Abbas Jaffer

Abbas Jaffer is a seasoned professional currently serving as a Principal Researcher at Circle, where he focuses on embedding Web3 technologies into consumer applications and facilitating international product expansion. He has over 11 years of experience across various sectors, including consumer tech, social media, and financial services, and has worked with organizations ranging from startups to large corporations and NGOs.1

Professional Background

• Current Role: Principal Researcher at Circle (June 2023 - Present)
  • Responsibilities include creating processes for research incentives and enabling developers to adopt Web3 technologies.
• Previous Experience:
  • Senior Staff User Researcher at Robinhood (April 2021 - May 2023)
    • Led mixed methods research to inform product expansion and mentored junior researchers.
  • UX Researcher at Facebook (June 2017 - March 2021)
    • Conducted ethnographic research and user testing that influenced product direction.

Education

Abbas Jaffer holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from Harvard University, where he conducted extensive ethnographic research, particularly focusing on digital music in Pakistan.1

Skills and Impact

Abbas is noted for his ability to translate deep contextual understanding into actionable product insights, significantly impacting the organizations he has worked with. His expertise spans user experience research, strategic input for product development, and mentoring emerging researchers in the field.1