PhD Research Internship 2027

Location: Boston, MA Department: Internships

PhD Internship 2027:  Research - Boston Research - Boston

Boston, US | Full-time | Fixed-term| Hybrid

Salary: $55.70 per hour, DOE

About us

Riverlane’s mission is to master quantum error correction (QEC) and unlock a new age of human progress. From advances in materials and climate science to complex chemistry simulation for new drug design, quantum computers will help humanity solve some of its most important challenges. But without QEC, the industry’s defining technical challenge, such breakthroughs can never be achieved.  Riverlane is the world leader in QEC technology. QEC is a complex problem that requires a range of skills, talent, and passion.

Having raised more than $125M in funding to date to accelerate our cutting-edge R&D in quantum error correction (QEC), Riverlane partners with many of the world’s leading quantum hardware providers and government agencies to make fault-tolerant quantum computing a reality. We’re making remarkable progress and growing fast.

About the role

Delivering practical quantum error correction requires tightly integrated quantum and classical systems. The quantum hardware connectivity, its physical error rates, circuit compilation and compatible QEC codes all affect performance. On the classical side, decoding algorithms must process large volumes of error data within demanding latency, bandwidth, compute, and power constraints.

As a Research Intern, you will investigate simulating, running and decoding QEC experiments. Along with your supervisor, you will frame a research project. Your project will sit at the intersection of quantum error correction, computer simulations, computer architecture and hardware-software co-design.

Depending on the project, you could study noise models for quantum hardware, work on efficient simulations for QEC experiments, explore efficient QEC decoding or predecoding methods, model the classical resources required by fault-tolerant quantum programs, or investigate how decoding workloads can be distributed across different levels of a computing system.

You will work alongside Riverlane’s quantum scientists and engineers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with support from a dedicated supervisor. Your work will contribute to our understanding of how QEC systems can meet the performance requirements of increasingly large quantum computers.

What you will do

Develop algorithms, simulations or architectural models to evaluate potential approaches

Investigate methods for reducing the compute, communication, memory, latency or power requirements associated with QEC

Explore trade-offs between decoding performance, logical error suppression and classical resource requirements

Collaborate with quantum scientists and engineers working across QEC theory, decoding, software and hardware

Analyse results and communicate your findings through technical discussions, presentations and written reports

Produce clear, reproducible research code and supporting documentation

What we need

You must be currently pursuing a PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or another related technical field

Research experience in at least one of the following areas

Running quantum circuits on quantum hardware

Decoding algorithms or quantum error-correcting codes

Experience developing computational models, simulations or research software

Proficiency in Python, C, C++ or another relevant programming language

A strong understanding of computer systems and architecture

Computer architecture or quantum-classical systems

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

The ability to communicate complex technical ideas clearly

The ability to take initiative and work effectively with researchers and engineers from different disciplines

Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the internship

Even better if…

You have experience researching qLDPC or surface codes

You are familiar with QEC decoding or predecoding techniques

You have explored the classical resource requirements of fault-tolerant quantum computing

You have experience with scientific computing, quantum circuit simulation or QEC simulation tools

You have contributed to academic publications, open-source software or collaborative research projects

You have experience with hardware-software or compiler-hardware co-design

You understand the latency, bandwidth or power constraints affecting quantum control and decoding systems

Important notes

You must be legally authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the internship

If you intend to work under Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) or another form of student employment authorization, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary approval before your start date

Any offer of employment will be contingent upon verification of your identity and authorization to work in the United States, as required by law

You must be available to work full-time for 10 to 12 weeks

You will be required to sign an agreement assigning ownership of intellectual property produced during your internship to Riverlane

This internship is based at our US office in Cambridge, Massachusetts

How to apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter.

Your CV should include details of your education, research experience and relevant technical skills. Your cover letter should explain why you are applying for the internship and the skills and experience you would bring to the role.

Deadline

Please submit your application by [date].

Interviews will take place at our Cambridge, Massachusetts office or virtually during [period].

Stipend

We will reimburse reasonable expenses incurred as part of your role, such as approved travel to meetings or conferences. We are unable to cover the cost of travelling to Cambridge, Massachusetts at the beginning or end of the internship or accommodation