News

NN/g's User Experience Research Assistantship Program

Announcements

Each year, Nielsen Norman Group offers a limited number of highly competitive, paid, part-time, remote research-assistant positions for undergraduate and graduate students. The program is designed to provide mentorship from world-class UX experts, real-world experience in a range of UX research activities, and access to NN/g’s comprehensive educational resources.

Application Period

Open annually between February and March. Specific details (such as application deadline) are usually posted at the end of January. We typically receive 600-1000 applications each year for  5-10 positions.

Why Apply?

  • Mentorship: Learn from world-class expert staff at NN/g and gain valuable career insights

  • Training: Free access to NN/g’s virtual UX courses

  • UX Certification: Opportunity to earn NN/g's UX Certification (must pass corresponding exams)

  • Future Opportunities: Potential for transitioning into a full-time staff position at NN/g

General Requirements

  • Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program with an expected graduation date of December 2025 or later

  • Majors include human-computer interaction, human factors, UX, cognitive science, psychology, computer science, statistics, instructional design, or related fields

  • Ability to work year round, with a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week

  • Quick, self-motivated learner

  • High productivity and responsiveness

  • Excellent English-language skills (both written and oral)

  • (Bonus but not required) Fluency in other languages and familiarity with other cultures

Position-Specific Skills and Responsibilities

While the types of positions available may vary each year, these are the skills we are looking for.

Qualitative Research Assistants

Qualitative research assistants will conduct a variety of UX-research activities under the supervision of an NN/g staff member.

Applicants should demonstrate:

  • Strong knowledge of research methodology and human-behavior principles

  • Experience with qualitative research methods such as interviews and usability testing

  • Strong analytical and communication skills

Data Research Assistants

Data research assistants will support NN/g with various data-collection activities and will work on automating internal data-related flows and processes.

Applicants should demonstrate:

  • Knowledge of R programming and statistical analysis

  • Strong programming skills (Python or similar languages preferred)

  • Experience with 3-tier web-app development and Google Apps scripts

  • Experience interfacing with analytics and social-media systems

  • (Bonus but not required) Familiarity with data-visualization tools (e.g., Tableau)

Instructional-Design Assistants

Instructional-design assistants will support UX-training curriculum and course development and audit educational content, providing feedback and suggestions.

Applicants should demonstrate:

  • Prior experience in an instructional design or support role (preferred)

  • Strong organizational and communication skills

  • Ability to critically evaluate and improve educational content

Location

Fully remote

Application Process

While details may vary each year, it usually involves several steps:

  1. Submitting a resume and cover letter

  2. Answering a short online quiz

  3. Submitting a usability analysis for a given webpage

  4. Final interview

You will need a Google Account to upload your resume and cover letter.

Additional Resources