Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other care provider according to U.S. News & World Report. As we work together to put the needs of the patient first, we are also dedicated to our employees, investing in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit plans – to take care of you and your family, now and in the future. And with continuing education and advancement opportunities at every turn, you can build a long, successful career with Mayo Clinic. You’ll thrive in an environment that supports innovation, is committed to ending racism and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion, and provides the resources you need to succeed.
Responsibilities
We are seeking a passionate and driven summer intern to join our team. In this role, you will contribute to understanding the needs and pain points of healthcare providers who use VR to improve patient care. This internship is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience conducting research in a highly innovative and impactful domain, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and shaping the future of VR in healthcare.
Key Responsibilities
• User Research: Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to understand the needs, workflows, and challenges of healthcare providers (e.g., doctors, nurses, techs) utilizing VR in clinical settings.
• Contextual Inquiry: Observe healthcare providers in action to document how VR is integrated into patient care.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Interview key stakeholders, including providers, patients, and caregivers, to gather insights about their experiences with VR solutions.
• Data Analysis: Synthesize research findings into actionable insights by identifying patterns, unmet needs, and opportunities for design improvements.
• Prototyping Collaboration: Partner with designers and engineers to provide research-based recommendations for enhancing usability, accessibility, and efficiency in VR applications.
• Reporting & Presentation: Deliver compelling research reports and presentations that clearly articulate findings and proposed solutions to internal teams and stakeholders.
What You’ll Gain
• Hands-on experience conducting impactful UX research in an emerging healthcare technology field.
• Mentorship from seasoned professionals in healthcare innovation.
• Opportunity to contribute to real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes and provider workflows.
• A portfolio of research work in a cutting-edge domain that demonstrates your skills and impact.
The primary purpose of the Graduate Engineer Internship is to provide a graduate student with relevant engineering experiences. One or more mentors will be assigned to the intern to provide instruction, guidance and to assess performance. The intern is responsible for learning the procedures and processes of the Division of Engineering and the assigned work unit. In addition, the intern will be given selected engineering work assignments to reinforce the learning experience and to provide benefit to the work unit. The engineering assignments may include designing components, developing a project strategy, gathering user needs, requirements and specifications, evaluating commercial components, assembling prototype systems, performing design verification and design validation, troubleshooting, and participating in design reviews. All assignments are within the context of the Division of Engineering Quality Management System (including safety risk management) and are performed in a multi-disciplinary development environment. The intern will be responsible for completing all internship-related assignments and reports for both Mayo and the participating educational facility (if applicable).
Qualifications
The incumbent must have received a bachelor of science in engineering, business administration, management information systems, or other technology-related degree from an accredited college or university and be enrolled in or intending to enroll in a graduate degree program.
Where applicable - the degree program must require an internship as a graduation requirement (or offer as a credit option). Must have authorization to work and remain in the United States, without necessity for Mayo Clinic sponsorship now, or in the future (for example, be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident, refugee or asylee).
Preferred Qualifications:
• Currently pursuing a degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Industrial Engineering, Implementation Science, Public Health, or a related field. Graduate students are encouraged to apply.
• Strong interest in healthcare, virtual reality, and user experience research.
• Knowledge of UX research methods, including interviews, surveys, usability testing, and data analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas simply and effectively.
• Empathy for healthcare providers and patients, and a passion for improving healthcare experiences.
Exemption Status
Nonexempt
Compensation Detail
This position has a predetermined rate of $33.94 per hour.
Benefits Eligible
No
Schedule
Full Time
Hours/Pay Period
80
Schedule Details
Monday – Friday regular hours This position has an anticipated start date in the late spring, and will at the end of August 2025.
Weekend Schedule
none
International Assignment
No
Site Description
Just as our reputation has spread beyond our Minnesota roots, so have our locations. Today, our employees are located at our three major campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, Jacksonville, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, and at Mayo Clinic Health System campuses throughout Midwestern communities, and at our international locations. Each Mayo Clinic location is a special place where our employees thrive in both their work and personal lives. Learn more about what each unique Mayo Clinic campus has to offer, and where your best fit is.
Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer
As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer Mayo Clinic is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values the diversity of its employees and does not discriminate against any employee or candidate. Women, minorities, veterans, people from the LGBTQ communities and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply to join our teams. Reasonable accommodations to access job openings or to apply for a job are available.
Recruiter
Jill Squier