User Experience Research Intern, PhD, Summer 2027

Google Inc.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Sick Time 40 hours/year (69 in Seattle

Holidays 13 paid days

Job summary

Google is seeking a User Experience Research Intern (PhD) for Summer 2027. The role targets students in a PhD program and emphasizes independent research, rigorous study design, and translating insights into product improvements.

Applicants should be in the penultimate year and willing to work full-time for ~12 weeks in the United States. Location candidates include multiple US sites; preference for Bellevue/Redmond area, but other US locations may apply.

Qualifications

• Experience with research design using usability studies, contextual inquiry, surveys, and related methods.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct independent UX research using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Communicate findings effectively and advocate for insights beyond the project team.
• Collect and analyze user behavior through lab studies, field visits, ethnography, surveys, and A/B testing.
• Collaborate with design, engineering, and product management to influence user-centered decisions.

Skills

Research methods

Communication skills

Education

PhD student in related field

Penultimate year or returning after internship

Job description

User Experience Research Intern, PhD, Summer 2027

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and it’s in a candidate’s best interest to apply early.

Timing on when you can hear back will vary and can take upwards of 90+ days. If you haven’t heard from us in three months about your application, we likely proceeded with other candidates for the role.

Participation in the internship program requires that you are located in the United States for the duration of the internship program.

This internship is intended for students in their penultimate academic year, who are pursuing a PhD degree program in Human Factors, Psychology, Human Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Information Science, or related field.

In accordance with Washington state law, we are highlighting our comprehensive benefits package, which is available to all eligible US based Interns. Benefits for this role include:

• Health, dental, vision insurance
• Sick Time: 40 hours/year (increased to 69 hours/year for Seattle) including 5 discretionary sick days per instance
• Holidays: 13 paid days per year

This role may also be located in our Playa Vista, CA campus.

Applicants in the County of Los Angeles: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Applicants in San Francisco: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: Mountain View, CA, USA; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Atlanta, GA, USA; Austin, TX, USA; Boulder, CO, USA; Bellevue, WA, USA; Cambridge, MA, USA; Chicago, IL, USA; Irvine, CA, USA; Kirkland, WA, USA; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Madison, WI, USA; New York, NY, USA; Palo Alto, CA, USA; Portland, OR, USA; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Raleigh, NC, USA; Durham, NC, USA; Reston, VA, USA; Redmond, WA, USA; Redwood City, CA, USA; San Diego, CA, USA; Goleta, CA, USA; San Bruno, CA, USA; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Jose, CA, USA; Santa Cruz, CA, USA; Sunnyvale, CA, USA; Washington D.C., DC, USA.

• Currently pursuing a PhD degree in Human Factors, Psychology, Human Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Information Science, or related field.
• Internship, work, or project experience with research design utilizing various methods (e.g., usability studies, contextual inquiry, surveys, etc.).

Preferred qualifications:

• Currently attending a degree program in the US and available to work full time for 12 weeks outside of university term time.
• In their penultimate academic year or returning to a degree program after completion of the internship.
• Experience integrating user research into product designs and design practices.
• Knowledge of statistics and experimental design.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills.

About the job

User Experience (UX) is made up of multi-disciplinary teams of Designers, Researchers, Writers, Content Strategists, Program Managers, and Engineers who focus on customer experience. We play an integral part in gathering insights about product user needs, attitudes, and behaviors to inspire and inform design.

Google is and always will be an engineering company. We hire people with a broad set of technical skills who are ready to address some of technology’s greatest challenges and make an impact on millions, if not billions, of users. At Google, engineers not only revolutionize search, they routinely work on massive scalability and storage solutions, large-scale applications and entirely new platforms for developers around the world. From Google Ads to Chrome, Android to YouTube, Social to Local, Google engineers are changing the world one technological achievement after another.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $106000 - $141000 (USD) + 0% bonus target

• Design and conduct independent research using a variety of qualitative research methods, utilizing quantitative methods when necessary.
• Ensure effective communication of research findings and advocate findings outside of the project team.
• Collect and analyze user behavior through lab studies, field visits, ethnography, surveys, benchmark studies, server logs and online experiments (A/B testing).
• Work cross-functionally with design, engineering, and product management to ensure teams make user-centric, data-driven decisions.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

Equity is granted exclusively and discretionarily by Alphabet Inc. on the basis of an agreement concluded between you and Alphabet Inc. Alphabet Inc. is your sole contractual partner with respect to equity grants. GSU grants are not guaranteed, are discretionary, are subject to approval by the Alphabet Inc. board of directors or its delegate, the terms of the relevant Alphabet Inc. stock plan, and your grant agreement. They have no impact on statutory payments. Current or past grants do not confer an acquired right.