Research Scientist Intern, Human Sensing and Wearable Fit Modeling (PhD)

We're seeking a PhD Research Intern to help advance Meta's methods to quantify/model user fit of wearable devices with a focus on head and eye pose measurement, and their implications on visual quality, comfort, and other system performance. The internship will involve developing instrumentation methods, capturing high-quality biometric data, and analyzing naturalistic head posture and gaze behavior to inform realistic design targets for future wearable systems. This role sits at the intersection of human factors, biomechanics, sensing and instrumentation, and computational 3D data analysis—enabling improved evaluation and design decisions for fit, optics, field of view, and related subsystems. Our internships are twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) weeks long and we have various start dates throughout the year.

Research Scientist Intern, Human Sensing and Wearable Fit Modeling (PhD) Responsibilities

• Design and execute a research plan—from problem statement through data collection, analysis, and recommendations.

• Develop and refine instrumentation techniques and protocols for capturing anthropometric data (e.g., eye tracking, head pose, gaze behavior), optimizing for throughput, reliability, and practicality.

• Build repeatable pipelines for sensor and data acquisition, processing, and quality assurance.

• Quantify uncertainty, repeatability, and practical tradeoffs (e.g., fidelity, cost, scalability) to inform design decisions.

• Develop models or frameworks that characterize variability and inform realistic design targets for wearable systems.

• Communicate results to cross-functional partners through written reports, clear visuals, and actionable recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining a PhD degree in Human Factors, Biomechanics, Biophysics, Robotics, Computer Vision, Applied Math, Computer Graphics, or a related field

• Demonstrated research experience designing experiments and analyzing results with appropriate rigor (repeatability, confounds, validation)

• Hands-on experience with at least one of the following: eye tracking systems, IMUs, motion capture, other real-time biometric instrumentation, or 3D/geometry data processing (such as working with meshes, point clouds, coordinate systems, registration, or error analysis)

• Proven programming skills in Python (and/or C++/MATLAB), including building data pipelines and producing reproducible analysis

• Experience communicating technical work clearly to cross-functional audiences (written + verbal)

• Must obtain work authorization in country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or validating calibration procedures for sensing systems (eye tracking, IMU, mocap, photogrammetry/3D scanning)

• Background in wearables, ergonomic/fit evaluation, or display/optics-adjacent human perception work

• Knowledge of computational geometry / graphics concepts (e.g., coordinate transforms, pose estimation, registration, uncertainty propagation)

• Familiarity with experimental design for time-series human behavior (task design, reducing confounds, modeling distributions)

• Experience with privacy-aware handling of human subject data (e.g., minimizing retained identifiers, data governance considerations)

• Intent to return to degree program after the completion of the internship/co-op

About Meta

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.

$7,313/month to $12,134/month + benefitsIndividual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.