Graduate Research Intern, User Insights Lab

Position Overview 

The User Insights Lab (UIL) envisions a world where clean cooking is the unambiguously preferred way to cook. The UIL is a new initiative that combines the latest thinking in consumer insights, behavioral sciences, and design to support enterprises, non-profits, and governments that need to deliver more value for customers at a time when exponential growth in clean cooking adoption is needed. 

To achieve this, the UIL will partner with stakeholders, namely clean cooking enterprises, policymakers, and program implementers, to design and develop clean cooking solutions, policies, and programs that are informed by deep insights into the preferences, constraints, and behaviors of end users. The UIL will combine consumer research, behavioral science, data analytics, user-centered design, action-based research, and rapid prototyping to develop new evidence, tools, and capabilities to support a transformational shift to user-centered innovation in the clean cooking sector. 

The UIL Summer 2024 Graduate Research Intern will be an integral member of the team during a formative time in the UIL’s journey. The Intern will support the team as we sharpen the UIL’s approach and build our consumer insights service by analyzing and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data related to clean cooking customers and potential customers. This will include conducting literature reviews to summarize the evidence base behind UIL hypotheses and projects, and conducting secondary “deep dive” analyses of UIL project data. Initial project topics relate to cookstove labeling, subsidy design, behavior change campaigns, and social network dynamics. Additional specific projects will be co-created with the Intern based on the candidate’s expertise and interest. Strong candidates will bring a foundational understanding of research, a drive to understand people and what drives their decisions, and experience with qualitative and quantitative analysis.  More information about the UIL’s work will be shared during the interview process. 

This is a paid opportunity and offers a rate of $17/hour for individuals currently enrolled in or recently graduated from (within 8 months of graduation) an associate degree or bachelor’s degree program; and $20/hour for individuals currently enrolled in a graduate program. This position is remote. 

Essential Functions 

• Identify and synthesize multidisciplinary evidence to inform the UIL’s work; this includes: conducting literature reviews, consolidating third party reports, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and identifying and presenting key themes and research questions. 

• Develop artifacts that present data and insights from research in compelling ways to enterprise and public sector stakeholders (e.g. customer archetypes, problem mapping), based on interest and expertise. 

• Draft thought leadership blog pieces, case studies or papers, depending on interest and expertise. 

• Support development of the UIL’s prototype User Insights Hub (a data and research repository) 

• Participate in relevant meetings, such as team meetings, all-staff meetings, stakeholder interviews, internal webinars, and other learning opportunities. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Selection Criteria 

• Candidate must be enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program during the internship or must be a recent graduate (within 8 months of graduation) of a graduate program. 

• Pursuing relevant graduate degree, such as: behavioral economics, psychology, international development, economics, global health, data science, or business. 

• Experience applying research skills including: literature reviews, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis. 

• Knowledge of and/or interest in at least 1 of the following areas: consumer insights research and strategy, behavioral science, diffusion of innovation, data analytics, customer experience, social network analysis. 

• Interest in energy access, climate action, global health, and women’s empowerment. 

• Creative mindset, strong willingness to take initiative and a desire to learn. 

• Excellent attention to detail. 

• Skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Miro are desirable. 

• Ability to meet regular attendance/tardiness policy. 

• Must have a personal laptop computer and access to the Internet. 

• Must be available to work a maximum of 29 hours per week. 

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.