Research Fellow

Job description

Please read the instructions below fully before applying Microsoft Research India invites applications for its Research Fellows Program. The Research Fellows program exposes bright minds in India to world-class research and the state-of-the-art technology. The program prepares students for careers in research, engineering, as well as entrepreneurship. MSR India has some of the best researchers pushing the frontiers of computer science and technology. 

Application Procedure Apply with your resume and at least one letter of recommendation. You must also fill out the RF Interest Form at this link: RF Candidate Interest Form (2026) . This form allows us to gather your interests so that we can match your application to appropriate projects within MSR. Once you have finished the application process you should see the option to add recommenders in the Action Center. They will then be sent an automated email with a link to upload their recommendation letters. This form collects additional information about you to make it easier for us to determine the best way to evaluate your application and match you with appropriate projects.

RFs spend 1 to 2 years at MSR India. Different projects require a different combination of skills. Current RFs work on developing core algorithms in ML/optimization/cryptography, large-scale retrieval models, reliable reasoning with large language models, increasing the inclusivity of large language models, and designing and building infrastructure for AI training as well as inference workloads. Regardless, they all consistently aim to create academic, industry, and societal impact.

Candidates should have completed their Bachelor’s (BE/BTech/BS) or Master’s degree (ME/MTech/MS) in Computer Science (or related areas). We evaluate candidates on a combination of factors including academic performance, raw smarts, development skills, and passion for research and software development. 

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.