Product Research Intern (US) - Summer 2025

Who We Are

WillowTree, a TELUS Digital Company, is an award-winning digital product agency working to solve digital challenges for some of the world’s leading brands. We do this by launching new digital products, delivering personalized marketing, and harnessing the power of data and AI to transform their business. Some of our clients include HBO, National Geographic, Anheuser-Busch, and PepsiCo. Want to learn more about our work? Check out some of our outcomes and case studies! 

And guess what? In January 2023, WillowTree was acquired by TELUS Digital. Now, we have an unparalleled ability to deliver seamless, trusted, digitally-enabled experiences across any channel a customer might choose - be it mobile apps, websites, voice skills, chatbots, email, and more!

The Opportunity

Our summer internship program gives current students the chance to make an impact by contributing ideas and adding a fresh perspective to real client projects. And just to make sure you’re advancing in your craft, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spend time with team members in your discipline to discuss the latest trends in tech, all while having a 1-on-1 mentor relationship with an experienced Product Researcher.

We understand our responsibility to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive place within the tech industry, while pushing to make our industry more representative. Because of this responsibility, we need candidates who value diversity and inclusion through their work, team collaboration, or involvement in student organizations. 

*This is a hybrid position. This role is open in Charlottesville, VA and Durham, NC.

Your Impact

• Gain firsthand experience working on real client work in partnership with an experienced Product Researcher
• Support ongoing and new efforts in our cross-functional digital product teams
• Participate in research design, fielding/moderating, data analysis, synthesis, and report writing 
• Conduct mixed method research collecting both quantitative and qualitative data
• Collaborate with researchers, strategists, designers, and developers to create creative and impactful deliverables

Your Background

• You have plans to graduate in Fall/Winter 2025 or later
• Experience with either qualitative or quantitative research methods
• Interested in mixed methods research
• You have strong empathy and curiosity towards people
• Have a passion to help improve the experiences and lives of people
• Can successfully identify patterns in data
• Can clearly communicate methods and findings verbally and in writing
• A dedicated interest in mobile and emerging technology like AI
• You thrive in a team environment and are excited to jump in and contribute to ongoing projects
• Value a culture built on feedback and are willing to share work in-progress

Bonus Points

• Combination of both qualitative and quantitative research skills
• Experience working as a research assistant or in an academic lab
• Experience using AI to conduct research 
• Conducting research on AI-driven technologies
• Design and/or engineering experience

P.S. Even if you don’t have expertise in all of the qualifications listed, we value new perspectives and encourage you to apply. We’re committed to building a diverse company that reflects the diversity of our users. If you feel confident about a good amount of the bullet points above, we’ll ramp you up on the rest.

Why WillowTree? 

We offer a place to be yourself.

Our differences, both visible and invisible, benefit our teams, our communities, and the products we craft. That’s why WillowTree strives to build a team with diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. You’ll work hard here; however, we’ll balance that with a culture that supports your growth and cares about your well-being. We’re committed to creating an environment of inclusion — a place where every Tree can thrive.

Our summer internship program is an opportunity for you to work on real client projects and make a real impact on our organization all while receiving one-on-one mentoring from our full-time team members. Not only that, but you’ll have snacks galore, and plenty of chances to socialize with your fellow interns — including fun outings during work hours. We’ll have you with us full time (think 40 hours a week for 11 weeks) and yes, it is definitely paid. Not a bad gig, right? 

WillowTree celebrates our differences and provides equal employment opportunities to all team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Diverse teams build better products. We acknowledge that the tech industry especially lacks opportunity for those who are of non-traditional backgrounds and in underrepresented groups. In order to create the best products for everyone, we know that it's important for our team to reflect the diversity of our users, and we are committed to being the change we want to see.