Chittayong Surakitbanharn

Chittayong (Jao) Surakitbanharn, PhD, is a seasoned expert in user research and human factors with significant experience across various industries. Currently serving as Senior Staff User Research Manager at Gusto since September 2022, Chittayong leads a mixed-methods UX research team, driving innovative strategies that support over 400,000 small businesses. Previous roles include Staff User Researcher and User Researcher at Intuit, where Chittayong focused on the user experience in financial technologies, and Human Factors Researcher at Cruise, specializing in autonomous vehicle systems. Additionally, Chittayong held positions as Design Thinking Program Manager at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford, Executive Director/Research Associate at Stanford University, and Research Scientist at Purdue University, contributing to diverse projects in technology and community resilience. Chittayong holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.