Consumer Handling Studies for a Next-Generation Hydrogel Condom
Engineering, IT, Mathematics and Statistics
ABOUT THE INDUSTRY PARTNER
Eudaemon is a disruptive rapid platform product innovation engine with focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Wellness (SRH&W). Formed in 2018, Eudaemon has a focus to provide superior SRH&W products options to every person for every situation. We are bridging internal and partner-based next-gen capabilities in Advanced Manufacturing, Material Science, and Human Centred Design to deliver benefits to consumers, manufacturers, brands, and health agencies.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to global innovation in sexual health while building highly transferable research and professional skills. The student will assist to:
- Design and run consumer studies that sit at the intersection of health, technology, and human behaviour, giving hands-on experience in applied research.
- Collaborate with a pioneering medical device company that has attracted significant international funding and is translating breakthrough science into market-ready products.
- Develop practical expertise in study design, ethics applications, participant recruitment, data collection, and analysis—skills valued in both academic and industry careers.
- Learn how consumer insights shape innovation, from regulatory submissions and product claims to commercialisation strategies.
- Contribute to research with direct social impact, helping improve sexual health, user confidence, and adoption of new protective technologies worldwide.
- Gain mentorship and professional networks through working closely with an experienced, multidisciplinary team who have led projects from concept to clinical trials.
RESEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED
This project places the student at the forefront of consumer research for a world-first hydrogel condom, designed to enhance comfort and sensation compared to traditional latex products. Working directly with the Eudaemon team, who bring over a decade of experience in user-driven design, product testing, and clinical research, the student will help design and implement studies that evaluate how consumers handle and experience this new technology.
The research will involve designing and carrying out consumer handling studies, focusing on critical aspects such as packaging, ease of opening, simulated donning, fit, feel, and overall usability. Beyond handling, the student will also contribute to shaping early approaches for sex-use studies, exploring how real-world user experiences can inform performance claims, safety assessments, and consumer acceptability.
Daily activities may include developing study protocols, coordinating logistics, preparing participant materials, running user sessions, analyzing data, and presenting findings to the team. Importantly, the student will gain exposure to how consumer insights feed into broader product development—informing regulatory strategies, supporting marketing claims, and guiding commercialization.
This project is ideal for a student seeking meaningful, hands-on experience in research with tangible social impact. The work will not only build technical and professional skills but also contribute directly to shaping a product with global relevance in sexual health and wellbeing.
SKILLS WISH LIST
If you’re a postgraduate research student and meet some or all the below we want to hear from you. We strongly encourage women, indigenous and disadvantaged candidates to apply:
- Background in psychology, health sciences, biomedical engineering, public health, or related field.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with participants in sensitive research areas.
- Ability to work with a team as well as independently, manage projects, and handle data collection and analysis.
- Interest in sexual health innovation, human-centered design, and consumer product evaluation.
- Familiarity with research ethics and participant recruitment processes (preferred but not required).
RESEARCH OUTCOMES
The project aims to generate meaningful consumer insights that guide the development and adoption of a next-generation hydrogel condom. By the end of the internship, the student will have delivered both practical research outputs and contributed to the broader innovation journey of a medical device moving from laboratory to market.
Key outcomes include:
- Validated study protocols for consumer handling evaluations, including packaging, donning simulations, usability, and acceptability testing. These protocols will serve as a foundation for future larger-scale studies.
- Comprehensive user feedback datasets that highlight strengths of the hydrogel condom design and identify areas for refinement, ensuring the product meets consumer expectations and preferences.
- Recommendations for potential product claims and messaging, grounded in consumer experience data, that can support regulatory submissions and marketing strategies.
- Preliminary frameworks for sex-use studies, including identifying key user experience parameters (comfort, sensation, ease of use, confidence, and trust) that are most relevant to real-world adoption.
- Knowledge translation outputs, such as summary reports, journal articles, data presentations, and input into academic or industry-facing communications, to ensure insights are clearly communicated to stakeholders.
Beyond tangible deliverables, the student’s work will help bridge the gap between scientific innovation and consumer needs, ensuring that the hydrogel condom not only performs in the lab but also resonates with users in everyday life. This contribution will directly support regulatory readiness, commercial positioning, and global impact in sexual health and wellbeing.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The intern will receive $3,300 per month of the internship, usually in the form of scholarship payments.
It is expected that the intern will primarily undertake this research project during regular business hours and maintain contact with their academic mentor throughout the internship either through face-to-face or phone meetings as appropriate.
The intern and their academic mentor will have the opportunity to negotiate the project’s scope, milestones and timeline during the project planning stage.
Please note, applications are reviewed regularly and this internship may be filled prior to the advertised closing date if a suitable applicant is identified. Early submissions are encouraged.
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