About
Researcher. Investigator. Advocate.
While studying for her B.S. in Geography at Schreyer Honors College at The Pennsylvania State University, Talia worked in education technology to teach students, faculty, and staff how to incorporate emerging technology like virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D printing, robotics, and design tools into their curriculum and co-curricular endeavors. It was at Penn State that she discovered her passion for accessibility in technology, and completed her honors thesis on accessible virtual learning during COVID-19.
Upon graduation, she pursued her M.S. in Information Science at The University of Texas at Austin. There, she took courses in usability research, accessible UX, interaction design, intelligence information, and cybersecurity law and policy. While in school, she worked as a teaching assistant for UT Austin and as a UX Research Intern and Contractor for a tech company akin to DoorDash or Ubereats called Favor in Austin, TX. At Favor, she conducted generative and evaluative research for the company leading to product changes and recognition from C-Suite leadership.
After graduating from UT Austin, she was recruited by The Air Force Office of Special Investigations to work as a Special Agent. She completed over 400 hours of training and earned awards including academic honors and marksmanship awards at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). During training and on the job, she honed her skills of using empathy to interview victims of violent crime and subjects of investigations, reviewed complex documents and produced in-depth written reports, conducted surveillance and field assessments, processed crime scenes with great attention to detail, ran sources, served on protective service details, and smoothly executed highly stressful tactical operations.
In her free time, Talia loves playing pickleball, going to the gym, writing (she’s published 3 poems!), paddleboarding, finding the best cup of coffee, and traveling to visit close friends and family.
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Reviewed case studies of cybersecurity attacks and how to impose sanctions on the attackers. Learned about laws like CFAA, FTC regulations, and other laws available to allow for civil liability suits against commercial entities lacking proper cybersecurity measures. From this course, I participated in the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Competition with the Strauss Center for International Security and Law. My team and I created a policy response to a realistic cyber incident and advanced to the semifinals round of the competition.
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Introduction to the discipline and industry of information security. Explore the history, theory, and practices including CIA, PPT, and GRC models of how to protect and control information in a connected, digital world.
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Explore relational database design, data types, sorting, indexing, and normalization. Practice Structured Query Language (SQL) and apply it to retrieving stored data and database security.
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Introduction to the design and production of useful and elegant interactive experiences, including iterative design, prototyping, and user testing.
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Explored user-experience design and research through the lifecycle of a software product. Includes collaboration on projects focused on the science of usability as well as an introduction to UX and UI wire-framing and creating flows with Figma.
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Ran accessibility audits, discovered ways to create accessible websites and mobile apps to accommodate all kinds of disabilities.
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Introduction to object-oriented programming fundamentals for the production of expressive, interactive experiences. In this class, I developed visual digital art, animations, and interactive games using Java syntax in Processing. To request game, animation, or digital art samples, please contact tpotochny@gmail.com.
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Built fundamental skills in graphic and motion design with industry-standard software in Adobe CC (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, AfterEffects, Premiere), and interactive design (CSS, HTML, WordPress).
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Created animated rap music videos (using Adobe Illustrator and AfterEffects) to teach diverse middle school-age students about core competencies in entrepreneurship. In addition to this class, I created another animation and contributed to a portfolio of videos that won an award from the Academy of Management under the direction of Dr. Betsy Campbell.
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Searched for, created, and cleaned large datasets and built beautifully designed maps in ESRI ArcGIS Pro and R Programming.
Raster + Terrain analysis, Georeferencing/Heads-up digitizing, Graduated circles and bivariate maps, buffers, R Spatial, spatial statistical analysis.
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Manipulated big datasets in the context of geographic relationships and mapping.
Coursework
Recognition & Accolades
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Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society
Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society
The Explorers Club Member
EMS Academy for Global Experience Laureate
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Academic Honors Award CITP
Sharp Shooter Award CITP
Deans Choice Award Graduate Capstone
Matthew J. Wilson Honors Scholarship (2x)
Schreyer Grant for Study Abroad
SEN Grant Recipient
JE&T Merit Scholarship
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Published 3 Poems:
Keeping in Touch, 2022 | Published in Wild Onions;
Just Breathe, 2021 | Published in Wild Onions;
Picture Day, 2018 | Published in Klio
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Queensland, Australia — Analyzed the impact of anthropogenic causes of climate change by engaging in citizen science and data collection to protect freshwater and sea turtles affected by diseases. Presented research poster and 360-degree immersive experience at National Conference.
Barcelona, Spain — Excelled in intensive Spanish course 8 hrs/week with no prior Spanish language study & fostered a close relationship with local Spanish-speaking host using acquired language skills.
Colorado, USA — Researched the connection between gamified augmented reality learning and sustainability education and created a business plan to implement this project in a local elementary school