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PCH Treatment Center
- Contact: Jenifer Goldman, PsyD
- E-mail: jgoldman@pchtreatment.com
- Address: 11965 Venice Blvd Ste 202, Los Angeles, CA 90066
- Phone: (310) 564-6786
- Website: https://www.pchtreatment.com/
- Location Type: Fully in-person
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 6
Description of Organization and Population Served
PCH Treatment Center is a primary mental health treatment facility that takes a holistic approach toward wellness. We provide a much-needed alternative to the current mental health treatment model and psychiatric hospital model by utilizing the highest level of clinical sophistication in a non-pathologizing and real-world setting. Our holistic treatment model is focused on supporting the individual and the experiences that have shaped them, not on pathologizing their psychological state. We offer treatment with supportive housing, day and intensive outpatient treatment, aftercare, telehealth programming, and assessment. PCH offers treatment for adults primarily with depressive and bipolar states, anxiety and OCD, personality and relational issues, psychotic states, psychological trauma and co-occurring substance use issues.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
Interns will have the opportunity to shadow Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) sessions and learn about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy from the Director of the OCD/Anxiety Clinic at PCH. They engage in a weekly didactic focused on relevant topics in the field of clinical psychology. Interns attend clinical consultation group, gaining exposure to real-world treatment considerations and a team-based approach to case conceptualization. They have the opportunity to discuss cases and applied learning with the Director of Clinical Training, as well as to meet with diverse professionals to discuss their career progression. Interns will gain hands-on exposure to the practice of psychology and considerations within a clinical milieu.
Special Qualifications
Genuine interest in the field of psychology as a career choice.
Interns will need to have availability on Mondays from 10am-2pm. Enrollment in Psych 195A and accompanying seminar is required. Please apply by sending a resume and brief letter of interest to Dr. Jenifer Goldman (jgoldman@pchtreatment.com).
How This Relates to Psychology
Students have the opportunity to immerse themselves within a psychological treatment center, learning about and observing the everyday workings of a clinical environment.
My Total Tutor
- Contact: Ali Polansky
- E-mail: ali@mytotaltutor.com
- Address: Remote
- Phone: (818) 292-2006
- Website: mytotaltutor.com
- Location Type: Fully remote
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: This position requires a commitment of 6 hours per week, with flexibility around your academic schedule.
Description of Organization and Population Served
My Total Tutor, founded and managed by a UCLA Cognitive Science graduate (Class of 2023), is a neuroscience-informed boutique tutoring company serving K-12 students across diverse academic profiles. We are recognized as a 2024 Bruin Business 100 honoree by the UCLA Alumni Association. Our mission is to provide personalized, psychology-informed academic support that addresses each student's unique learning needs including cognitive strengths, executive function challenges, and test anxiety. We serve students preparing for standardized tests (SAT/ACT/AP), those seeking subject-specific tutoring, and students navigating learning disabilities.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
As an Intern at My Total Tutor, you will primarily drive our digital engagement and content strategy while learning how psychology principles apply to marketing, education, and human behavior:
Core Responsibilities:
- Manage and grow our social media channels, creating engaging content (reels, posts, stories) that communicates learning science and psychology-informed tutoring to students and families.
- Analyze social media performance metrics and user engagement data; apply psychological frameworks (attention, persuasion, motivation) to optimize content strategy using Meta Suite.
- Develop content that explains cognitive science concepts, learning barriers, and evidence-based study strategies in accessible, engaging ways.
- Collaborate with our team to ensure consistent, psychology-informed branding and messaging across platforms.
Optional Responsibilities (based on interest):
- Explore business development and sales strategy, learning how psychology informs client relationships, communication, and understanding customer needs and decision-making.
- Contribute to strategy discussions around growth, positioning, and market expansion.
Special Qualifications
- Proficiency in using Meta Suite for social media management, content creation, and analytics.
- Strong understanding of social media trends and best practices.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Interest in the intersection of psychology and education.
How This Relates to Psychology
This internship applies core psychological principles directly to your work. You'll use attention, persuasion, and motivation to craft social media content, then analyze real user behavior data to understand applied cognitive and social psychology in practice. Creating content about learning science requires translating educational psychology into accessible language. Analyzing engagement metrics teaches you behavioral psychology by understanding what captures attention, drives engagement, and influences decisions. If you choose to explore business development, you'll see psychology in action in client relationships and persuasion. Across all responsibilities, you'll gain hands-on experience in applied psychology while building skills relevant to marketing, education, UX, and any field requiring insight into human behavior and behavior change.
