PhD R&D Intern — Emotion & Sensory Experience Research

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Research and Development (R&D) at Procter & Gamble, the largest consumer packaged goods company in the world, includes a diverse group of roles that contribute to the innovation and development of our products. It encompasses roles in product research, formulation, testing, and scientific analysis. You will find variety and excitement starting Day 1.

This internship is specifically designed for individuals working towards a PhD who are developing proficiency in their field. As an intern or co-op in management, you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in a supportive environment. This is a 12-week paid internship, designed to provide you with a solid foundation for future career growth. The internship will take place from May (potentially early June) to August of 2027. Join us at P&G, where your contributions will play a vital role in shaping the future of consumer products!

The Opportunity:

If you are passionate about sensory and emotion research, energized by understanding how people respond to everyday experiences, and motivated to connect scientific theory with new product development and launch, this assignment is for you. We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student with a strong foundation in sensory, consumer, behavioral, or psychological science to join the Oral Care R&D organization in Mason, Ohio as a summer intern. In this internship, you will use your technical expertise to develop and optimize an emotion-focused research approach that can strengthen how we understand consumer product experiences.

This assignment offers a unique opportunity to develop a focused research program that impacts the product development cycle from technical strategy through launch recommendations. You will connect fundamental understanding of emotional response with applied sensory and consumer research to determine whether emotion-based learning can improve product and innovation decisions. Your work will include developing a fit-for-purpose framework, conducting a proof-of-concept study, evaluating the strength and usefulness of the approach, and translating the learning into clear recommendations for product development and future innovation. The role is well suited for researchers who enjoy connecting scientific theory and rigorous experimentation to solve real business problems and who are motivated to improve how consumer experiences are understood and studied.

The Ideal Candidate Has:

• A strong foundational understanding of sensory and consumer science, emotion, or emotional response with the ability to apply relevant theories and models to business questions.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to integrate quantitative and qualitative information into technically sound conclusions, and to identify clear recommendations and next steps.
• Passion for experimental research with a demonstrated ability to design, execute, and interpret human-subject, consumer, behavioral, sensory, or related studies.
• Experience developing approaches for measuring emotional responses, including but not limited to self-reporting, behavioral, implicit, physiological, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches.
• A self-leadership and ownership mindset, including the ability to independently structure a research program, manage details, adapt as learning emerges, and drive the research program from question through recommendation.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex scientific concepts clearly and translate findings into actionable insights for technical and business partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a fit-for-purpose framework for measuring emotional responses to oral care product experiences.
• Design and execute a proof-of-concept human-subject study using appropriate sensory, consumer, behavioral, psychological, or mixed research methods.
• Analyze and integrate quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate the strength, validity, and usefulness of the approach.
• Connect sensory experiences and emotional responses to consumer behavior, product performance, and business-relevant outcomes.
• Translate research findings into clear, actionable recommendations for product development and future innovation.
• Independently manage the research program from study design through execution, analysis, and final recommendations.
• Collaborate with technical and business partners and communicate findings through written, verbal, and visual formats.

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Working towards a PhD in Sensory Science, Consumer Science, Food Science, Behavioral Science, Psychology, Neuroscience, or a closely related field.
• Strong academic or applied research foundation in emotion or emotional response measurement.
• Experience in consumer research, human-subject research, and experimental design.
• Experience with descriptive sensory analysis or sensory lexicon development.
• Strong statistical analysis and data interpretation skills, including proficiency with JMP, R, Python, SAS, SPSS, or equivalent analytical software.
• Ability to connect sensory experiences with emotional responses, consumer behavior, and business-relevant outcomes.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual scientific communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate research into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Available to work a 12-week internship from May/early June to August in the summer of 2027 and be onsite 3-4 days per week at our Mason Business Center.

Just so you know:

Compensation for roles at P&G varies depending on a wide array of non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to the specific office location, role, degree/credentials, relevant skill set, and level of relevant experience. At P&G compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Total rewards at P&G include salary + bonus (if applicable) + benefits. Your recruiter may be able to share more about our total rewards offerings and the specific salary range for the relevant location(s) during the hiring process.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Immigration Sponsorship is not available for this role. For more information regarding who is eligible for hire at P&G along with other work authorization FAQ’s, please click HERE.

Procter & Gamble participates in E-Verify.

Qualified individuals will not be disadvantaged based on being unemployed.

P&G is dedicated to meeting the needs of applicants requesting an accommodation/adjustment due to a disability in order to complete the online application process. If you have a disability that affects your ability to complete our online application process, please visit our Disability Accommodation Page.

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