Hi, I'm Sarah!

I’m a creative and empathic user researcher, deeply passionate about understanding people’s perceptions and needs, and building innovative digital technologies that improve their daily life experiences. That curiosity is what I bring to my current role as Innovation Manager in the R&D Hub at Allianz Technology, where I apply user-centered methods to new ideas and help shape how innovation happens at scale.

With over eight years of hands-on experience, I uncover user perceptions and behaviors and translate them into clear, actionable recommendations and digital products. I hold a PhD (2022) and a Master of Science (2017) in Media Informatics/Human-Computer-Interaction from LMU Munich. My dissertation, “Usable Privacy and Security in Smart Homes”, explored how to help people understand and control the privacy and security of their homes. That meant building prototypes, running lab and field studies, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, with results presented at international venues including CHI and SOUPS.

Since then, I’ve applied that same user-centered rigor to a growing range of contexts, including ubiquitous devices, AR/VR, and, more recently, AI-driven products and agentic workflows. I adapt quickly to new domains and enjoy building knowledge from the ground up.

With skills in Python, web and Android development, and media design, I can rapidly prototype ideas myself and bridge the gap between users, designers, and developers. I also enjoy mentoring and bringing teams along, having guided students and junior researchers for years and co-authored 35+ publications at leading conferences. I thrive in collaborative environments and love shaping ideas into something concrete and testable.