Nokkomo Mints
- Contact: Michael Moran
- E-mail: nokkomomints@gmail.com
- Address: 6281 Arbor Rose Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92009
- Phone: (760) 500-4236
- Website: https://nokkomomints.com
- Location Type: Fully remote
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: Approximately 6 to 12 hours per week, including a weekly video meeting with the supervisor to review progress.
Description of Organization and Population Served
Nokkomo Mints is a California-based consumer packaged goods (CPG) startup that makes fizzy, sugar-free mints for dry mouth. We sell direct to consumers at nokkomomints.com and through Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok Shop, plus wholesale to retailers. Our product is a federally legal food item and contains no THC; it is especially popular with adult cannabis consumers who experience dry mouth, alongside coffee drinkers, athletes, and anyone dealing with the same issue. As a small, founder-led company, interns work directly with the founder and get hands-on exposure across consumer research, marketing, content, and brand strategy. The population we serve is adult consumers across the United States, and our work centers on understanding their behavior, motivations, and purchasing decisions.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
Interns contribute to the marketing and consumer-research side of the business. Core responsibilities include: analyzing customer reviews, feedback, and survey responses to identify what motivates purchases and repeat buying; developing short-form video content and testing which messages, hooks, and framing capture attention and drive action; conducting market and competitor research; and designing and executing a self-directed 10-week individual project tied to a specific, measurable goal (a KPI they set and track). Interns present their project formally to the team at the midpoint and end of the program. They meet weekly with the founder to review progress, get feedback, and set the next week's priorities.
Special Qualifications
No prior experience is required. We look for genuine curiosity about consumer behavior and marketing, strong written and verbal communication, reliability, and the ability to work independently and meet weekly deadlines. Comfort creating short-form video content (filming and light editing on a phone) is a plus but not required. Because the role is fully remote, interns need their own computer or phone and reliable internet.
How This Relates to Psychology
The work is applied psychology: understanding why consumers behave the way they do and using that insight to shape messaging and product decisions. Interns study consumer motivation, decision-making, and habit formation; analyze customer sentiment and reviews to uncover the underlying drivers of behavior; and design and test content using principles of attention, persuasion, and social influence to see what actually changes what people do. Each intern forms a hypothesis, defines a measurable outcome, runs it over ten weeks, and analyzes the results, mirroring the behavioral-research methods central to psychology. Interns leave with direct, hands-on experience applying behavioral and social psychology in a real business setting.
UCLA KidsConnect Autism Treatment Program
- Contact: Kristen Hayashida
- E-mail: khayashida@mednet.ucla.edu
- Address: 760 Westwood Plaza Suite 78-215, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- Phone: (310) 206-2695
- Website: https://www.uclahealth.org/kidsconnect
- Location Type: Fully in-person
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 6-8
Description of Organization and Population Served
The UCLA KidsConnect Autism Treatment Program is an internationally recognized model treatment program for children from two-to-six years of age with autism, related developmental disabilities, and behavioral disorders. KidsConnect provides fully integrated, interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art treatment for children as well as support, education, and transition planning for families over a short-term, intensive period. For many children, KidsConnect transforms the course of their development and long-term outcomes.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
Interns will begin by observing the program, charting and recording behaviors and program notes, and learning teaching strategies. Within a short time, interns will assist teachers with intervention activities. Major duties include implementing behavioral and skill development programs in individual or small group situations under supervision of head teacher. Interns will also learn to instruct patients in basic self-care and daily living skills such as toileting, feeding, hygiene, and dressing skills. Interns will learn and implement the behavioral management program for each patient under the supervision of the classroom teacher. Interns are also required to assist with the daily activities of the environment including set-up and clean-up, preparations for activities, and any written feedback. Intern is 100% supervised by the lead classroom therapist who has extensive training and at least a master’s degree. Thus, all activities are supervised 100% of the time. Intern is never left alone with any patient. Co-directors Stephanny Freeman, Ph.D. and Tanya Paparella, Ph.D. observe and all staff provide positive and constructive feedback.
