Research Intern - Extended Perception Interaction Cognition (EPIC)

Location: United States, Washington, Redmond Department: Research Sciences

Overview

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.

This position is for a research internship with the EPIC (Extended Perception, Interaction & Cognition) research group in Microsoft Research’s Redmond Lab. We have multiple positions available. Research Internships will be focused on creating new interactive experiences that “blend artificial and human intelligence”. Topics range from coupling the power of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques with interaction design to reinvent how we work with content, to building the next generation of multi-modal interfaces adapting in real time to user tasks and contexts.

Key skills sought for this internship include

Generative AI: Large Language Models (LLMs), Vision Language Models (VLMs), Stable Diffusion, video/world/action models, real-time models, multi-agent development, and related technologies

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) system building and agentic development: Experience building interactive prototypes with TypeScript, Node.js, and React, using coding agents and agentic workflows to accelerate development. Demonstrated programming and software architecture fundamentals are essential to guide agents, review generated code, and validate system behavior.

Additional relevant skills (depending on projects)

Interaction design: experience with devising multimodal interactions (touch, pen, speech), context sensing, responsive & adaptive User Interfaces (UIs)

Experience design: storyboarding, envisioning video techniques

User Experience (UX) research: conducting qualitative and quantitative user studies

We value your ideas and unique viewpoints on these topics, as well, and hope that our partnership and collaboration will shape initial directions into exciting, ambitious, and impactful research contributions that only you could have crafted.

The EPIC group conducts fundamental research that innovates at the nexus of hardware, software, and human potential. We are an interdisciplinary group of researchers, engineers, scientists, and designers at Microsoft Research who study Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) through prototyping, system-building, design sketching, and observational study of human behavior. You can learn more about the EPIC’s research agenda, publications, videos, and team members at EPIC - Microsoft Research, as well as the broader HCI-AI research area Future Experiences.

Responsibilities

Research Interns put inquiry and theory into practice. Alongside fellow doctoral candidates and some of the world’s best researchers, Research Interns learn, collaborate, and network for life. Research Interns not only advance their own careers, but they also contribute to exciting research and development strides. During the 12-week internship, Research Interns are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other Research Interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the vibrant life of the community. Research internships are available in all areas of research, and are offered year-round, though they typically begin in the summer.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Currently enrolled in a Doctorate Degree program in Computer Science or related STEM field.

Other Requirements

Research Interns are expected to be physically located in their manager’s Microsoft worksite location for the duration of their internship.

In addition to the qualifications below, you’ll need to submit contact information of references so we may contact these references if needed

Preferred Qualifications

1+ year(s) experience conducting original research in (or closely related to) Human-Computer Interaction, and further be able to document their research contributions with publicly available resources (e.g. by linking to papers, pre-prints, videos, demonstrations, repositories, articles, press coverage, or research proposals in your submitted CV).

The base pay range for this internship is USD $6,810 - $13,480 per month. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $8,920 - $14,610 per month.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:  https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-intern-pay

Microsoft accepts applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis throughout the academic calendar (September - April).

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.