Meet Kinga

Cognitive & Behavioral Science UX Research

Hi, I’m Kinga.

Kinga L. Eliasz-Stone, PhD

28-second introduction

Cognitive & Behavioral ScientistEducatorMixed-Methods Researcher

Research, Learning & Performance Consulting
Evidence-Based Coaching

Turning complex questions into actionable insight.

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kinga.eliasz@gmail.com+1 (917) 999-8441

Based in the Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill area, North Carolina.

Kinga L. Eliasz-Stone
Research250+

Research projectsLed, collaborated on, or advised

Learning & Development200+

Learners mentoredSupervision, collaboration, mentorship & coaching

Communication180+

Conference & invited presentationsResearch communicated to diverse audiences

I bring over 15 years of collaborative, cross-functional research experience. I bring clarity to complex questions about how people think, learn, work, and make decisions. Drawing on cognitive and behavioral science and mixed-methods research, I translate evidence into practical strategies that improve experiences, strengthen learning, and support performance.

Understanding minds and behaviors. Developing people. Optimizing learning and performance. Improving experiences.

I apply cognitive and behavioral science to help people build and retain skills, apply them across contexts, and improve performance and productivity.

01 / Professional journey

Selected
experience

Faculty Member

Jul 2016 – Present

NYU Grossman School of Medicine Currently remote

  • Research thesis supervisor, educator, and planning committee member for the Master of Health Professions Education program.
  • Teach qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and theory.
  • Trained and developed the research skills of 75+ junior researchers, including full-time healthcare professionals.

View NYU Faculty Profile

Founding Board Advisor, Learning & Human Performance

May 2020 – Present

Learning Pirate

Key contributor to Joining Forces with Your Brain, collaborating with an international board of neuroscientists to develop and help scale neuroscience-informed e-learning content for diverse learners across sectors, from corporate employees to incarcerated adults. This includes content used by 100,000+ incarcerated learners.

Meet the Advisory Board

Senior UX Researcher

Aug 2022 – Jul 2023

Capital One Financial Services Global banking & financial services

  • Led mixed-methods UX research informing enterprise tools and workplace experiences for 80,000+ employees. Identified unmet needs, workflow barriers, and adoption challenges, partnering with product, design, engineering, and senior leaders to guide decisions.
  • Owned research from identifying needs and developing methods through recruitment, analysis, and actionable recommendations for decision-makers.
  • Research informed design decisions and strategic roadmaps for enterprise products, including crowdsourcing, task management, IT self-service, and hybrid workplace tools.
  • Partnered with product managers, designers, engineers, and senior leadership to guide usability, feature prioritization, and strategy.

Medical Education Researcher

May 2016 – Sep 2021

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

  • Conducted UX research for products used annually by 150+ medical schools and 20,000+ users.
  • Led research, strategy, and analysis for three large studies, gathering cognitive and behavioral data from 2,000+ participants to inform medical training and national implementation.
  • Managed the delivery and expansion of a high-profile medical education program supporting students’ transition to residency and safe patient care.
  • Created an alliance of six U.S. medical schools and led immersive simulation training for 1,000+ users, delivered in person and virtually.
  • Collaborated with deans, faculty, clinicians, analysts, designers, and management to translate research into user-centered decisions.

Research Project Coordinator

Apr 2012 – May 2016

McMaster University

  • Coordinated an international, multi-site longitudinal study using an innovative camera system to examine senior drivers’ on-road performance.
  • Managed research operations, equipment design, researcher training, data collection, analysis, and communication of findings.
  • Developed training manuals and assessment toolkits used at McMaster University, McGill University, and the University of Ottawa.
  • Coordinated industry partnerships and collaborated with researchers, engineers, and clinicians.
02 / Research toolkit

Methods &
expertise

Qualitative research

  • One-on-one in-depth interviews (IDIs)
  • Focus groups
  • Field research
  • Text analysis
  • Thematic analysis
  • Narrative analysis

Quantitative research

  • Survey and questionnaire design
  • Experimental and quasi-experimental design
  • A/B testing
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Hypothesis testing and group comparisons
  • Correlation and regression
  • Reliability and validity
  • Longitudinal analysis
  • Learning and performance measurement

Mixed-methods research

  • Integrating qualitative and quantitative evidence
  • Connecting user insights with behavioral metrics
  • Synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations

Strategy & leadership

Research operationsProgram evaluationResearch storytellingCross-functional collaboration

Tools

SPSSDedooseREDCapQualtricsOptimal WorkshopLucidOffice / G Suite

Research education

I teach qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research to researchers and practicing healthcare professionals, including clinical and executive leaders, in NYU’s Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) program, offered in collaboration with Maastricht University.

03 / Research leadership

Work with
reach

Led, advised, or collaborated on 250+ research projects, translating qualitative and quantitative evidence into actionable recommendations for products, programs, and learning experiences.

Delivered 180+ conference and invited presentations, translating complex findings into clear, useful insights for diverse audiences.

Mentored 200+ learners through supervision, collaboration, mentorship, and coaching, strengthening research design, critical thinking, evidence interpretation, and communication.

Created, delivered, translated, and scaled research and educational programs while onboarding and supporting multidisciplinary teams across locations.

04 / Foundations

Education

Doctor of Philosophy

2011 – 2016

McMaster University

Research on feedback, motor-skill learning, and simulation training for health professionals. Thesis nominated for the 2016 International AMEE PhD Thesis Award.

Master of Science

2009 – 2011

McMaster University

Research on learner-adapted practice and motor-skill acquisition.

Bachelor of Kinesiology · First-class Honours

2005 – 2009

Brock University

Graduated with distinction for the highest overall average in the Kinesiology program.

Résumé updated: October 2026; current roles updated: October 2026.

Understanding how minds work.Reimagining what people can do.

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