Science Central
From proposal to publication — all-in-one for environmental molecular science discovery
2023 - present
Prototype demonstrates experience for sample submission bridge omnichannel experience for external researchers
Overview
Science Central is an open-source digital platform for scientists using the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory (EMSL) to conduct environmental molecular science experiments for innovation.
From funding proposals and physical sample submissions to total open public data access, and AI/ML analysis services — Science Central supports global collaboration at every stage of the research lifecycle.
I led product design on this critical lab platform—from system mapping and team coordination to launching scalable design foundations used by global researchers. I also mentored and advocated for junior designers to grow and learn in design and communication skills.
Role
Lead product design through complexity and uncertainty
Target audience
Internal lab staff
External researchers (senior Principal Investigators and early-career scientists)
Impact
144 metadata fields simplified into usable flows
Reduced lost samples through redesigned shipping logic
Enabled automatic data validation with real-time UI
Design wasn't optional — it was overdue
Before Science Central, collaboration between EMSL and external scientists was fragile and slow. Key workflows were dependent on emails, manual data transfers, and fragmented systems—often putting valuable experiments at risk.
Risk 1: Lost samples
Convoluted shipping process with no tracking cause scientists around the world to lose progress in their research
Early-career Scientist (external)
Study soils impact on plants
"We talked as a team… to accept the loss of samples."
Risk 2: Manual backup data
No error or duplicated file reporting or feedback causes hours of uploading time wasted.
Senior scientist (internal)
Conduct experiments via Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
"I'm always shocked that it (the upload) worked."
Design across roles, risk, and messy workflows
I helped shift the team from reactive delivery to platform thinking—designing repeatable UX systems and clarity across teams.
Uniformed yet diverse end users
Internal staff, senior Principal Investigators, and early-career scientists who are share depth of knowledge in their own specialized science study areas.
For each feature, there are paired up tasks from external researchers to internal science staff members
Mix of physical and digital tasks
Proposal funding submission: multiple review parties before funding is granted
Shipping: physical space -> online data entry -> receiving space -> analyze data
Data handling: physical experiment equipment -> restricted network computer -> cloud server backup
Approach: heavy workflow optimization
I partnered with multiple UX generalists and interns to map, test, and redesign workflows. We ran usability testing with lab staff and funded researchers, capturing pain points and validating improvements.
Before
Mapped every moment of the shipping experience—physical and digital. Workshops with key users helped us surface friction points and design for clarity.
After
After 4 iteractions, we divided the N+1 steps of the shipping workflow to just three steps:
Enter basic information
Import metadata
Complete the nuclear risk assessment.
Turn individual strength to team momentum
I approached team coordination like conducting an orchestra—aligning each designer’s strengths toward a unified outcome. When I identified consistent gaps across the team, I proactively facilitated knowledge-sharing sessions or empowered others to lead them, building a culture of continuous learning and shared ownership.
Design execution
Sample submission and shipping
We redesigned the sample submission workflow to include guided steps, automated confirmations, and real-time tracking. This removed ambiguity and helped researchers know when their samples arrived and were processed.
Design clarity in a sea of metadata
We introduced structured field groups to guide researchers through 144+ data fields—without overwhelming them.
Timely nudges when automation ends
We designed 24-, 48-, and 72-hour emails and in-app reminders to support critical post-approval moments—ensuring users took timely action where automation couldn’t.
Data backup automation
Manual backups were replaced with auto-uploading and visible success/error feedback. Scientists now spend less time recovering lost work and more time doing research.
We solved the lack of backup feedback with a centralized hub to track equipment usage and monitor data uploads in real time.
Variant-based design system
I built a flexible, variant-based system supporting theme switching and global token changes (e.g., action colors). This helped the team adapt quickly when visual decisions shifted—without blocking development or stakeholder feedback.
Built a lightweight variant stylesheet to scale the feature’s launch with flexibility, consistency, and speed.
Scientist (External)
Study rock formation
"This is so much better than before. Very clean and straightforward."
Impact
Before
144 spreadsheet columns to enter
Untracked sample shipment
Often lost in delivery
Manual weekend backups w. no feedback
Multiple scattered disconnected tools
After
Searchable fields for what's relevant
Transparent status update & nudge on human required touch points
Automatic upload w. clear success/failure feedback & retrievable data
Single platform w. unified experience
Scaling people, not just products
This project helped me grow as a mentor and systems thinker. I supported another designer's growth while learning new communication techniques myself. I also designed with a wide range of users in mind—from early-career researchers to senior PIs—and built infrastructure that scales beyond just one lab or use case.