PhD R&D Intern — Emotion & Sensory Experience Research

Job Location MASON BUS AND INNOVATION CTR Job Description 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!

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.

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