UNO’s I/O Psychology Program Opens Doors for Averie Linnel at Roblox
Averie Linnel, a Ph.D. student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at UNO, is applying her classroom knowledge to real-world challenges at Roblox, where she’s transforming the hiring process for engineers.
- published: 2025/08/15
- contact: Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Averie Linnel was sitting in her Advanced Placement (AP) psychology course at Omaha Central High School when a single paragraph in her textbook caught her eye.
The chapter, one her class didn’t even cover, described the field of industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology; Linnel found that a snippet about applying psychology in workplaces resonated deeply.
That overlooked textbook paragraph introduced Linnel to industrial-organizational psychology, a field focused on improving workplace function for both employees and employers. It combines psychology, business, and statistics to address key questions like selecting the right people for jobs, designing effective training, fostering teamwork, and cultivating leadership. I/O psychologists aim to enhance job efficiency, fairness, and satisfaction.
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, when it was time to get her undergraduate degree, Linnel found a hub for her niche interest at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
“When I was looking into programs, I found that UNO had a really strong history of funding their students, and I really connected with my current advisor, Dr. Ronnie Reiter-Palmon, even though she wasn't officially my advisor at the time,” said Linnel. “UNO also has a concentration for undergrads in IO, and that's uncommon. There are only a few programs that have that.”
Staying in Omaha for college also meant she could continue building on the foundations she’d already laid. Linnel had gotten a head start through UNO’s dual enrollment program, taking college-level courses while at Central. By the time she graduated high school, she was already familiar with UNO and accumulating credits.
Once at UNO, Linnel majored in psychology with the I/O psychology concentration. She eagerly soaked up courses on topics like personnel selection and training, the very core of what I/O is about. It was in one of these courses, personnel psychology, where she got to learn first-hand from a UNO alumnus working in the field.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in psychology, Linnel applied for a graduate program at UNO.
“I worked in Dr. Ronnie Reiter-Palmon's lab as an undergraduate research assistant, and I really enjoyed the research she did, especially in creative problem-solving. When applying to a Ph.D. program, you're not just applying to the school, you're applying to the lab you want to work in,” said Linnel. “I liked her lab and the research it focused on, and I felt that I had already been learning about it and was genuinely interested. I saw her as a great mentor.”
Linnel earned her M.A. as part of the Ph.D. track and is now entering her fifth year in the I/O psychology doctoral program.
Landing an Internship at Roblox
Roblox is an online platform that allows users to create, share, and play games developed by other users. With its unique combination of gaming and social interaction, it has become a global hub for user-generated content, where players can explore a wide variety of virtual worlds and experiences.
As a leader in the gaming industry, Roblox has expanded its influence, attracting millions of players and developers worldwide. This innovative environment offers students like Linnel the chance to apply their expertise in IO Psychology to enhance the company's talent acquisition processes and improve the overall user experience.
Linnel’s opportunity at Roblox started with a connection made through UNO. Another alumnus of UNO’s I/O psychology Ph.D. program who had graduated several years before her was now at Roblox, leading a project that needed extra hands.
When this alumnus reached out to Reiter-Palmon, one of the world’s leading experts in I/O psychology, looking for graduate students to assist with a short-term consulting project, Linnel’s mentor immediately thought of her. She joined the project as a contractor, working remotely on an I/O-related consulting task for Roblox.
“Averie started volunteering in my lab as an undergraduate and has excelled. She has since completed her master's with me, and currently working on her Ph.D. Her research work on her thesis as well as other projects we have worked on has been top-notch and that work and experience led directly to her internship experience,”
That short-term project was her foot in the door. Not long after, Roblox announced an opening for a summer internship in their people sciences department. Since Linnel was already connected and proving herself on the initial project, her soon-to-be manager personally sent her the internship posting and encouraged her to apply.
Bringing I/O Psychology to Life at Roblox
Now immersed in the fast-paced world of tech, Linnel is applying her I/O psychology training to make a tangible impact. Her main project at Roblox focuses on improving the hiring process for software engineers.
As Linnel described it, it’s a classic I/O challenge. How do you design a selection process that is efficient, fair, and effective? Her goal is to help Roblox standardize its technical interviews and assessments so that the company can identify top talent without wasting time or resources.
What makes the project especially interesting is the collaboration it has. Linnel is part of a cross-functional team that brings together people from multiple departments. On any given day, she might consult with senior software engineers and partner with Talent Acquisition staff.
Linnel finds it rewarding that what she studied in class is now being put into action.
“I feel like I’m doing everything I learned in school, just in a real context,” she said.
In academia, research projects can take years of careful data collection and analysis, but in industry things move quickly. At Roblox, she’s experiencing how to balance scientific rigor with practical constraints like timelines and business needs. The internship has not only affirmed her career choice but also expanded her perspective.
“Working with the team has been great. Everyone has valuable experience and insights to share, and they’re all very nice. It’s a highly collaborative environment with lots of information sharing and teamwork,” said Linnel. “Another thing is that this internship has allowed me to take what I learned in school and apply it in real-world situations, which brings its own constraints, which is something you can’t always replicate in a classroom project. In school, we work with hypothetical situations or partners for applied projects, but we're still limited by short time frames.”
Staying Open and Engaged
As she reflects on her journey so far, Linnel is quick to credit UNO for the support she received and the opportunities she seized. She hopes current and prospective students can learn from her experiences.
“Don’t restrict yourself to a specific geographic area or a narrow plan,” she emphasized. Linnel herself was open to going out of state for an internship, which led her to Roblox.
Most importantly, Linnel advises, say “yes” to opportunities that do come your way. Even if a project or internship doesn’t seem directly related to your ultimate dream job, it can teach you something valuable. Each experience, whether a research assistantship, a volunteer role, or a short-term project, helps you grow.
“Learn what you can from it and carry it over to the next thing you do,” she said, noting that even unrelated tasks can give you a skill or insight that proves useful later. Her own path is proof, with a seemingly small consulting gig via UNO’s network turned into a major opportunity at Roblox.
About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.
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