I am currently a fourth-year Sociology/Social Demography PhD candidate working at Michigan's Population Studies Center. I am also earning my Master of Science in Information, with specializations in Big Data Analytics and User-Centered Agile Development. My research interests lie at the intersections of relationship formation and online dating markets, reproductive autonomy, and reproductive intentions among individuals and couples, with a particular focus on voluntary childlessness.

I am additionally passionate about user-centered research and design for marginalized users, FemTech, and efforts to prevent intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion.

Hi, I'm Erika!

Computational Social Science & User Experience Researcher

Research Projects

  • Voluntary Childlessness Over Time in the U.S.

    Department of Sociology and Population Studies Center at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    I am currently using population representative data to measure the change in proportion of voluntarily childless people over time and sociodemographic predictors of voluntary childlessness. This project will additionally examine reciprocal relationships between fertility intentions, health, and relationship experiences/outcomes.

  • Evaluating the Accessibility and Usability of the Michigan Safer Opioid Prescribing Toolkit

    School of Nursing and the Injury Prevention Center at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    A combination of UX Research methods were employed to (1) measure the social demographics most strongly associated with toolkit use and common uses; (2) identify user goals, and the extent this resource fulfills these goals; and (3) whether users of the toolkit consider this a “one-stop-shop” resource. User attitudes about the usability and accessibility were additionally measured.

  • IdealMate: Dating for Nontraditional Communties

    School of Information at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    I designed IdealMate to meet the needs of voluntarily childfree, involuntarily childfree, non-monogamous, and asexual dating app users using a combination of user interviews, personas, storyboards, userflows, hi and lo-fidelity prototype testing, wireframing, and usability testing.

  • Binding Research to Advance Transmasculine Health (BREATHE) Study

    School of Nursing and the Injury Prevention Center at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    I reviewed interview transcripts, compiled a list of interview quotes, and conducted a thematic analysis that was used to visually represent transmasculine binding experiences. These depictions were then used for a health education comic book.

  • Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, and Act (EAAA) Sexual Assault Resistance Education Program

    School of Nursing and the Injury Prevention Center at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    I reviewed interview transcripts from first-year undergraduate students on their perceptions of online-based sexual assault prevention programs, and used the findings to design an online version of the EAAA education program.

  • Chitwan Valley Family Study (CVFS)

    Institute for Social Research at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    I disaggregated data to analyze patterns of social change and family formation over time, and assisted with preparing research papers for publication.

  • Cultural Consensus of Love Experiences

    Department of Psychology at CSU, Fullerton

    I collaborated with graduate students and faculty to design a survey that examines the cultural consensus of felt love among individuals in the U.S. The data collected from this survey included measures of sexual attraction and identity, love languages, relationship styles, & Big Five Personality traits.

  • Social Media as a Relationship Outlet

    Department of Psychology at CSU, Fullerton

    I conducted an independent research project during my senior year as an undergraduate student that sought to investigate relationships between online extra-dyadic interaction, relationship commitment, & social expansion among socially monogamous people.

  • Consensual Non-Monogamy Pilot Study

    Department of Psychology at CSU, Fullerton

    I collaborated with graduate students and faculty on a pilot study that examined the benefits and challenges of committing to an alternative relationship style.

  • Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) Scholar

    Department of Psychology at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

    I supported faculty on projects that examined physical and instrumental reasons for why men and women engage in casual sex.

Projects

Social Media