MaryRose Haley

Research Associate, UIC Innovation Center

MaryRose Haley is a Research Associate in the Caterpillar Lab, where she collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to conduct research guided by human-centered design principles. Her work provides valuable insights across various Caterpillar teams, shaping innovative solutions. In addition to research, she contributes to visual design and communication projects within the Innovation Center.

MaryRose holds a dual Bachelor of Design degree in Industrial Design and Graphic Design from the University of Illinois in Chicago. She joined the Innovation Center in April 2023 as an Undergraduate Lab Researcher for the Cat Lab.

Before her current role, MaryRose worked as a Retail Manager and Brand Growth & Digital Strategist for an international jewelry company in Los Angeles, where she led initiatives to strengthen brand identity, expand market reach, and enhance customer engagement. She has over 10 years of experience in customer-facing roles across retail and restaurants, giving her a deep understanding of consumer behavior and service-driven environments. She thrives in the early stages of a project, where an idea is still taking shape and requires research, refinement, and strategic thinking to grow. She enjoys exploring new and unfamiliar topics, conducting research to uncover key insights, and helping ideas transform into meaningful, innovative outcomes that can make a real impact.