Research Intern: Embodied Interactions for Groups

Honda Research Institute USA; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

Honda Research Institute USA in San Jose, CA, seeks a research intern to design and study embodied learning experiences for small groups, including AI agents. You will create activity designs, prototype them, and evaluate with groups, exploring how an AI participant can guide or facilitate group learning.

The role emphasizes publishing findings in venues like CHI, IDC, CSCW, HRI, and ICLS. You should be pursuing a PhD in a relevant field and have experience with design research methods,

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a PhD in design, human-computer interaction, learning sciences, educational technology, human-robot interaction, cognitive science, or a related field.
• Experience with design research methods such as participatory design, co-design, scenario development, or prototyping.
• Ability to translate interdisciplinary literature into concrete design concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design embodied learning activities for small groups with an AI agent participating.
• Develop activity designs targeting specific skills and group configurations.
• Prototype and evaluate activities with small groups.
• Plan formative evaluations and pilot sessions; iterate designs accordingly.
• Document design rationale and findings; contribute to publications and presentations.

Skills

Design research methods

Co-design

Prototyping

Written & verbal communication

Education

PhD in Design / HCI / Learning Sciences / Educational Technology / HRI / Cognitive Science

Job description

Research Intern: Embodied Interactions for Groups - Honda Research Institute USA

Research Intern: Embodied Interactions for Groups

Job Number: P26INT-22

Honda Research Institute USA (HRI-US) is seeking a research intern to design and study embodied learning experiences for small groups that include AI agents. The research, grounded in work on embodied learning and skill development, focuses on movement-based learning activities in which an AI agent takes part alongside human group members. The intern will develop activity designs that target specific skills and group configurations and will prototype and evaluate them with small groups. A central question is how an AI agent, acting as a participant, guide, or facilitator, shapes how a group moves, coordinates, and learns together, rather than how it supports a single learner. The intern will also contribute to identifying observable indicators of the targeted skills within the activities so that the designs can be instrumented and studied systematically. The intern will work closely with researchers in human-AI interaction, learning, and AI behavior design. Interns are encouraged and supported in publishing their findings at venues such as CHI, IDC, CSCW, HRI, and ICLS. Applicants with a strong design research or learning sciences background are encouraged to apply.

San Jose, CA

Key Responsibilities

• Synthesize the literature on embodied learning, skill development, and group learning into design opportunities and design principles.
• Develop embodied learning activities for small groups in which an AI agent takes an active role, targeting specific skills and group configurations.
• Produce design artifacts such as scenarios, storyboards, and prototypes, and iterate on them with the team.
• Plan and run formative evaluations and pilot sessions with small groups, and incorporate findings into revised designs.
• Contribute to defining observable behavioral indicators of the target skills within the activities to support measurement and modeling.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers across human-AI interaction, learning, and AI behavior design.
• Document design rationale, findings, and recommendations, and contribute to publications and research presentations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Learning Sciences, Educational Technology, Human-Robot Interaction, Cognitive Science, or a related field.
• Experience with design research methods such as participatory design, co-design, scenario development, or prototyping.
• Ability to synthesize interdisciplinary literature and translate it into concrete design concepts.
• Experience conducting research toward a publication, technical report, prototype, or research demonstration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work both independently and within a multidisciplinary team.

Bonus Qualifications

• Research experience in embodied learning, embodied cognition, movement-based interaction, or educational technology design.
• Background in learning sciences, developmental or cognitive psychology, or group interaction research.
• Experience designing or studying interactive systems that involve AI agents, social robots, or other embodied technologies.
• Experience designing for or running studies with groups, such as classrooms, teams, or collaborative play settings.
• Publication record in HCI, learning sciences, HRI, or related areas.

Years of Work Experience Required 0

Desired Start Date May 2027

Internship Duration 3 Months

Position Keywords

• Embodied Learning
• Human-AI Interaction
• Educational Technology
• Interaction Design
• Human-Centered Design