Social Research Internship – Summer 2026 (Remote, USA)

Remote from
USA flag
USA
Salary, yearly, USD
26,000 - 52,000
Employment type
Internship,
Job posted
Apply before
29 Jun 2026
Experience level
Entry-Level
Junior
Views / Applies
9 / 1

About Turnitin, LLC

We support educators and empower students around the world to do their best original work.

Actively Hiring
Verified job posting
This job post has been manually reviewed for authenticity and compliance.

AI Summary

Turnitin is seeking a Social Research Intern for Summer 2026 to join their Corporate Communications and Brand Strategy team. The intern will lead a research project mapping Reddit communities, analyzing sentiment, and developing best practices for corporate engagement. This remote, full-time internship offers a salary of $24-$26/hour and provides mentorship and exposure to cross-functional leadership. The ideal candidate is a student in communications, marketing, or sociology with strong analytical and social media skills.

Role DNA

Job Complexity
Easy Hard
Pace & Pressure
Relaxed Fast-paced
Autonomy Level
Guided Full Ownership
Communication Load
Independent Highly Collaborative
AI Insight The role involves independent research and strategic analysis, which requires critical thinking, but is an internship with mentorship, so difficulty is moderate.

Salary Analysis

Median Market Rate
USD39,000
US Market
USD30k – USD50k
0 USD55k
AI Insight The offered salary of $24-$26/hour (approx. $50,000-$54,000 annualized) is competitive for a social research internship, above the typical market range of $30,000-$50,000 for similar roles.

Key Skills

Social Research Reddit Analysis Sentiment Analysis Digital Media Brand Strategy Market Research Social Listening Qualitative Analysis Corporate Communications Internship

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for the Social Research Internship at Turnitin. With my background in digital media and sociology, I am eager to lead the Reddit ecosystem mapping project and contribute to your brand strategy. My experience with social listening tools and qualitative analysis aligns well with the responsibilities outlined.

I am particularly drawn to Turnitin's mission of upholding academic integrity and the opportunity to work remotely. I look forward to bringing my research skills and passion for internet communities to your team.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Can you describe your experience with analyzing online communities or social media platforms?
I have conducted research on Reddit communities for a class project, analyzing user sentiment and engagement patterns. I used tools like Reddit API and manual coding to identify key themes.
How would you approach mapping relevant subreddits for a brand like Turnitin?
I would start by identifying keywords related to education, plagiarism, and academic integrity, then search for subreddits with active discussions. I would also look at competitor mentions and industry trends.
What strategies do you think are effective for brands to engage on Reddit without being seen as intrusive?
Brands should participate authentically, provide value, and respect community norms. AMAs with experts, sharing useful resources, and transparent communication are effective.
How do you stay organized when managing multiple research tasks?
I use project management tools like Trello to track progress and set milestones. I prioritize tasks based on deadlines and communicate regularly with my supervisor.
Why are you interested in this internship at Turnitin?
I admire Turnitin's role in education and want to apply my research skills to real-world corporate strategy. The focus on Reddit is unique and aligns with my interest in digital culture.

Company Description

When you join Turnitin, you’ll be welcomed into a company that is a recognized innovator in global education. For over 25 years, Turnitin has partnered with educators and institutions to develop learning integrity solutions that recognize the enduring value of critical thinking in a rapidly changing world. Over 16,000 academic institutions, publishers, and corporations use our services in more than 185 countries around the world: Turnitin Feedback Studio, Clarity, Originality, Gradescope, ExamSoft, Similarity, and iThenticate. Protecting the value of an authentic education is at the heart of who we are.

Experience a remote-first culture that empowers you to work with purpose and accountability in a way that best suits you, supported by a comprehensive package that prioritizes your overall well-being. Our diverse community of colleagues are all unified by a shared desire to make a difference in education.

Turnitin is a global organization with team members in over 35 countries including the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, India, and the Philippines.

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic, analytical, and social media savvy Summer Intern to join our Corporate Communications and Brand Strategy team for a full-time, 10-12-week internship. This role is uniquely tailored for a researcher who is ready to dig in on the nuances of digital subcultures, internet community dynamics, and platform-specific governance—specifically on Reddit.

The successful candidate will spearhead an in-depth research initiative mapping out relevant Reddit communities, analyzing corporate engagement best practices, and evaluating how our brand, competitors, and industry are perceived within the Reddit ecosystem.