Students are also required to attend a 1-hour lecture on autism spectrum disorders and treatment for autism spectrum disorders. The course is held on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00pm via Zoom.
Special Qualifications
Students should be open to traditional and alternative treatment and intervention techniques. Students should be open to learning and experiencing interactions with different populations of children. Previous experience with young children is preferred but not required. Energetic, enthusiastic, and reliable students are requested.
How This Relates to Psychology
KidsConnect is a comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment and treatment program for young children with autism and behavioral challenges. Students participating in the program gain direct experience observing and implementing individualized, developmentally appropriate assessment and intervention strategies. Through hands-on clinical experience, students apply psychological theories and evidence-based behavioral principles learned in their core psychology coursework to support children's social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental growth. This experience provides a strong foundation for students interested in clinical psychology, developmental psychology, behavior analysis, and related therapeutic fields.
Level Up Solutions
- Contact: Michael Harley
- E-mail: mharley@levelupsolutions.org
- Address: 1303 E Walnut Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
- Phone: (626) 808-6332
- Website: levelupsolutions.org
- Location Type: Fully in-person
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 6 hours per week
Description of Organization and Population Served
Level Up Solutions is a nonprofit organization that provides person-centered services and programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our mission is to help participants build independence, confidence, meaningful relationships, and stronger connections within their communities.
We primarily serve transition-age youth and adults with developmental disabilities, including individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, and other related support needs. Services include independent living skills training, community integration, social and recreational programming, educational support, employment readiness, and individualized assistance based on each participant’s goals. Our programs emphasize inclusion, self-determination, skill development, and meaningful participation in community life.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
Interns will work alongside experienced Direct Support Professionals to provide person-centered support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Responsibilities may include assisting participants with developing independent living, communication, social, self-advocacy, and community integration skills; supporting participation in educational, recreational, and community-based activities; and encouraging participants to work toward their individualized goals.
Interns will help plan and facilitate activities, model appropriate social and professional behavior, provide encouragement and guidance, document participant progress and observations, and communicate relevant information to their supervisor and support team. They will also receive training in professional boundaries, disability inclusion, person-centered practices, confidentiality, safety procedures, and effective communication. All responsibilities will be completed under appropriate staff supervision and will be tailored to the intern’s experience, training, and assigned program.
Special Qualifications
No prior professional experience is required. Applicants should have a genuine interest in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and demonstrate patience, reliability, professionalism, empathy, and strong communication skills. Interns must be willing to learn, accept feedback, maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries, and work collaboratively with participants, families, staff, and community partners. Coursework or experience in psychology, education, social work, disability studies, or a related field is helpful but not required.
How This Relates to Psychology
This internship relates to psychology by giving students the opportunity to apply principles of human behavior, development, communication, motivation, learning, and social interaction in a real-world setting. Interns will gain experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities while observing how environmental, social, emotional, and behavioral factors influence independence and community participation.
The role also provides exposure to person-centered practices, positive behavior support, professional boundaries, cultural humility, and ethical considerations when working with vulnerable populations. Through supervised interactions, documentation, and reflection, interns can connect psychological theory with practical experience in disability services and community-based support.
Southern California Neuropsychology Group
- Contact: Michelle Conover
- E-mail: info@socalnpg.com
- Address: 5950 Canoga Ave Suite 100 Woodland Hills, CA 91367
- Phone: (818) 340-7700
- Website: www.socalnpg.com
- Location Type: Fully in-person
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 8 hours per week, 1 year commitment, Fridays 12pm-3pm mandatory
Description of Organization and Population Served
Southern California Neuropsychology Group (SCNPG) is the brainchild of Dr. Michelle Conover, an experienced clinical and forensic neuropsychologist who believes in the utility of comprehensive assessment in guiding the treatment of various disorders. Integrating the analysis of brain-behavior relationships into psychotherapy, SCNPG has since expanded to include other like-minded clinicians and psychometrists who are focused on providing the highest standards of ethical client care.
SCNPG has served the community both young and old, dispensing a diverse set of outpatient services that center around cognitive, behavioral and emotional assessment. These services encompass the broad spectrum of human life, from achievement testing for school accommodations to neurocognitive assessment to determine the extent of acquired brain damage in forensic contexts.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
SCNPG offers a forensic, non-clinical training opportunity for undergraduate and bachelor-degree level students.
