[Hiring] Doctoral Research Intern @Virbela

Role Description

Practice Ground by Virbela is building AI-powered simulations where managers practice difficult workplace conversations and receive structured, behavior-based feedback and coaching. We’re looking for an exceptional PhD student or doctoral candidate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Leadership, Assessment, or a closely related field to help strengthen the science underlying the product.

This is not a traditional research-assistant role. You’ll work directly with Virbela’s founder and product team and influence a live product being used to develop real managers and leaders.

What you’ll do

• Refine competency models, behavioral indicators, and behaviorally anchored rating scales.
• Improve simulation scenarios, scoring rubrics, and assessment logic.
• Analyze pilot and learner data for reliability, validity, scoring quality, and developmental outcomes.
• Help design validation studies and research partnerships.
• Translate current I/O research into practical product decisions.
• Contribute to technical documentation, white papers, conference submissions, and potentially publishable research.
• Explore responsible uses of generative AI in behavioral assessment, simulation, and coaching.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a PhD in I/O Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Management, Quantitative Psychology, or a related discipline.
• Strong foundations in assessment, psychometrics, competency modeling, leadership, validation, or quantitative methods.
• Ability to operate comfortably between rigorous research and messy real-world product problems.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Curiosity about AI and a desire to help shape its use in leadership development.
• Experience with R, Python, SPSS, or similar tools — helpful, but not required.

Requirements

• Remote work, approximately 10–20 hours per week, initially 4–6 months with the possibility of extending.
• January 2027 start (earlier possible for the right candidate).
• Hours flex around the academic calendar.
• Students on F-1 visas should confirm CPT eligibility with their school.

Benefits

• Authorship on white papers and conference submissions.
• Access to real simulation and pilot data.
• Mentorship from a consulting psychologist and an I/O partner.

How to apply

Priority review of applications received by November 6. When you apply, please use the Experience Summary field to briefly tell us:

• Your PhD program and current year/stage.
• The research or applied work you’ve done that is most relevant to behavioral assessment, psychometrics, leadership, simulation, or AI.
• What interests you about the measurement problems behind AI-powered leadership simulations.

Compensation: $30–$40/hour, based on experience and qualifications.

Practice Ground is a product of Virbela, Inc. Virbela is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.