Graduate Intern, Applied Research -… at Delta Air Lines · Atlanta

Summary: Delta Air Lines maintains a Delta Innovation portfolio focused on fundamental research, emerging technology exploration, new product innovation, business impact, and operational goals across the airline industry. The Graduate Intern, Applied Research will conduct qualitative research, synthesize insights, identify business and technology opportunities, and collaborate with researchers, designers, engineers, and business stakeholders to shape concepts, prototypes, and innovation strategies.

Responsibilities:
- Partner with stakeholders to understand business challenges and translate them into research objectives, learning plans, and actionable questions
- Design and conduct qualitative research activities, including stakeholder interviews, workshops, focus groups, contextual inquiry, and observational research
- Analyze and synthesize findings from diverse information sources, including interviews, operational documentation, industry research, technology assessments, and other relevant materials
- Develop and communicate insights through research deliverables such as reports, briefs, presentations, personas, journey maps, experience maps, opportunity frameworks, and design recommendations
- Collaborate closely with design, engineering, and innovation teams to translate research findings into concepts, prototypes, and future-state solutions

Required Qualifications:
- • Graduate student enrolled in an accredited College, University, or Institution with experience in a research-focused role (e.g., academic research, technology scouting, design research, user research, or a related field)
- • Knowledge of qualitative research methodologies, including interviews, focus groups, workshops, ethnographic research, contextual inquiry, journey mapping, and experience research
- • Ability to identify, understand, and frame complex business and technology challenges as research opportunities, synthesizing information from multiple sources into meaningful insights and recommendations
- • Thrive in a fast-paced innovation environment where priorities, project scopes, and research approaches may evolve as new considerations emerge
- • Seeking student with strong work ethic, with excellent communication, organizational, attention to detail, and critical thinking skills
- • Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data
- • Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles
- • Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency
- • Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications:
- • Interest in emerging technologies, including (but not limited to) AI, robotics, IoT, AR/VR, automation, and future technology trends
- • Familiarity with human-centered design, design thinking, service design, journey mapping, or opportunity identification frameworks
- • Experience collaborating across business, design, engineering, or innovation teams

Required Skills: Qualitative Research, Stakeholder Interviews, Focus Groups, Ethnographic Research, Contextual Inquiry, Journey Mapping, Experience Research, Human-Centered Design, Design Thinking, Service Design, Emerging Technologies

Internship Start Date: Start in 2027 Spring