Senior Researcher - Machine Learning & Statistics - Microsoft Research

Microsoft • Cambridge, MA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Microsoft Research New England in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is seeking a Senior Researcher in artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, and related areas. The role is suited to candidates nearing completion of a relevant PhD, those who have recently completed a PhD or postdoctoral appointment, or those with comparable research experience.

The researcher will define and pursue an independent research program, conducting fundamental and applied work and demonstrating research impact through publications at leading venues. Current areas of focus at MSR New England include the science of deep learning and generative AI, post-training, data curation and synthesis, test-time scaling, and new model architectures and training paradigms. These areas are illustrative rather than exhaustive.

Microsoft Research provides a supportive environment for cutting-edge research across disciplines, access to a range of large and small data sources, an open publication policy, and connections with leading academic institutions. The New England lab brings together researchers, postdoctoral researchers, data scientists, engineers, and program managers across machine learning, statistics, healthcare, computational biology, theoretical computer science, algorithmic game theory, economics, and other disciplines. It fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration and maintains connections with academic and technology communities in the Cambridge and Boston area.

Applicants should provide a resume or CV, one or two writing samples, and a cover letter of no more than two pages outlining technical achievements and future research goals. Applicants should also provide contact information for two or three reference writers; the application system requests letters after submission. Letters are welcomed but not mandatory. Materials, including letters, should ideally be received by December 15, 2026, for full consideration; applications are otherwise considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Requirements

• Doctorate in a relevant field; or a master's degree in a relevant field and at least 3 years of related research experience; or a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least 4 years of related research experience; or equivalent experience.
• Ability to define and pursue an independent research program.
• Demonstrated research impact through a publication record at leading venues.
• Submit a resume or CV, one or two writing samples, a cover letter of no more than two pages, and contact information for two or three reference writers.

Nice To Haves

• Experience running large-scale experiments with transformers or LLM pre-training and/or fine-tuning.
• Experience creating, optimizing, and running large-scale machine learning pipelines.
• Experience building data collection and curation pipelines.
• Ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, and work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Interest in real-world applications and impact.
• Reference letters, if available.

Responsibilities

• Help define and lead an independent research agenda spanning fundamental and applied work.
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers, and colleagues across disciplines, helping shape ongoing and future projects.
• Contribute to large-scale research efforts.
• Develop new ideas, conduct rigorous research, and publish influential results.
• Explore opportunities for research to inform products and services used worldwide.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree