As technology continues to evolve, so does the need for professionals who understand not only how systems function, but how people experience them. At Palo Alto University, that shift is reflected in the introduction of a new User Experience Research track within the Master of Science in Psychology program, launching in Fall 2026. The track brings together psychology, research methodology, and human-computer interaction, preparing students to study how people interact with technology and apply those insights to real-world digital environments. For Dr. Blanca Pineda, Interim Director of the MS in Psychology program, the addition of the track reflects work she has been engaged in for much of her career.
Dr. Pineda began her professional career at Stanford University, where she spent more than 17 years working across the Departments of Medicine, Genetics, and Bioengineering. Her work included program coordination, development of educational materials, software testing, and website design. Those roles placed her at the intersection of research, technology, and application early in her career. She joined Palo Alto University eight years ago as Research Project Director for the Institute for International Internet Interventions for Health, known as i4Health, and now serves as its Director. Her work focuses on digital mental health, including the development and evaluation of interventions designed to support individuals managing depression and anxiety. She also leads the Digital Health and Education Research (DHER) Lab, which focuses on evaluating, developing, and disseminating digital tools to improve health and educational outcomes. She conducts digital mental health research in multiple languages, including English and Spanish. “I have always been interested in using technology to improve the human experience,” said Dr. Pineda. “Whether it is education, health, or mental health, the goal is always to help people.”
Although her academic background is in education, including a master’s degree in interdisciplinary education and a doctorate in learning and instruction, her training in research methodology and learning theory prepared her for a transition into applied research at PAU. That foundation led her to see a clear connection between psychology and user experience research. “Psychology is about human behavior,” she said. “User experience research is about how to use that information to design valuable experiences.”
Her work at PAU has also been shaped by collaboration and mentorship. Dr. Pineda worked closely with Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology Ricardo Muñoz, PhD, who retired from Palo Alto University (PAU) in 2023. His approach to research in real-world settings informed her own. She has also collaborated with faculty across the university on projects focused on expanding access to care through digital tools.
That work continues to evolve alongside rapid advances in technology, particularly in the development of artificial intelligence. As these systems become more widely used, Dr. Pineda said maintaining a focus on human experience is essential. “In the age of AI, it is important not to lose perspective on why we do the work that we do,” she said. “At the center of all of this is the human experience.”
The new UXR track is designed to address that need. Students will learn to analyze user behavior, evaluate digital experiences, and communicate research findings that inform how products and systems are developed. The track emphasizes a human-centered approach grounded in research and data. Dr. Pineda said one of the central challenges in the field is keeping pace with technological advancement while also addressing safety and ethical considerations. “Technology is advancing rapidly, and keeping up with the safety concerns associated with AI is a challenge,” she said. “A track such as UXR is needed to address these challenges.”
She also noted that psychology and technology are often treated as separate disciplines, a distinction that can limit how effectively digital tools are developed and implemented. “Viewing psychology and technology as separate from each other is a misunderstanding,” she said. “The integration of the two can help us develop digital tools that support people.”
For students, the track is designed to build both technical understanding and a strong foundation in human behavior. Dr. Pineda said that the combination is critical for those entering fields where technology and human experience intersect. “While working on a digital tool, we are not only thinking about the product,” she said. “We are also thinking about the human experience.”
As PAU expands its MS in Psychology program to include the UXR track, the addition reflects a broader shift in how psychology is applied across industries. The goal is not only to understand behavior, but to use that understanding to inform how systems are built, evaluated, and improved. For Dr. Pineda, that work remains grounded in a clear priority. “At the center of all of this is the human experience,” she said.