Visitor Experience Research Intern

Schedule: Full Time, 35 hours/week, Monday, June 15 - Friday, August 14, at least three days working onsite

Department Description

At SFMOMA the Visitor Experience (VX) department plays an integral part in providing a welcoming visitor-centric experience for local and non-local audiences alike. The VX department is comprised of Visitor Experience, Group Sales, and Onsite Membership, and supports all internal and external visitors and clients during business and at times non-business hours. 

Position Description

The Visitor Experience Research Intern will play a crucial role in helping our organization better understand the needs, preferences, and behaviors of our visitors. This position will provide a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in conducting and reviewing research within the context of a visitor-oriented environment. The intern will work closely with our Visitor Experience team and project manager to collect, analyze, and interpret data to improve the overall visitor experience.

Project Plan

Data Collection:

· Assist in the design and implementation of visitor surveys, interviews, and observation studies of visitor behaviors onsite.

· Collect and organize data using various methods, such as online surveys, paper surveys, or digital tools.

Data Analysis:

· Clean, code, and analyze data to identify patterns, trends, and insights.

· Collaborate with Visitor Experience Director and Program Manager to generate reports and visualizations to communicate findings.

Report Generation:

· Prepare reports and presentations summarizing research findings.

· Communicate findings to relevant stakeholders, including management and department heads.

· Make recommendations for improving the visitor experience based on research outcomes.

Research Ethics:

· Ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and data protection regulations when collecting and handling visitor data.

· Maintain the confidentiality and privacy of research participants.

Educational Objectives

This Visitor Experience Research Internship is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience in the field of visitor research and contribute to enhancing the overall visitor experience at SFMOMA. It will provide you with practical skills and insights that can be applied to future careers in research, marketing, or the museum and attraction industry.

Additional Internship Programming

The Summer 2026 Internship will offer 9-weeks of hands-on experience and mentorship along with weekly presentations and discussions with various departments in the museum, off-site educational visits within the Bay Area community, and access to various tours and events within the museum.

Requirements 

· Applicants must be currently enrolled in school or a recent graduate. The SFMOMA recognizes a graduation date within 6 months of the internship start date as a recent graduate.  

· If you are a current employee of the SFMOMA applying for an internship, you must be a current student or a recent graduate, within 6 months of the internship start date.   

· Strong analytical skills and the ability to work with data.

· Excellent communication and presentation skills.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.

· Attention to detail and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

· A genuine interest in visitor experience and a passion for improving it.

· Familiarity with research methods, including survey design and data collection, is a plus.

· Exhibits excellent task management abilities with consistent attention to detail and deadlines.

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$7,000 pre-tax stipend paid out in a one-lump sum after start date

*TAX WITHHOLDING: For certain non-US residents and non-CA residents, any payments that constitute taxable income under U.S. tax law may be subject to up to 30% federal and 7% state tax withholding (or the current applicable rates), and so any payments you receive may be reduced accordingly. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding the tax treatment of your stipend from this internship.

Application Requirements

· Intern application on SFMOMA job site

· Resume, in PDF format

· Cover letter stating the specific internship of interest, in PDF format

  · Describe the experience you bring, why you are interested in museum or nonprofit work, reasons for applying to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and your goals for the internship.

· Two letters of recommendation from either a college professor or current/former employer, in PDF format

· College/university transcript, in PDF format

· Transcripts can be unofficial but must be legible

  · If you are currently enrolled in a master's or PhD program, please provide the transcript for your current program, not your undergraduate transcript

Application Deadline: February 28, 2026

Please note: You only need two letters of recommendation total, not separate letters for each internship. If you apply to multiple internships (up to three), simply inform your recommenders which positions you’re applying for. We’ll review the same two letters across all your applications.