Schmidt Ocean Institute is hiringWeb Experience & UX Intern

Location: Remote (U.S.-based applicants only in California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Washington)

Hours: Approximately 10 hours per week

Duration: Fall 2026 Semester (August–December 2026)

Pay: $20-24/hour, based on experience

About Schmidt Ocean Institute

Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) was founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt in 2009 with a goal to advance the frontiers of ocean exploration and research through technological advancement, intelligent observation, and open sharing of information. This is achieved by making ship time and associated assets freely available to scientists globally. In exchange, SOI, a private nonprofit operating foundation, supports public sharing of acquired scientific observations, data, and other information about the ocean to stimulate the growth of data applications and user community and to amplify and enable further exploration, discovery, deeper understanding, and effective conservation and management of our environment. 

Position Summary

Schmidt Ocean Institute, a private nonprofit operating foundation, is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Web Experience & UX Intern to support ongoing improvements to our website and digital user experience. This internship is ideal for a student interested in user experience (UX), web design, accessibility, digital analytics, content strategy, or website quality assurance.

As Schmidt Ocean Institute prepares to launch a new headless website that will replace our current public-facing site, the intern will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of website enhancement, testing, and optimization efforts during a significant organizational digital initiative.

Working closely with the Communications team, the intern will help evaluate how visitors interact with website content and identify opportunities to improve usability, engagement, accessibility, and discoverability.

Projects May Include

• User journey reviews and “next-step” content recommendations

• Website exit-point and engagement analysis

• AI search (Generative Engine Optimization/GEO) assessments

• Quality assurance testing to identify usability issues, content errors, accessibility concerns, and user experience improvements before and after website launch. 

• Accessibility, metadata, and alt text audits

• Broken link and redirect reviews

• Mobile experience testing and recommendations

• First-time visitor usability testing

Projects may vary based on organizational priorities and the intern’s interests and skills.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program

• Interest in UX design, web design, digital communications, analytics, accessibility, or related fields

• Strong attention to detail and analytical thinking

• Able to take initiative, stay organized, and follow through on tasks in a remote work environment

• Strong communication skills

• Familiarity with website usability principles and user-centered design concepts

• Experience with website testing, wireframing, analytics tools, accessibility reviews, or UX research is a plus

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) and modern website architectures is a plus

• Experience with headless CMS platforms and modern website architectures is a plus

• Familiarity with Sanity CMS is highly desirable but not required

Preferred Areas of Study

User Experience (UX), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Web Design, Information Science, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Information Systems, Computer Science, Digital Communications, Marketing Analytics, or related disciplines.

Additional Information

• Internship is approximately 10 hours per week.

• Applicants must be located within the United States during the internship period.

• Interest in ocean science, ocean exploration, or science communication is a plus.

Application Materials

Please submit:

• Resume

• Brief cover letter describing your interest in the position

• Portfolio or work samples demonstrating relevant coursework, projects, or experience (class projects welcome)