As part of the non-clinical training program, students will receive supervision and training around administration and scoring of psychological and neuropsychological measures. These include, but are not limited to, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (WAIS 5), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-5), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Fourth Edition (WIAT-4), Wechsler Memory Scale, Fourth Edition (WMS-IV), Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT), NEPSY-II, Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System (DKEFS), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Fourth Edition (MCMI-IV), and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Trainees will also get to participate in didactic presentations, case discussions, and group supervision along with the graduate-level clinical trainees. Our clinic has historically trained and successfully incorporated bachelor-level trainees into our practice as psychometrists.
Undergraduate students are expected to actively participate in training sessions, to observe assessments conducted by clinical staff, and to develop skills around administering and scoring assessments. Each trainee will be evaluated based on their developmental and educational level, completing quarterly evaluations with the training coordinators to assess their progress and training needs. The goal is to work toward functioning as a psychometrist; identifying a testing battery, successfully administering identified tests, scoring and creating a graph of all data, and putting together a draft of the completed report, including all test results. All test interpretations and diagnoses will be reviewed and finalized by doctoral clinical staff.
Students will have the opportunity to observe and work with clinical staff at various levels in their education, pre- and post-doctoral. Although students may not engage in clinical tasks, they will be able to observe clinical intakes and feedback sessions when available.
Special Qualifications
While there are no required, special qualifications, successful applicants are hard-working, conscientious, open to constructive feedback, have strong organizational skills and are passionate about learning clinical neuropsychology as a practice. Additionally, a foundational knowledge of psychological and/or neuropsychological assessment and basic statistics is preferred, though not required.
Applications for training are open annually from November 1st through January 31st, with a final submission deadline of January 31 at 11:59 PM. All applications must be submitted within this timeframe. Early and late applications will not be accepted. Interviews will be conducted throughout the month of February, and official decision emails will be sent by March 15. Start Date August 1st through July 31st.
Required Application Materials for Non-Clinical Trainees:
Updated CV
Cover Letter
2 Letters of Recommendation
Writing Sample (preferably from a psychology course, may include research methods)
Applicants who are deemed as good candidates will be invited for an interview. We conduct a two-step interview process: the first is a one-hour in-person interview with one of the training coordinators or supervisors, and the second is a 30-minute in-person interview with Dr. Conover. Accommodations require approval from the training team and may only be made under special circumstances.
How This Relates to Psychology
Students will observe and support the practical application of psychological science—from client intake and test administration to report writing and case conceptualization. This placement offers direct exposure to how psychological theory translates into diagnostic decision-making and individualized care across a range of clinical populations.
Mind~Set Onsite
- Contact: Diane Harris
- E-mail: hello@mindsetonsite.com
- Address: 7901 Vicksburg Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
- Phone: (310) 717-9223
- Website: hello@mindsetonsite.com
- Location Type: Fully remote
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 7
Description of Organization and Population Served
Mind~Set is the first mental and physical wellness company built specifically for cast, crew, and studio teams in the motion picture industry. We bring short-format support directly on set in a way that actually fits into the pace of production. Quick resets, practical tools, and a space to take a moment in the middle of the day.
Since our founding, 2 years ago we’ve worked with major studios like Disney, Netflix and Paramount to support their sets - seeing firsthand the impact that accessible on-set mental health support creates. Mind~Set’s broader mission is to become a fixture on production, ultimately working towards what we call “crew sustainability” becoming a line item - making wellness a practical, visible, and integrated part of entertainment-industry culture.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
Mind~Set interns will help communicate the value and impact of our work through digital storytelling, audience research, participant surveying, and content development. They will translate wellness concepts and Mind~Set’s real-world work into accessible, relevant, and visually engaging content across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn as well as support Mind~Set’s broader efforts towards “crew sustainability” becoming a line item in production.
Responsibilities may include:
* Researching platform trends, audience behavior, and social media best practices
* Developing content concepts, editorial calendars, and campaign ideas
* Designing graphics and creating posts, stories, reels, interviews, and short-form videos
* Recording, editing, organizing, and repurposing photo and video content
* Reviewing performance data to understand which messages and formats most effectively capture attention and encourage engagement
* Supporting brand strategy, educational materials, participant feedback, and broader program-development projects
Where scheduling and production circumstances allow, interns may also have the opportunity to accompany the Mind~Set team on set, at studio activations, or at industry events. They may observe Mind~Set in action, poll or gather feedback from the populations served, and capture real-time photo and video content where appropriate and permitted. These materials may then be developed into social content, impact stories, and recommendations for future outreach.
