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Human Computer Interaction Internship Jobs in State College, PA

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Human Computer Interaction Internship information

See State College, PA salary details

$8

$16

$23

How much do human computer interaction internship jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for human computer interaction internship in State College, PA is $16.92, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.09 and $18.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects can I expect to work on during a human computer interaction internship?

As a Human Computer Interaction (HCI) intern, you can expect to work on projects that involve user research, prototyping, usability testing, and interface design. Interns often collaborate closely with UX designers, software engineers, and product managers to improve the user experience of digital products. Typical tasks might include conducting user interviews, analyzing user data, designing wireframes, or testing interactive prototypes. The work environment is usually collaborative and iterative, with regular feedback and opportunities to contribute creative ideas.

What is a human computer interaction internship?

A Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Internship is a temporary training position where students or recent graduates gain practical experience working on projects that explore how people interact with computers and technology. Interns typically assist with user research, usability testing, prototyping, and interface design. The internship provides hands-on learning in areas like user experience (UX), user interface (UI) design, and human-centered computing, often in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. It is an opportunity to apply academic concepts to real-world problems and develop skills valued in technology and design industries.

What is the difference between Human Computer Interaction Internship vs User Experience Design Internship?

AspectHuman Computer Interaction InternshipUser Experience Design Internship
Required CredentialsRelevant coursework in HCI, psychology, computer scienceDesign, psychology, human factors background
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, academiaDesign agencies, tech firms, startups
Industry UsageAcademic research, product development, usability testingProduct design, interface development, user research
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding HCI roles, research opportunitiesDesign projects, user-centered design roles

Both internships focus on improving user interactions with technology but differ in emphasis. Human Computer Interaction internships lean toward research, usability testing, and understanding human factors, while User Experience Design internships focus on designing user interfaces and enhancing overall user satisfaction. Candidates should choose based on their interest in research versus design.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a human computer interaction intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Human Computer Interaction Intern, you generally need foundational knowledge in user experience (UX) design, usability principles, and human-centered research, often supported by coursework or a degree in HCI, computer science, or a related field. Familiarity with prototyping tools (such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD), usability testing platforms, and analytics software is typically required. Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills help interns contribute effectively to multidisciplinary teams and adapt to user feedback. These abilities are crucial for creating intuitive, user-focused digital experiences and supporting product development with actionable insights.
What are popular job titles related to Human Computer Interaction Internship jobs in State College, PA? For Human Computer Interaction Internship jobs in State College, PA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Human Computer Interaction Internship jobs in State College, PA look for? The top searched job categories for Human Computer Interaction Internship jobs in State College, PA are:
What cities near State College, PA are hiring for Human Computer Interaction Internship jobs? Cities near State College, PA with the most Human Computer Interaction Internship job openings:
Human Computer Interaction Internship jobs near you
Infographic showing various Human Computer Interaction Internship job openings in State College, PA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Internship, 54% Full Time, 29% Part Time, and 6% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $35,203 per year, or $16.9 per hour.

AR/VR/XR Visualization Research and Development Engineer

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University

University Park, PA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a driven, innovative Visualization Research and Development Engineer to join their Advanced Visualization Department. This role involves developing cutting-edge visualization solutions for collaborative visualization, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality applications aimed at national security missions.
Responsibilities:
• Design experiences, interactions, and applications that support effective collaboration for research sponsors
• Design and implement application programming interfaces (APIs) to pass data between disparate software applications
• Develop methodologies for effective integration, visualization, and dissemination of novel 3D data sources using game-engine-based synthetic environment frameworks
• Create tool workflows or visual communication methods using internally and externally-developed toolkits to illustrate and document complex concepts
• Integrate features and solutions with synthetic environment frameworks being applied to multiple sponsored projects across domains
• Deploy solutions to Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) platforms including the latest hardware from Meta, Varjo, HTC, and others
• Perform systems engineering activities to improve data flows and processes
• Brief research sponsors on technical solutions
• Develop engineering and technical documentation
• Draft whitepapers and proposals for research sponsors
• Lead the development and prototyping of hardware and software-based solutions for sponsor challenges
• Define immersive interaction standards
• Develop new processes for visualizing content using immersive technology
• Develop and manage new sponsor relationships
• Design and develop architectures of industry-related engineering systems, applying knowledge of complex principles, theories, concepts, tools and techniques to design challenges
• Independently manage multiple and/or large IT projects
• Plan, schedule, conduct, or coordinate detailed phases of the work of a major project or in a total project of moderate scope
• Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them
• Develop and maintain long-term professional relationships with government sponsors, industry partners, and academic collaborators to ensure programs meet customer
• Serve as a subject matter expert for the sponsor when needed
Qualifications:
Required:
• Software development proficiency (C#, Python, or Java)
• Team-based software development, troubleshooting, and deployment experience
• Software engineering, systems engineering, human computer interfaces, or visualization technologies
• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience
• Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 2+ years of relevant experience
Preferred:
• Master's Degree
• Active security clearance, TS/SCI preferred, or current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret/Top Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
• Advanced software development in C#, Python, or Java focusing on modular programming and performance
• Extended Reality (XR) application development (Unity/Unreal)
• Cloud deployment experience (AWS/Azure)
• Software containerization and deployment (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, Helm, etc.)
• DevSecOps experience
• Graphics programming – rendering, graphical shaders, etc.
• Network programming such as TCP/UDP and client-server
• Messaging interfaces (ActiveMQ, DDS, Kafka, etc.)
• Databases (PostGRES-PostGIS preferred)
• Performance optimization and process automation experience
• Geospatial data formats and standards
• CompTIA Security+ certification
• Project management or related skills
Company:
The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation. Founded in 1945, the company is headquartered in State College, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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