Research Intern

Overview

Microsoft Research Internships offer a dynamic setting for research careers. Interns work alongside world-class research labs led by globally recognized scientists and engineers, who pursue innovation across many scientific and technical disciplines, including computing, healthcare, economics, and the environment.

Researchers in artificial intelligence are building systems that can reason, plan and act for the people who use them, from writing software to automating complex, multistep tasks. As these systems grow more capable and widely used, efficiency matters more. That means getting the most value from the compute they use, choosing the right capabilities for each task, and adapting to the needs of the people and environments they serve.

Microsoft is investing heavily in efficient and agentic AI. Its researchers combine machine learning, systems research and rigorous empirical evaluation to understand how intelligent systems can balance quality, speed and cost, and how they can improve with experience. The resulting research, tools and services are built into existing and new products, and many are also shared openly with the broader community to accelerate innovation and help developers and organizations do more with the resources they have.

Responsibilities

Research Interns put inquiry and theory into practice. They learn, collaborate and build a professional network alongside doctoral candidates and some of the world's leading researchers, and they contribute to meaningful research and development work.

During the 12-week internship, interns are paired with mentors and are expected to collaborate with other interns and researchers, present their findings, and take part in the life of the research community. Internships are available across all research areas and are offered year-round, though they typically begin in the summer.

Other Requirements

• Interns must be physically located at their manager's Microsoft worksite for the duration of the internship.
• Applicants must submit a minimum of two reference letters, a cover letter, and any relevant work or research samples. Reference letters can only be requested after the application is submitted and may not be requested for every candidate, so it is wise to alert your referees in advance.