Special Qualifications
The ideal Mind~Set intern is interested in the intersection of psychology, cognitive science, health and wellness, media, and communications.
Preferred qualities include:
* Strong written and verbal communication skills
* Creativity, organization, and attention to detail
* Curiosity about human behavior, decision-making, habits, and engagement
* An interest in social media, storytelling, design, photography, or video production
* Familiarity with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CapCut, or similar tools
* Adaptability and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
* Professionalism, discretion, and respect for participant privacy
Experience with content creation or media production is beneficial but not required. An interest in workplace culture, mental and physical well-being, or supporting people in high-pressure industries will help interns connect meaningfully with Mind~Set’s mission.
How This Relates to Psychology
This internship applies psychological principles to the real-world challenge of supporting mental and physical well-being in demanding workplace environments. Mind~Set serves individuals working under conditions often characterized by long hours, physical strain, time pressure, uncertainty, and sustained stress—all of which can influence mood, motivation, behavior, interpersonal dynamics, and overall well-being.
Through content development and audience analysis, interns will consider how emotion, attitudes, motivation, social influence, and behavior shape the way people respond to wellness information. They may explore how language, storytelling, visual design, repetition, social proof, and message framing can reduce barriers, encourage engagement, and make wellness resources feel relevant and approachable to different populations.
The internship also extends beyond communications. Interns may observe how brief wellness experiences are adapted to the realities of production and how factors such as convenience, workplace culture, perceived stigma, environmental cues, and social norms influence whether individuals seek out or participate in available support.
Through audience polling, participant feedback, content analysis, and observation of Mind~Set experiences, interns will connect psychology with:
* Stress, coping, and emotional regulation
* Health behavior and engagement with wellness resources
* Motivation, attitudes, and behavior change
* Social influence, workplace culture, and group norms
* Occupational well-being and the psychological effects of demanding work environments
* The development and communication of accessible, human-centered wellness experiences
Jazz Hands For Autism
- Contact: Dr. Ifunanya Nweke
- E-mail: HR@jazzhandsforautism.org
- Address: 10220 Culver Boulevard, ste 101, Culver City, CA 90232
- Phone: (424) 209-7190
- Website: www.jazzhandsforautism.org
- Location Type: Hybrid
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 8-10 hours per week for 2 quarter/ 1 semester minimum, including a weekly meeting with the student to discuss their progress.
Description of Organization and Population Served
Jazz Hands for Autism (JHFA) is a Culver City-based nonprofit talent advocacy organization and music academy founded in 2014 to bridge the gap between creative expression and professional employment. The organization serves neurodivergent individuals, primarily adults on the autism spectrum (ages 18+) navigating workforce transitions, alongside school-aged youth (ages 8–17) seeking musical enrichment. By offering targeted resources to a population facing disproportionately high unemployment rates due to social communication barriers, JHFA provides critical pathways to economic independence and self-advocacy through the arts.
The organization fulfills its mission through structured sub-divisions, including the Jazz Hands Musicians Academy, which offers post-secondary, conservatory-level training in performance, composition, technology, business, or pedagogy. To ensure these skills translate into sustainable careers, the Jazz Hands Jobs Program provides resume building, interview preparation, and direct professional placements in live performance and studio roles. These foundational initiatives are further supported by the Jazz Hands Junior Academy for younger students and the bi-annual Concert Series, which showcases paid student musicians to the public.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
A) Curriculum Development Intern: Assisting with the development, organizing, scoping and evaluation of curriculum within the Jazz Hands Musicians Academy. Conducting research into learning theories and best educational practices, uploading courses to learning management system, codifying course list and curriculum list for digital consumption. Accompanying instructional design specialist in providing training to instructors at the Jazz Hands Musicians Academy. We recruit 4 CDIs per quarter/ Semester
B) Data Analyst Intern: Assisting with the development of code and programs that analyze data collected on a daily and monthly basis. Data Analyst Intern also assist with assimilating historical data with current data to show students' progress over time in a visual way.
