Research Intern - M365 Copilot – Fine-Tuning AI

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.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is a groundbreaking productivity tool that leverages the power of large language models, user data, Microsoft Graph, and the web to drive unparalleled creativity and productivity. We are a small, nimble team that is advancing the state of the art of models in M365 Copilot.

We are seeking Research Interns working on AI/ML/foundation models and their applications. Our team brings together experts in artificial intelligence, information retrieval, and data science, to research, develop, and deploy the latest foundation model improvements in inference, reasoning, fine-tuning, and post-training to ensure that Copilot addresses user needs and improves customer business processes. We work collaboratively across research, data science, engineering, and product teams at Microsoft to ensure new theoretical and practical advances have a strong impact for real-world customers. Research Internship projects this summer will focus on topics related to fine-tuning, multimodal, agents, and/or business processes.

We are particularly interested in candidates with practical experience with training and/or fine-tuning large language models or foundation models.

Required Qualifications

• Accepted to or currently enrolled in a PhD program in CS, EE or a related STEM field.
• At least 1 year of experience in conducting research, writing peer-reviewed publications and software development.
• At least 1 year of experience in foundation models, large language models, RL, or other AI topics.

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

• Ability to think unconventionally to derive creative and innovative solutions.
• Actively conducting research in at least one of the following areas: foundation models, large language models, computer vision models.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with your mentor and others in the lab on new research projects. 
• Proficient interpersonal skills, cross-group, and cross-culture collaboration. 

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: 

Microsoft accepts applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis.

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.

As an Research Intern in Microsoft 365 Copilot, you will have the opportunity to develop your research career with exposure to critical, real-world AI challenges. We support passionate researchers and engineers in technology innovation, with emphasis on deep thinking, advanced development, and fast-paced entrepreneurial execution in a collaborative setting. We offer a vibrant environment for cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research, including access to diverse data sources, and an open publication policy.