Hi, I’m Samara Holly Morris, a cognitive scientist and interdisciplinary researcher specializing in cognitive psychology, human development, human–computer interaction, and immersive technologies. I bring a unique ability to translate between technical systems and human needs, gained through hands-on experience in both academic and industry settings. I’m looking to join a team committed to designing meaningful, human-centered products that improve how people live, work, and play. During my PhD and postdocs I led end-to-end research programs, built VR-based prototypes, mentored PhD students, and collaborated across engineering, design, and leadership to translate insights into core AI products. I’ve designed and run UX and behavioral studies with diverse participants, developed methodological frameworks for evaluating user experience, and contributed to published work and industry partnerships.

Samara Holly Morris

Hi, I’m Samara Holly Morris, a cognitive scientist and interdisciplinary researcher specializing in cognitive psychology, human development, human–computer interaction, and immersive technologies. I bring a unique ability to translate between technical systems and human needs, gained through hands-on experience in both academic and industry settings. I’m looking to join a team committed to designing meaningful, human-centered products that improve how people live, work, and play. During my PhD and postdocs I led end-to-end research programs, built VR-based prototypes, mentored PhD students, and collaborated across engineering, design, and leadership to translate insights into core AI products. I’ve designed and run UX and behavioral studies with diverse participants, developed methodological frameworks for evaluating user experience, and contributed to published work and industry partnerships.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Samara Holly Morris, a cognitive scientist and interdisciplinary researcher specializing in cognitive psychology, human development, human–computer interaction, and immersive technologies. I bring a unique ability to translate between technical systems and human needs, gained through hands-on experience in both academic and industry settings. I’m looking to join a team committed to designing meaningful, human-centered products that improve how people live, work, and play.

During my PhD and postdocs I led end-to-end research programs, built VR-based prototypes, mentored PhD students, and collaborated across engineering, design, and leadership to translate insights into core AI products. I’ve designed and run UX and behavioral studies with diverse participants, developed methodological frameworks for evaluating user experience, and contributed to published work and industry partnerships.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher at Human Interface Technology Lab, University of Canterbury
September 1, 2024 - Present
Led VR/Unity-based research to measure human attention and decision-making; developed a multi-modal research method in Unity to measure cognition; managed full research lifecycle including concept design, development, ethics approval, recruitment, and data analysis.
Senior Researcher at Soul Machines
March 1, 2024 - October 23, 2025
Led end-to-end research program developing immersive games to enhance human cognition assessment; conducted needs analysis for MBIE-funded VR healthcare training product; applied factor analysis in R to refine measurement of user task load; prototyped UX with co-design; collaborated cross-functionally with engineers, designers, and leadership; analyzed complex human-AI interaction data to inform AI model development and acted as liaison between industry and academia.
Research Assistant at Auckland Bioengineering Institute
December 1, 2021 - October 23, 2025
Designed and led large-scale mixed-methods user studies with families and minors to explore shared digital experiences; developed VR interfaces using Unity with co-design; maintained data quality and research integrity across sessions; contributed to dissemination through reporting and presentations.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cognitive Psychology at University of Auckland
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2024
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology at University of Auckland
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2020

Qualifications

Doctoral Scholarship
January 11, 2030 - October 23, 2025
Honours (First Class) in Psychology
January 11, 2030 - October 23, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Other