Research Intern - Extended Perception Interaction Cognition (EPIC)

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 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 task and contexts.

Sought-after skills and topics of interest for this Research Internship include (but are not limited to):

• Generative AI: LLMs, stable diffusion, vision models (LLAVA, GPT4V), ControlNet, and related technologies for interactive applications.
• HCI system building: hands-on builders of interesting HCI systems, techniques, and toolkits, especially when leveraging generative AI, software prototyping with the web stack (javascript, node.js, react).
• Interaction design: experience with devising multimodal interactions (touch, pen, speech), context sensing, responsive & adaptive UIs.
• Experience design: storyboarding, envisioning video techniques, wizard of oz, animations.

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

• Accepted or currently enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science and 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 a minimum of two reference letters for this position as well as a cover letter and any relevant work or research samples. After you submit your application, a request for letters may be sent to your list of references on your behalf. Note that reference letters cannot be requested until after you have submitted your application, and furthermore, that they might not be automatically requested for all candidates. You may wish to alert your letter writers in advance, so they will be ready to submit your letter. 

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 1 year 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 $6,550 - $12,880 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 $8,480 - $13,920 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.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.