diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index a46b95a6e..4d8e97c3b 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ class User(db.Model):
         nullable=False,
         default=datetime.datetime.utcnow,
     )
+    preferred_timezone = db.Column(
+        db.Text, nullable=True, index=False, unique=False, default="US/Eastern"
+    )
 
     # either email auth or a mobile number must be provided
     CheckConstraint(
diff --git a/migrations/versions/0401_add_e2e_test_user.py b/migrations/versions/0401_add_e2e_test_user.py
index d3d9ed5e5..020e746e7 100644
--- a/migrations/versions/0401_add_e2e_test_user.py
+++ b/migrations/versions/0401_add_e2e_test_user.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Revises: 0399_remove_research_mode
 Create Date: 2023-04-24 11:35:22.873930
 
 """
+import datetime
 import os
 import uuid
 
@@ -30,10 +31,18 @@ def upgrade():
         "password": password,
         "mobile_number": "+12025555555",
         "state": "active",
+        "created_at": datetime.datetime.utcnow(),
+        "password_changed_at": datetime.datetime.utcnow(),
+        "failed_login_count": 0,
+        "platform_admin": "f",
+        "email_access_validated_at": datetime.datetime.utcnow(),
     }
-    user = User(**data)
-    db.session.add(user)
-    db.session.commit()
+    conn = op.get_bind()
+    insert_sql = """
+        insert into users (id, name, email_address, _password, mobile_number, state, created_at, password_changed_at, failed_login_count, platform_admin, email_access_validated_at)
+        values (:id, :name, :email_address, :password, :mobile_number, :state, :created_at, :password_changed_at, :failed_login_count, :platform_admin, :email_access_validated_at)
+        """
+    conn.execute(sa.text(insert_sql), data)
 
 
 def downgrade():
diff --git a/migrations/versions/0405_add_preferred_timezone.py b/migrations/versions/0405_add_preferred_timezone.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f689516bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/versions/0405_add_preferred_timezone.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+"""
+
+Revision ID: 0405_add_preferred_timezone
+Revises: 0404_expire_invites
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+from flask import current_app
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+down_revision = "0404_expire_invites"
+revision = "0405_add_preferred_timezone"
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    op.execute("ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN preferred_timezone text")
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    op.execute("ALTER TABLE users DROP COLUMN preferred_timezone text")