User Research Intern (H1-2026)

Phygtl, a Silicon Valley-based AI startup, is building Vyry with the mission to cut student social isolation by up to 40% by replacing the awkward hello with shared, playful IRL quests and collaborative creation on campus, blending AI and AR into a new kind of consumer experience. If you’re the type of person who’s genuinely curious about why people behave the way they do—and you’re excited about AI + AR + gaming/social mechanics in mobile apps—you’ll feel at home here.

The role As a User Research Intern, you’ll coordinate, run, and support qualitative research that shapes product decisions. You’ll learn how to plan sessions, moderate high-signal conversations, and turn messy qualitative input into crisp, usable insights. This role is hands-on, not watching from the sidelines. What you’ll do

1. Coordinate and moderate user research sessions (core) Plan and facilitate focus groups and/or interviews using our guides and structure Ask strong follow-ups (“ask, don’t tell”), stay neutral, and manage group dynamics Keep sessions focused, respectful, and high-signal
2. Plan sessions with intention Translate research goals into a discussion guide and session flow (templates provided) Align questions to current product hypotheses and decisions
3. Deliver clean research outputs (required) Leverage tech to transcript + structured summary (insights, quotes, implications, follow-ups)
4. Work like a remote-first teammate Track tasks and deadlines in Asana Share a short weekly update (what you ran, what you learned, what’s next, blockers) What you get Skills that actually compound Moderation reps + coaching (how to ask better questions, stay unbiased, and go deeper than surface opinions) Synthesis practice: turning transcripts into patterns, insights, and recommendations Stronger communication: writing and presenting findings clearly Work alongside engineers, designers, and PMs Unlock your entrepreneurial DNA by collaborating with the founders Portfolio-ready proof You’ll produce real research artifacts (sanitized summaries/insight memos you can reference in a portfolio) Career clarity You’ll learn what it’s like to work on a real consumer product where research directly changes decisions Learn first-hand how to use LLMs, LWMs, and agents, skills that catapult you into your professional career Who qualifies Required 3rd/4th year student (Junior/Senior), 2nd year outliers Fluent English; comfortable leading live conversations Reliable follow-through (you hit deadlines and communicate early if blocked) Curious by default: you naturally ask “why?” and you’re not afraid of silence Strong preference: You’re genuinely excited about: AI and AR (and where consumer tech is heading) Gaming, social products, and mobile consumer apps Building a mission-driven product (not “another internship”) Remote-first execution: proactive communication, strong writing, self-management Tools comfort (important) Comfortable learning and using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Asana, shared docs, and forms.

Nice to have

Any facilitation background (clubs, tutoring/teaching, community leadership, RA/peer mentor, etc.) Any qualitative research exposure (class projects count) Nice to have (GREAT+) Open. Claw agentic process setup (agentic workflows/automation that speeds up research operations) Time expectations 10–15 hours/week on average (flexible around classes) You’ll ramp into a steady rhythm of ~1–2 sessions/week once trained and consistent Are you ready to embark on a learning experience that will enrich your professional life forever?

We are curious to get to know you! Apply now! Industry Technology, Information and Internet Employment Type Internship