  • Position Type: Full-Time, Internship
  • Duration: 10-12 Weeks (Summer)
  • Location: Remote 
  • Salary: $24-$26/hour

Key Responsibilities:

  • Reddit Ecosystem Mapping: Identify, track, and audit relevant subreddits, communities, and highly active discussion threads related to our industry, brand, and core product offerings.
  • Landscape & Sentiment Analysis: Analyze the current state of Reddit community conversations, synthesizing organic user sentiment, emerging trends, pain points, and advocacy patterns.
  • Best Practices & Framework Development: Research and compile case studies on how major brands successfully (and unsuccessfully) navigate corporate engagement on Reddit, examining elements like AMA (Ask Me Anything) structures, community moderation partnerships, official brand accounts, and organic outreach.
  • Strategic Recommendations: Translate research findings into actionable recommendations and frameworks for corporate communications, brand marketing, and customer advocacy teams regarding safe, authentic, and high-value platform participation.
  • Ad-Hoc Communications Research: As capacity allows, support the broader team with secondary research projects spanning general corporate communications, media monitoring, competitor brand tracking, and executive positioning analysis.

Note on Scope Flexibility: While the primary anchor of this summer internship is the deep-dive Reddit research project, our team manages an agile portfolio. As capacity and project timelines allow, additional brand and corporate communications research projects could be added to expand your portfolio and exposure.

What You Will Gain:

  • Direct ownership over a high-visibility, executive-level research project that will shape the company’s long-term digital community playbook.
  • Mentorship from seasoned communications, public relations, and brand strategy professionals.
  • Practical experience applying internet sociology and social listening metrics to real-world corporate strategy.
  • Opportunities to network and present your final research deliverables to cross-functional leadership teams.

Qualifications

  • Academic Background: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Sociology, Digital Media, Market Research, or a related field.
  • Platform Awareness: Familiarity with Reddit’s unique structure, culture, and governance.
  • Analytical Mindset: Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, with the ability to distill vast amounts of unstructured forum data and conversational threads into clear, high-level insights.
  • Excellent Communication: Outstanding written and visual communication skills, capable of building polished research slide decks, briefs, and executive summaries. 

Additional Information

The expected hourly pay for this position is $24.00/hour – $26.00/hour.

Actual compensation will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if extended, and is determined by location and a range of other relevant factors, including but not limited to: experience, skills, degrees, licensures, certifications, and other job-related factors. Internal equity, market and organizational factors are also considered.

Our Mission is to ensure the integrity of global education and meaningfully improve learning outcomes.

Our Values underpin everything we do.

  • Customer Centric: Our mission is focused on improving learning outcomes; we do this by putting educators and learners at the center of everything we do.
  • Passion for Learning: We are committed to our own learning and growth internally. And we support education and learning around the globe.
  • Integrity: Integrity is the heartbeat of Turnitin—it is the core of our products, the way we treat each other, and how we work with our customers and vendors.
  • Action & Ownership: We have a bias for action. We act like owners. We are willing to change even when it’s hard.
  • One Team: We strive to break down silos, collaborate effectively, and celebrate each others’ successes.
  • Global Mindset: We consider different perspectives and celebrate diversity. We are one team. The work we do has an impact on the world.

Seeing Beyond the Job Ad
At Turnitin, we recognize it’s unrealistic for candidates to fulfill 100% of the criteria in a job ad. We encourage you to apply if you meet the majority of the requirements because we know that skills evolve over time. If you’re willing to learn and unleash your potential alongside us, join our team!

Turnitin, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer- vets/disabled. 

Apply now >

This job listing has been manually reviewed by the Jobicy Trust & Safety Team for compliance with our posting guidelines, including verification of the company's legitimacy, accuracy of job details, clarity of remote work policy, and absence of misleading or fraudulent content.

How to apply

Did you apply? Let us know, and we’ll help you track your application.

See a few more

Similar Education & E-learning remote jobs

Job Search Safety Tips

Here are some tips to help you search and apply for jobs safely:
Watch out for suspicious jobs Don't apply for jobs that offer high pay for little work or offer to hire you without an interview. Read more ›
Check the employer's profile Make sure you're applying for a trustworthy job by visiting the employer's profile and learning more about them. Read more ›
Protect your information Don't share personal details like your bank account or government-issued ID on suspicious websites or messengers. Read more ›
Report jobs that feel unsafe If you see a job that seems misleading, inappropriate or discriminatory, report it for going against our policies and we'll review it.

Share this job

Jobicy+ Subscription

Jobicy

614 professionals pay to access exclusive and experimental features on Jobicy

Free

USD $0/month

For people just getting started

  • • Unlimited applies and searches
  • • Access on web and mobile apps
  • • Weekly job alerts
  • • Access to additional tools like Bookmarks, Applications, and more

Plus

USD $8/month

Everything in Free, and:

  • • Ad-free experience
  • • Daily job alerts
  • • Personal career consultant
  • • AI-powered job advice
Go to account ›