Research Intern

Introduction

IBM Research Scientists are charting the future of Artificial Intelligence, creating breakthroughs in quantum computing, discovering how blockchain will reshape the enterprise, and much more. Join a team that is dedicated to applying science to some of today’s most complex challenges, whether it’s discovering a new way for doctors to help patients, teaming with environmentalists to clean up our waterways or enabling retailers to personalize customer service.

Your Role and Responsibilities

Join us for a unique 12-week paid internship at the IBM Research – Africa lab in Nairobi, Kenya. This program will give you an opportunity to work on meaningful technology solutions, develop scalable software systems, interact and collaborate with research scientists and engineers in generative AI and cloud-based workflows.

Depending on your and experience interests, you will be working in one of the following areas: foundation models, cloud platforms, generative AI for code, and data for climate and sustainability.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

  • Currently enrolled in a master’s or PhD degree program in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics or related technical field. Graduation date must be after August 2025.
  • Proficiency in Python/PyTorch and experience in at least one additional programming language such as Java, JavaScript, NodeJS
  • Problem solving and analytical skills.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Technical And Professional Expertise

  • Experience communicating your research in technical communities, such as publications in Neurips, CVPR, ICML, ICLR, IJCAI, AAAI, KDD, or similar
  • Experience in cloud native technologies and platforms
  • Understanding machine learning concepts and familiarity with frameworks such as HuggingFace APIs

About Business Unit

Founded in 2013, IBM Research – Africa was the first industrial research lab on the African continent and continues to be a part of IBM’s global research team with researchers and engineers around the globe. Research is what makes IBM synonymous with the Future of Computing.

Your Life @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

About IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 50 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

Location Statement

IBM wants you to bring your whole self to work and for you this might mean the ability to work flexibly. If you are interested in a flexible working pattern, please talk to our recruitment team to find out if this is possible in the current working environment.

Being You @ IBM

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

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