C) Research & Evaluation Intern: Collecting, compiling, tracking and analyzing student related data and creating progress reports in several formats. Utilizing this data to determine trends and tell a story on student placement and progress in order to help ensure long term student progress (Jazz Hands Musicians Academy) We recruit 4 REs per quarter/ Semester
D) Strategy & Operations Intern: Assisting in various analysis and planning operations to inform and improve organization structure and processes. Documenting processes within JHFA programs, operationalizing and automating manual content processes across the organization, assist with Manage partner onboarding processes, Tracking program rollout processes, joining meetings with managers to focus on solutions, anticipating problems in operations before delays arise, and researching and writing detailed reports. Create and monitor project plans.
E) Student Mentor Intern: Assisting students with non-musical and non-social goals (Jazz Hands Musicians Academy). Additionally, conduct research and outreach to potential community partners. We recruit 1-2 SMIs per quarter/ Semester
Special Qualifications
We find that 3rd & 4th year students are typically able to see more connection between the internships we offer and their classwork, however, we welcome interns from any year
How This Relates to Psychology
Internships at Jazz Hands for Autism relate directly to psychology by applying developmental psychology, research methods, and behavioral science to support neurodivergent individuals.While interns do not provide direct clinical therapy, their work bridges the gap between psychological theory and real-world community health.
1. Neurodiversity & Developmental Psychology
--Tracking Milestones: Interns monitor progress across a caseload of neurodivergent students, tracking how customized instruction impacts their social and professional development.
--Social Skill Building: The programs target socialization barriers common in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), helping individuals build personal awareness, confidence, and self-advocacy skills.
2. Research Methods & Data Analysis
--Quantifying Impact: Interns apply statistical techniques to measure the therapeutic and vocational efficacy of arts education for individuals with autism.
--Reporting Trends: Students compile behavioral and program data to draft progress reports, mimicking the methodology used in psychological and behavioral research studies.
3. Applied Behavioral Frameworks & Curriculum Design
--Adaptive Learning: Interns research and refine inclusive music education curricula and assessments tailored to specific cognitive and learning needs.
--Nervous System Regulation: Programming leverages research on how musical improvisation aids emotional regulation, lowers cortisol, and alters brain chemistry in autistic individuals.
4. Vocational & Rehabilitation Psychology
--Workforce Inclusion: The core mission involves breaking down systemic employment barriers, utilizing principles of vocational psychology to transition adults with ASD into sustainable career tracks
Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies (IACS)
- Contact: Nicco Reggente, Ph.D.
- E-mail: nicco@advancedconsciousness.org
- Address: 2811 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 510, Santa Monica, CA 90403
- Phone: (856) 332-6358
- Website: https://advancedconsciousness.org/
- Location Type: Hybrid
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 7
Description of Organization and Population Served
IACS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute in Santa Monica dedicated to studying how experiential technology can support human flourishing and democratize access to non-ordinary states. Research programs span meditation neuroscience, aesthetic chills, non-invasive neuromodulation (including transcranial focused ultrasound), immersive audiovisual environments, floatation-REST, VR-based interventions, and consciousness studies more broadly. The institute serves adult research participants drawn from the greater Los Angeles community, including meditators, concert and event audiences in large-scale field studies, and volunteers recruited for laboratory sessions. Findings are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and the institute collaborates with university imaging centers and other academic partners.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
Interns select one or more active projects from the institute's public project wiki and work on a defined set of tasks over the term. Depending on the project and the student's interests, responsibilities may include literature review and annotated bibliography work, assistance with manuscript preparation and figure creation, quantitative data analysis in Python or R, and support for study design and protocol documentation. All interns are also invited to help with active data collection, which can involve participant scheduling and consenting, setup and operation of high-density (64-channel) and consumer-grade EEG systems, physiological and wearable sensor recording, VR and audiovisual session administration, and behavioral and survey data collection. Training is provided by the research team before any collection session. Most analytic and writing work is done remotely; on-site work at the Santa Monica lab and occasional off-site field sessions are available and encouraged. Interns are added to the institute's Slack workspace and its Confluence project wiki, attend a group orientation covering active projects and expectations, set goals with the supervisor at the outset, and meet weekly with the supervisor thereafter.
Special Qualifications
No prior research experience is required. The most important qualifications are genuine intellectual curiosity, reliability, and the ability to work independently in a self-directed environment. Students interested in analysis tracks should have some familiarity with Python or R; students focused on literature review, writing, or data collection need no programming background. Familiarity with EEG or prior writing experience is a plus but not a prerequisite. Applicants are asked to read several of the institute's published papers before starting.
