UX/UI Researcher

Yaqeen Institute is seeking a UX/UI Researcher to investigate how audiences discover, engage with, and benefit from its digital educational resources.

This remote contract position focuses on understanding user behavior across digital publications, research content, and learning experiences. You'll work with product stakeholders to uncover audience needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and translate research findings into actionable product recommendations.

Your initial assignment will focus on Yaqeen's free English-language ebook library. Building on audience research conducted in 2024 and an ongoing reader survey, you'll lead a qualitative study to explore how reading preferences, content discovery, and engagement patterns have evolved.

The project will involve conducting individual interviews, analyzing user behavior, identifying emerging trends, and recommending improvements to the library's digital experience.

You'll also contribute to research practices across the organization, helping other teams adopt consistent methods for understanding their audiences.

The initial contract lasts four months, with the possibility of an extension or transition into a longer-term, full-time position.

Key Responsibilities

User Research & Discovery

• Plan and manage qualitative research projects, from defining objectives to communicating final findings.

• Examine previous audience studies and current survey responses to identify knowledge gaps.

• Partner with product managers to establish research questions connected to measurable product outcomes.

• Develop structured interview guides using unbiased, open-ended questions.

• Identify and recruit participants representing different audience segments.

• Conduct and document individual user interviews to understand motivations, needs, and behaviors.

• Investigate how readers find educational resources and choose between different content formats.

• Explore the influence of AI-powered search tools on information discovery and research habits.

Digital Reading Experience Research

• Understand how users interact with ebooks, audiobooks, and other educational formats.

• Examine reading preferences across mobile devices, desktop computers, and downloadable formats.

• Investigate what readers do after completing a publication, including sharing, further learning, and exploring related content.

• Identify usability improvements and potential features for the digital library.

• Gather feedback on future content topics and audience interests.

• Compare current research findings with previous studies to identify changing needs and behaviors.

Research Analysis & Communication

• Organize qualitative findings using methods such as thematic analysis and affinity mapping.

• Combine interview insights with survey data to develop a comprehensive understanding of audience behavior.

• Produce clear research reports highlighting significant findings and product opportunities.

• Translate research evidence into prioritized recommendations for product, content, and marketing teams.

• Present findings to stakeholders and explain how they relate to organizational objectives.

• Help teams incorporate research insights into product planning and decision-making.

Research Operations & Ethical Practices

• Obtain informed consent from research participants.

• Protect sensitive information through appropriate data collection, anonymization, and storage practices.

• Respect participant requests regarding changes to or deletion of personal information.

• Help establish reusable research resources, including interview templates, consent documentation, and participant panels.

• Contribute to a centralized collection of research findings that can support future projects.

• Advise other product teams on opportunities to incorporate user research into their work.

• Support the evaluation of Yaqeen's educational and spiritual impact using its BASIC religiosity framework.

Requirements

Education & Professional Background

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Information Science, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

• Experience designing and conducting qualitative user research projects.

• Demonstrated ability to manage interviews, participant recruitment, and research synthesis.

• Familiarity with digital products such as online libraries, educational platforms, reading applications, or video-based learning services.

Research Skills

• Ability to develop neutral interview questions that uncover actual behaviors rather than simply collecting opinions.

• Experience using qualitative analysis techniques, including affinity mapping and thematic analysis.

• Strong ability to identify patterns and turn research insights into practical recommendations.

• Confidence interpreting survey results alongside qualitative research findings.

• Experience presenting research conclusions to stakeholders from different professional backgrounds.

• Strong written communication and research documentation skills.

• Ability to manage research activities independently and support multiple teams.

Cultural & Community Understanding

• Understanding of Muslim communities and the cultural context surrounding Islamic educational resources.

• Sensitivity when discussing personal religious experiences, beliefs, uncertainty, and spiritual practices.

• Ability to approach participants with empathy, respect, and cultural awareness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or additional formal training in research methods.

• Experience studying audiences for digital educational or publishing platforms.

• Previous research involving Yaqeen Institute's audiences.

• Experience establishing research processes or shared research repositories.

• Familiarity with measuring educational, behavioral, or long-term engagement outcomes.

Contract Details

Employment Type: Contract

Initial Duration: 4 months

Work Arrangement: Remote – United States

Compensation: Not specified

Extension Potential: The contract may be extended or converted into a longer-term, full-time opportunity.

Probationary Period: Yaqeen Institute states that its career opportunities are subject to a three-month probationary period.

Why Join Yaqeen Institute?

Research with Meaningful Impact

Help improve access to educational resources by understanding how readers engage with digital content and apply what they learn.

Lead Research from Start to Finish

Take ownership of a substantial qualitative research project, including planning, participant interviews, analysis, and stakeholder presentations.

Influence Product Decisions

Your findings will inform the development of Yaqeen's digital library and support decisions across product, editorial, and marketing teams.

Explore Changing Digital Behaviors

Investigate how emerging technologies, including AI-powered discovery tools, influence the ways audiences find and consume information.

Build Research Practices

Contribute to research systems, documentation, and processes that can support multiple teams beyond the initial project.

About Yaqeen Institute

Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing accessible Islamic educational content and research.

Its publications and digital resources include articles, research papers, ebooks, videos, and educational curricula designed for a global audience.

The organization combines scholarly research with modern digital formats to help individuals explore Islamic knowledge, strengthen their understanding, and engage with educational content.

Yaqeen Institute emphasizes sincerity, excellence, compassion, and a collaborative working environment that values diverse perspectives.

Recommended Learning: Data-Driven Design by Designlab

Effective UX research goes beyond collecting feedback. It involves interpreting evidence, identifying meaningful patterns, and connecting user insights to measurable product outcomes.

For UX researchers looking to strengthen these skills, Designlab's Data-Driven Design course is a relevant option. The course focuses on interpreting data, supporting design decisions with evidence, and communicating the business impact of design work.

These skills are particularly applicable to roles like Yaqeen Institute's UX/UI Researcher, where qualitative findings, survey results, and audience engagement metrics help guide product improvements.

Explore Data-Driven Design by Designlab

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