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.

The Microsoft Research Computational Social Science (CSS) group is widely recognized as a leading center of computational social science research, drawing on computational techniques to answer questions in the social sciences. Recently, our group has been focused on designing and understanding the impact of AI-based tools at both the individual and societal levels. At the individual level we conduct research on AI-augmented human cognition and decision-making, including research on how intelligent systems can enhance education. At the societal level, our work explores the economics of agentic markets, where AI agents represent both consumers and businesses. Additional areas of interest are: innovating ways to make data, models, and algorithms easier for people to understand; improving polling and forecasting; advancing crowdsourcing methods; understanding the market (and impact) for news and advertising.

Our approach is motivated by two longstanding difficulties for traditional social science: first, that simply gathering observational data on human activity is extremely difficult at scale and over time; and second, that running experiments to manipulate the conditions under which these measurements are made (e.g., randomly assigning large sets of interacting people to treatment and control groups) is even more challenging and often impossible.

In the first category, we exploit digital data that is generated by existing platforms (e.g., email, web browsers, search, social media) to generate novel insights into individual and collective human behavior. In the second category, we design novel experiments that allow for larger scale, longer time horizons, and greater complexity and realism than is possible in physical labs. We analyze crowdsourced participants in lab studies, AI participants in simulation studies, and user behavior infield experiments.

Other internships at MSR New England and MSR NYC can be found on the labs’ listing of opportunities or in the job search tool. Microsoft Research New England and Microsoft Research New York City comprise approximately fifty full-time researchers and postdocs working in computational social science, economics and computation, FATE, machine learning and AI, computational biology, and sociotechnical systems. The labs are highly collaborative and interdisciplinary and are actively engaged with the local academic and tech communities.

Please explicitly list in your cover letter:

Your data analytic toolset (e.g., R, Python, etc.)
Your web development toolset (e.g., Javascript, React.js, D3.js, etc.)
Your experience developing, evaluating, and/or using generative AI tools
A link to any online code repositories (e.g., Github, OSF, etc.)
A link to your research website/publications

You can upload documents by going to your profile on the career site and clicking on the Resume Manager tab in the top right of the page, and from there selecting Other Documents.

If you are having trouble submitting your application, please go to the bottom of the page and click "Support" and fill out the requested information.

For full consideration, please submit your application by January 9, 2026.

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 PhD program in a field related to computational social science.
At least 2 years of experience with data analysis in languages such as R or Python.
At least 1 year of experience designing, building, and analyzing online experiments.

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.
Provide a cover letter explicitly stating the following:
1. Your data analytic toolset (e.g., R, Python, etc.)
2. Your web development toolset (e.g., Javascript, React.js, D3.js, etc.)
3. Your experience developing, evaluating, and/or using generative AI tools
4. A link to any online code repositories (e.g., Github, OSF, etc.)
5. A link to your research website/publications

Preferred Qualifications

Skills for modern web development tools (e.g., JavaScript) for online experiments.
Demonstrated ability to develop original research agendas.
Track record of cross-group and cross-culture collaboration.
Ability to think unconventionally to derive creative and innovative solutions.

You can upload documents by going to your profile on the career site and clicking on the Resume Manager tab in the top right of the page, and from there selecting Other Documents.

If you are having trouble submitting your application, please go to the bottom of the page and click "Support" and fill out the requested information.

The base pay range for this internship is USD $6,710 - $13,270 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 $8,760 - $14,360 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

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

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.

Research Intern - Computational Social Science