Research Intern - FATE NYC (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics in 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 Research, New York City (MSR NYC) is looking for multiple Research Interns to collaborate with members of the Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics in AI (FATE) research group. A list of researchers in the FATE group can be found here. Members of the group collaborate extensively with each other and with other groups across Microsoft.

This group is interested in research including but not limited to: sociotechnical approaches to AI evaluation/measurement; developing statistical, computational, and visualization methodologies for AI evaluation/measurement; the challenges of responsible AI in industry practice; institutional studies; AI law and policy; cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of AI; AI transparency; human-AI interaction; and a wide range of topics that address AI’s social impacts from a diversity of disciplinary perspectives. 

Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in FATE-related topics and a desire to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment. We welcome applicants with backgrounds in technical fields (e.g., machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, computer vision, statistics) and applicants with backgrounds in sociotechnical fields (e.g., anthropology, history of science, history of technology, human-computer interaction, information science, law, media studies, philosophy, science and technology studies, sociology).

Applicants to the FATE internship may also be interested in applying for the separate STAC internship. Applicants interested in multiple internship opportunities should apply to each posting separately. 

Research Intern STAC (Sociotechnical Alignment Center) | Microsoft Careers

Responsibilities

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a relevant PhD program or JD (Juris Doctorate) program.

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. 
• Applications (including reference letters) should be submitted by December 18 for full consideration but will be accepted until all positions are filled. Applicants who do not submit a cover letter may not be considered. Your cover letter should be no more than 2 pages long. Please address the following points:
  • Include your name, email address, and website URL.
  • Briefly describe your current research, and how it connects with the focus of the MSR NYC FATE research group (see Overview for a list of some of the group’s current research interests).
  • What kinds of methodologies have you applied in your research/are you most familiar with? (E.g., coding, statistics, large scale data analysis, theoretical/mathematical analysis, user studies, experimental design, ethnography, etc.)
  • We want to learn about the kinds of research that interest you. Are there particular projects you would like to do during your internship?  Recent (MSR or non-MSR) research or ideas you’ve come across that you are particularly interested in? What, to you, makes for a good pr