PHILIP BURGESS

Breaking Into UX Research from Academia For decades, academia has produced some of the most rigorous thinkers in the world. People trained to ask precise questions. Design careful studies. Challenge assumptions. And pursue truth with discipline. It’s no surprise that many academics look toward UX Research as a natural transition. After all, UX Research values curiosity, rigor, and understanding human behavior. But there’s one critical shift that surprises many academics whe

The tech job market of the early 2020s has been volatile. What started as explosive growth in UX research roles—spurred by the rapid digital transformation during the pandemic—has given way to a much more complex landscape heading into 2026. For many user researchers, this shift feels like a “decline of UX research jobs,” but the reality is more nuanced. Medium+1 Surviving the 2026 UX Research Job Market Shift What’s Really Happening in the UX Research Job Market Several indi