In her Co-Lab talk, Lauren Stern (Director of Human Subjects Research at WHOOP) explores the evolving relationship between researchers and stakeholders, emphasizing that cooperation doesn’t need to compromise research rigor.

Reflecting on the history of UX research—from its roots in human factors science to the current wave of democratization—Lauren argues that instead of being gatekeepers or surrendering standards, researchers should become orchestrators. By creating structured pathways for collaboration, researchers can uphold scientific integrity while bringing non-researchers along for the ride.

At WHOOP Labs, this philosophy shows up in how her team builds research processes: planning clear check-ins with stakeholders, anticipating change in long-term studies, and celebrating wins along the way.

Lauren shares examples of research projects that required close coordination across teams—highlighting that when everyone is empowered to contribute meaningfully, research becomes more impactful, not less. It’s a call to rethink democratization as cooperation—and to build the kind of infrastructure that makes rigorous, collaborative research possible.