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Cognitive Science Intern Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Intern, Sleep Lab

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$17.55 - $23/hr

Current Bachelors/Masters/PhD student in psychology, neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, or a related field. * Candidates must be a US Citizen * Interest in sleep research a plus * Detail ...

Intern, Sleep Lab

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$17.55 - $23/hr

Current Bachelors/Masters/PhD student in psychology, neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, or a related field. * Candidates must be a US Citizen * Interest in sleep research a plus * Detail ...

Current Bachelors/Masters/PhD student in psychology, neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, or a related field. * Candidates must be a US Citizen * Interest in sleep research a plus * Detail ...

Intern, Sleep Lab

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$17.55 - $23/hr

Current Bachelors/Masters/PhD student in psychology, neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, or a related field. * Candidates must be a US Citizen * Interest in sleep research a plus * Detail ...

Science Teacher

Los Angeles, CA

$51K - $66K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Documents to upload; 1. Non-Credentialed- transcripts, passing test scores, intern eligibility ... Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles * Ability to analyze ...

Science Teacher

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$51K - $66K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Documents to upload; 1. Non-Credentialed- transcripts, passing test scores, intern eligibility ... Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles * Ability to analyze ...

Science Teacher

Stockton, CA · On-site

$50K - $65K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... intern, or teaching assistant preferred * Knowledge of subject matter, including State Standards ... Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles * Ability to analyze ...

Science Teacher

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$51K - $66K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... intern, or teaching assistant preferred * Knowledge of subject matter, including State Standards ... Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles * Ability to analyze ...

Science Teacher

Stockton, CA

$50K - $65K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... intern, or teaching assistant preferred * Knowledge of subject matter, including State Standards ... Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles * Ability to analyze ...

Science Teacher

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$51K - $66K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... intern, or teaching assistant preferred * Knowledge of subject matter, including State Standards ... Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles * Ability to analyze ...

Science Teacher

Modesto, CA · On-site

$50K - $65K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... intern, or teaching assistant preferred * Knowledge of subject matter, including State Standards ... Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles * Ability to analyze ...

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Cognitive Science Intern information

See California salary details

$8

$16

$23

How much do cognitive science intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for cognitive science intern in California is $16.81, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.23 and $18.99 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a cognitive science intern do?

Cognitive science combines psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and artificial intelligence to develop theories about the human brain and how humans learn, think, and form perceptions. As a cognitive science intern, you study under the guidance of a company to gain hands-on experience in the field. Your exact responsibilities may vary, depending on the organization, but you may be asked to assist cognitive scientists with research, recruit participants for studies, collect, organize, and analyze data, read theoretical and empirical papers, attend meetings, and complete clerical duties. Internships can be paid or unpaid and differ in length, from a few weeks to several months.

What does a cognitive science intern do?

A Cognitive Science Intern typically assists with research and projects aimed at understanding how humans think, learn, and process information. Their work may involve collecting and analyzing data, conducting experiments, and supporting the design of cognitive models or user studies. Interns might collaborate with professionals from psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and linguistics. The role provides hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research and helps interns develop skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and scientific communication.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cognitive science intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cognitive Science Intern, you typically need a strong academic background in cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience, or a related field, along with basic research and data analysis skills. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python or MATLAB), statistical analysis software, and experimental design tools is often expected. Strong critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help interns excel in collaborative research environments. These competencies are vital for accurately conducting research, interpreting data, and contributing valuable insights to interdisciplinary projects.

How do cognitive science interns typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during their internship?

Cognitive Science Interns often work closely with professionals from fields such as psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and linguistics. Collaboration usually involves participating in team meetings, contributing to joint research projects, and sharing insights from their unique academic background. Interns are encouraged to communicate their findings clearly and integrate feedback from diverse perspectives, which enhances both their learning experience and the quality of the team's work. This multidisciplinary environment helps interns develop strong teamwork and communication skills, which are essential for future career growth in cognitive science.

Is cognitive science in demand?

Cognitive science is a growing interdisciplinary field with increasing demand in areas such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and user experience design. Interns with skills in research methods, programming, and data analysis are often sought after in academic, tech, and healthcare sectors.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cognitive Science jobs in California?

The most popular types of Cognitive Science jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Cognitive Science Intern jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Cognitive Science Intern jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Cognitive Science Intern jobs?

Cities in California with the most Cognitive Science Intern job openings:

Infographic showing various Cognitive Science Intern job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 10% Internship, 75% Full Time, and 15% Part Time. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $34,972 per year, or $16.8 per hour.

Intern, Sleep Lab

SRI International

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

$17.55 - $23/hr

Full-time, Part-time, Internship

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

The Human Sleep Research Program within SRI’s Center for Health Sciences conducts multidisciplinary research to better understand sleep and its relationship with health and behavior. Our work spans a variety of research areas, including wearable technologies for measuring sleep and physiology, sleep deprivation, women’s health, neuropsychology, and neuroimaging.


This internship offers the opportunity to contribute to multiple human research studies and gain hands-on exposure to a wide range of research methods and technologies. Our studies collect rich, multimodal data including overnight EEG recordings, wearable-derived biosignals such as physical activity and heart rate, cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, clinical and self-report measures, bioassays, and multimodal MRI.  Interns will work alongside an interdisciplinary research team and gain practical experience across different stages of clinical and translational sleep research. The position is particularly well suited for someone interested in gaining broad research experience while contributing to studies with applications to human health and emerging health technologies.

The internship will be on-site in our Menlo Park, CA office.  This is a part-time year round role, 10-20 hours per week.  Candidates must be able to work overnight shifts.


  • Support multiple human sleep research studies conducted within the Human Sleep Research Program.
  • Assist with participant-facing research visits, including overnight, evening, afternoon, and early-morning study procedures.
  • Ability to remain awake, alert, and attentive throughout overnight research shifts.
  • Assist with collection of physiological and behavioral research data, including overnight EEG/sleep recordings, wearable device data, cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, self-report and clinical measures, and bioassays.
  • Support collection of multimodal MRI data and other study-specific procedures as needed.
  • Assist with research data entry, organization, quality control, and preparation for analysis.
  • Contribute to data analysis and visualization projects, potentially including analyses of wearable, sleep, cognitive, physiological, and neuroimaging data.
  • Follow study protocols and research procedures to ensure accurate, consistent, and high-quality data collection.
  • Work collaboratively with research staff across multiple projects and assist with other research activities as needed.

  • Current Bachelors/Masters/PhD student in psychology, neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, or a related field.
  • Candidates must be a US Citizen
  • Interest in sleep research a plus
  • Detail-oriented and good organizational skills are highly desired

The salary range is: $17.55-$23/hr. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/. SRI will accept applications until the position is filled.

SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For almost 80 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.