How This Relates to Psychology
The internship is grounded in cognitive neuroscience and the psychology of subjective experience. Students engage directly with core psychological topics — attention, emotion, contemplative practice, altered states of consciousness, and well-being — and learn how these constructs are operationalized and measured. They gain practical experience with research methods central to psychological science: experimental design, human subjects procedures and ethics, psychophysiological and neural measurement, self-report and behavioral assessment, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. The experience maps closely onto graduate-level preparation in psychology and neuroscience, and past interns have earned authorship on peer-reviewed papers and conference posters.
Zen Frenz
- Contact: Alexander Gray
- E-mail: alex@zenfrenz.com
- Address: 7100 E Lincoln Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
- Phone: (917) 531-7494
- Website: zenfrenz.com
- Location Type: Fully remote
- Hourly Commitment Per Week: 12
Description of Organization and Population Served
Zen Frenz All-Natural Pet Wellness products.
Description of Intern's Responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities include:
Assisting Zen Frenz brand ambassador network collaborations on all Social Channels
Assisting Zen Frenz brand ambassador network relations via all Social Channels
Assisting with Zen Frenz brand ambassadors content posting responsibilities
Assisting Zen Frenz ambassador code tracking initiatives via Shopify Admin
Assisting new Public Relations B2B opportunities within the pet industry
Assisting new Zen Frenz Public Relations campaigns and social giveaways
Collaborate with Zen Frenz Marketing Team
Candidate has strong communication and relationship maintenance skills
Candidate has exceptional organizational skills to assist a brand ambassador network
Assisting marketing graphic and video content to be used by Zen Frenz social channels
Assisting and Posting weekly Instagram, Youtube, and Tik Tok content
Assisting with engagement of users on all social media platforms via comment research and direct communication
Assisting Zen Frenz weekly Blog topics
Assisting Zen Frenz weekly Email campaigns
Assisting with scheduling guests for Zen Frenz podcast
Collaborating with Marketing Team
Candidate has strong sense of creative marketing direction and brand marketing efforts as a whole
Candidate has vision for company content strategically aligning with brand initiatives
Candidate provides exceptional ideas and creative initiatives for our marketing team to execute
Special Qualifications
None
How This Relates to Psychology
Marketing Internship
Marketing is rooted in consumer psychology. Interns learn how psychological principles influence purchasing decisions and brand loyalty.
Relevant psychology concepts include:
Consumer behavior: Understanding why pet owners choose one wellness product over another.
Motivation: Identifying what motivates customers to purchase products that improve their pets' health.
Perception: Designing advertisements, packaging, and social media content that create positive first impressions.
Learning and memory: Developing campaigns that make the Zen Frenz brand memorable.
Decision-making: Analyzing customer data to understand buying patterns and improve marketing strategies.
Public Relations Internship
Public relations focuses on relationship-building and trust, which relies heavily on social psychology.
Relevant psychology concepts include:
Social influence: Learning how endorsements, testimonials, and community engagement affect public opinion.
Communication: Crafting messages that resonate emotionally with customers and partners.
Trust and credibility: Building a positive reputation through transparent communication.
Group behavior: Understanding online communities and how people interact with brands on social media.
Conflict resolution: Responding professionally to customer concerns while preserving brand loyalty.
Skills Psychology Students Develop
Interns gain practical experience in:
Understanding human behavior and motivation
Emotional intelligence and empathy
Persuasive communication
Research and data analysis
Problem-solving and critical thinking
Interpersonal and professional relationship building
Career Relevance
These internships prepare psychology students for careers such as:
Marketing Research Analyst
Consumer Insights Specialist
Public Relations Specialist
Brand Strategist
Human Resources
Organizational Psychology
Sales and Business Development
Behavioral Marketing
Customer Experience (CX)
Graduate programs in psychology, business, or communications
For a company like Zen Frenz, which markets pet wellness products, psychology is especially valuable because purchasing decisions are often driven by emotions, trust, and the strong bond between people and their pets. Interns learn how to apply psychological principles to create meaningful marketing campaigns, strengthen customer relationships, and communicate the company's mission of improving pet wellness through education and innovative products.