Research Intern - AI Agents & Reasoning

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

74d • $6,710 - $13,270

About The Position

Research Internships at Microsoft provide a dynamic environment for research careers with a network of world-class research labs led by globally-recognized scientists and engineers, who pursue innovation in a range of scientific and technical disciplines to help solve complex challenges in diverse fields, including computing, healthcare, economics, and the environment. In M365 Research, we are dedicated to pioneering advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Systems, driving the transfer of innovative technologies into our products, establishing Microsoft's leadership in technical domains and enhancing community engagement. We closely collaborate with multiple research teams and product groups across the globe who bring a multitude of technical expertise in machine learning, cloud systems and software engineering. We communicate our research both internally and externally through peer-reviewed scientific publications, open-source releases, blog posts, patents, and industry conferences. For this position, you should have a background in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. Our research focuses on advancing AI agents that can reason, adapt, and act in complex environments. Our topics of interest include adapting large language models (LLMs) to new domains, designing LLM-based agents for workflow automation and advanced tool usage, developing advanced agent memory architectures for long-term reasoning and context retention, exploring multi-agent collaboration and coordination, and enhancing agents' ability to plan, reflect, and self-improve through feedback.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled or accepted in a PhD program in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field.
• At least 1 year of experience in conducting research and authoring peer-reviewed publications.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in machine learning, natural language processing, or related AI areas (e.g., LLMs, AI agents, Reasoning).
• Hands-on experience with one or more topics: large language model fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, prompt engineering, agent memory architectures, planning and reasoning modules, or multi-agent system design and implementation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams across research and product groups.
• Research contributions demonstrated through publications in top venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ACL, EMNLP, NAACL, AAAI, IJCAI, KDD or related conferences.

Responsibilities

• Put inquiry and theory into practice.
• Collaborate with fellow doctoral candidates and researchers.
• Present findings and contribute to the vibrant life of the community.
• Work alongside some of the world's best researchers.
• Contribute to exciting research and development strides.

Benefits

• Industry leading healthcare
• Educational resources
• Discounts on products and services
• Savings and investments
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Generous time away
• Giving programs
• Opportunities to network and connect

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree