”
“For some, out of sight is out of mind. Not for David. Even when I was overseas conducting fieldwork, he remained a constant and invaluable presence in my life, expertly guiding me through the ins & outs of international research and seamlessly repairing potentially disastrous communication gaps amongst my on-campus colleagues. His unfailing work ethic and follow-through always reassured me that someone was in my corner.”
“David is exceptionally productive in his tasks. He’s in constant communication, solves problems on the spot, and, if he can’t, he gets back to you with an elegant solution. He’s never caught off guard, but rather always has an answer to the diversity of questions that come his way. What’s more, he’s good natured. He has a unique ability to make you feel as though you were old friends that hadn’t seen each other in ages. Interacting with him is not merely a business relationship, but an engaging discourse.”
“Without a doubt, David has been the most understanding and helpful person with whom I’ve had the pleasure of interacting at UT. Not only did he field endless questions about everything under the sun, but he counseled me in times of personal turmoil. He seems to have inexhaustible wells of empathy, selflessness, kindness, and knowledge. Behind the scenes, I can’t imagine how much additional work he has undertaken to ensure everything runs with such consonance that everyone is up to speed on so many developments.”