Microsoft’s AI for Good Research Lab is hiring PhD-level research interns in Nairobi — one of the most prestigious AI research internship opportunities currently available in East Africa. There is no stated deadline, but competition for Microsoft research internships is consistently high. If you’re currently enrolled in a PhD programme in Computer Science or a related STEM field, apply immediately through Microsoft’s careers portal.
This is not a standard internship. You’ll work alongside some of the world’s leading AI researchers, contribute to cutting-edge machine learning research, and build a network that lasts a career.
About the AI for Good Research Lab
Microsoft’s AI for Good Research Lab applies artificial intelligence to solve real-world challenges across agriculture, biodiversity, public health, disaster response, and more. The Nairobi lab is part of Microsoft’s global research network and focuses specifically on applying AI to practical challenges in Africa and the Global South — including geospatial machine learning, low-resource language models, and foundation models applied to development contexts.
Interns are paired with mentors, collaborate with fellow doctoral researchers, present findings, and contribute to research that moves from prototyping to production-level deployment.
Key Responsibilities
- Review existing literature, identify gaps in the state of the art, and formulate original research questions
- Design experiments applying cutting-edge research in machine intelligence and machine learning
- Implement prototypes of scalable systems in AI applications
- Collaborate closely with team members and external research collaborators on developing systems from prototype to production level
- Research new tools, technologies, and methods in the research community under senior researcher guidance
- Contribute specialist knowledge around a specific tool or method to support planning for research projects
- Present findings and contribute actively to the lab’s research community
Required Qualifications
All of the following are mandatory:
- Currently enrolled in a PhD programme in Computer Science or a related STEM field
- Must have at least one additional quarter or semester of school remaining after the internship ends — graduating students are not eligible
- Minimum 2 years of experience with Python modelling
- Minimum 2 years of experience with deep learning models
- Fluent English — written and verbal
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages: C/C++, Java, MATLAB, or Python — ideally including PyTorch, TensorFlow, or other deep learning toolkits
- Academic or professional experience in one or more areas: Natural Language Understanding, Neural Networks, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Algorithmic Foundations of Optimisation, Data Science, or Privacy
- Experience with geospatial machine learning, foundation models, agentic AI, or low-resource language models — development and evaluation — applied to practical challenges in agriculture, biodiversity, public health, or disaster response is a significant plus
Salary, Contract & Location Details
Compensation
Not disclosed in the listing. Microsoft research internships in Africa typically offer a competitive stipend aligned with PhD-level research roles. Confirm compensation, housing support, and any relocation assistance directly with Microsoft’s recruiting team during the application process. Glassdoor’s Microsoft internship data provides useful benchmarking for comparable Microsoft research intern compensation globally.
Contract Type
Contract — full-time internship for a defined period. Duration not specified; confirm the expected internship length at application stage.
Location
Nairobi, Kenya — Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab. On-site research environment with collaboration expected in person and virtually with global Microsoft Research teams.
How to Apply
Application Deadline
Not specified. Microsoft research internships are competitive and fill on a rolling basis — apply as soon as possible.
How to Submit
Apply exclusively through Microsoft’s official careers portal:
Search for “AI for Good Research Lab” or “Research Intern Nairobi” to locate the specific posting. Ensure your application clearly highlights your PhD programme details, Python and deep learning experience, and any geospatial or low-resource language model research.
Microsoft does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Tips for a Strong Application
Position your research squarely within AI for Good themes. Microsoft’s Nairobi lab focuses on applied AI for agriculture, biodiversity, public health, and disaster response. If your PhD research touches any of these areas — even tangentially — make that connection explicit in your application materials.
Show your Python and deep learning depth. The mandatory requirements are clear: 2+ years with Python modelling and 2+ years with deep learning. Quantify this — name the frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow), the model types (transformer, CNN, GNN), and the datasets or projects you’ve applied them to.
Highlight geospatial or low-resource language experience prominently. This is listed as a plus but given the lab’s Africa-focused mandate, candidates with geospatial ML or low-resource NLP experience will stand out significantly.
Prepare a strong research statement. Microsoft Research internships are research-led — your ability to identify a compelling research question and design experiments to address it is what the evaluation is really about, not just your technical skills alone.
About Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab
The Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab is a dedicated research unit within Microsoft Research focused on applying artificial intelligence to humanity’s greatest challenges. Operating across locations including Nairobi, the lab works on projects spanning climate, agriculture, biodiversity, public health, and humanitarian response — partnering with NGOs, governments, and academic institutions to move AI from research to real-world impact. The Nairobi lab is one of the most significant AI research investments made by a major technology company on the African continent.
