Justin Moran

Research Scientist | Learning with UX | Cognitive Psychologist

About Me

I'm a recent UCSD Psychology graduate passionate about applying cognitive, educational, and cultural psychology to improve learning experiences and technologies. I'm currently a Research Scientist in Dr. Eshin Jolly's Sciminds lab at UCSD, exploring ways to blend UX and web design with experimental methods and education technology, and a Research Assistant in the LIME lab, asking questions about cognition and learning across different mediums.

Experience

Research Scientist

Sciminds @ UCSD (2025–Present)

Lead projects on online cognition tools, including developing video games as a platform for social cognition research.

PI: Eshin Jolly, PhD, Cognitive Neuroscience, Assistant Professor of Psychology - UC San Diego

Research Assistant

LIME Lab @ UCSD (2024–Present)

Working with grad students and honors student on their projects. Researching how preconceptions of how much information an individual knows about a subject affects how they subsequently study and recall information about that subject. Researching if judgements of learning during restudy surpasses the benefits of retrieval practice following a typical testing effect paradigm. Researching dual theory of processing in simulated environments. Researching subsumptive learning within a STEM context.

PI: Dr. Emma Geller, PhD, Cognitive Psychology, Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology - UC San Diego

Project Leads: Inez Zung, Alejandro Carranza, Hana Nguyen

Research Assistant

PSI Lab @ UCSD (2024)

Working with honors student, researching how body language and gestures indicating cause and effect impact retention of causal science lessons.

PI: Dr. Celeste Pilegard, PhD, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology - UC San Diego

Project Lead: Alan Lopez

Content & Web Developer

Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition @ UCSD (2023–2024)

Developed, maintained, and wrote content for the laboratory website. Also engaged in literature reviews, helped PI and associates organize information for a cultural psychology book they were writing, attended seminars with leading professionals in the field, created graphics, etc.

Director/Advisor: Dr. Michael Cole, PhD, Psychology and Human Development, Distinguished Professor of Communication - UC San Diego

Lead Developer/Advisor: Bruce Jones

Psychology Studies & Lab Involvement

Cultural and Social Development Lab @ Biola University (2022)

Studied psychology for a summer and fall semester under cultural developmental psychologist Dr. Oscar Baldelomar. Involved in the Cultural and Social Development Lab. Cross cultural developmental psychology, adolescence and emerging adulthood, identity development, psychology and religion.

Education

University of California, San Diego

B.A. Psychology, 2024 | GPA: 3.82, Provost Honors (2020–2024)

Portfolio

ResearchMatch

Web platform designed to connect academic researchers with content creators, facilitating collaborations that make scientific research more accessible to the public. Features include intelligent matching algorithms, collaborative messaging tools, and comprehensive analytics dashboards for tracking research impact and outreach effectiveness. Implements advanced search functionality, real-time collaboration features, and responsive design optimized for both desktop and mobile use. Built with Svelte 5 and Vite 7 for the frontend, Supabase for database integration, and GitHub Actions for CI/CD deployment. The platform includes both a demo version showcasing the concept and a production-ready alpha version with full authentication and database connectivity.

ResearchMatch Link | GitHub Link

Scientific Method Learning Tool

This open source tool helps learn about the scientific method, research methods in psychology, and basic cognitive psychology. The tool uses dual processing theory - combining visual and verbal learning to enhance understanding and retention. Built with HTML and CSS with a Python backend.

Tool Link

Interactive CV Website

This project demonstrates a responsive and interactive CV website built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It features dynamic sections, a dark mode toggle, and a contact form. An open source template version is also available for others to adapt.

Template Link

San Diego Foraging Pokedex

This interactive web application serves as a Pokedex-inspired guide to indigenous forageable foods found in the San Diego area. It features detailed plant entries including descriptions, identification tips, traditional Native American uses, key stats like availability and season, custom pixel art, and sound effects using Tone.js. Built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Foraging Pokedex Link

DataCollect Pro

Online data collection platform shell for researchers, featuring complete icon and logo system with custom SVG icons, accessibility compliant navigation and interactions, responsive design for all screen sizes, survey management system with dashboard, user profile and preferences management, data visualization and analytics components. Built with Svelte 5, SvelteKit 2.0, CSS, Vite, and npm package manager.

Demo Installation Instructions | GitHub Link

Pleiades

This open-source web simulation visualizes the Pleiades star cluster and the peripheral vision effect. It simulates looking around a star field using mouse or touch input, demonstrating how faint objects can appear clearer in your peripheral vision. Built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it includes an original background music composition for atmosphere.

Simulation Link

Skills

First Aid/CPR Certification

  • American Red Cross

Language

  • Limited working proficiency in Spanish
  • Limited working proficiency in Japanese

Learning Management Systems

  • Canvas
  • Craft

Media Production

  • video editing
  • photo editing
  • audio editing
  • sound design
  • poster design
  • Canva

Microsoft/Google Suite

  • Word/Docs
  • Excel/Sheets
  • Powerpoint/Slides

Programming

  • Python
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • R
  • Svelte
  • JavaScript

Psychology

  • cognitive
  • educational
  • cultural
  • social
  • developmental
  • human-computer interaction

Research

  • literature analysis
  • scholarly writing
  • formatting
  • data collection
  • data analysis
  • Qualtrics

Social Media Management

  • business accounts
  • marketing
  • music industry
  • artist management

Statistics

  • Minitab
  • Excel
  • Sheets
  • R
  • NumPy
  • SciPy
  • Pandas

Web Design

  • user interfacing
  • user experience
  • wireframes
  • Figma
  • WordPress
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • SvelteKit

Other Experience

Junior High Ministry Leader - Volunteer

North Coast Calvary Chapel

Oct 2021 - June 2025

I assist the junior high ministry coordinator before, during, and after Sunday service. I also assist in leading Wednesday nights, preside over small group discussions, co-lead worship (music), provide myself as an accessible resource outside of all services as needed and at ministry-related events such as summer camp.

Assistant Tennis Professional - Part-time

El Camino Country Club

2018 - 2019

Oceanside, California, United States

Managed pro shop, registered members for court reservations and private/semi private lessons, organized weekly events, served as hitting partner, ran kids' summer clinics. Expected to treat all members personably and with a good attitude at all times, providing them with whatever services were immediately applicable.

Kids' Games Teacher - Volunteer

North Coast Calvary Chapel

Jun 2014 - Jul 2019

I led and taught grade school kids in various subjects and sports such as science, soccer, basketball, etc.

Contact Me