Microsoft, one of the world’s foremost technology companies, has opened its doors to doctoral candidates seeking an impactful internship opportunity through its AI for Good Research Lab, located in Nairobi, Kenya. This lab, a major global initiative, leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and data science to address pressing global challenges that face humanity today. The lab operates under Microsoft’s broader commitment to responsible AI development and aligns its mission with global sustainable development goals.
This internship opportunity offers more than technical experience; it’s a chance to be part of an ambitious and meaningful movement that seeks to apply cutting-edge technology for social and environmental benefit. With a strong focus on multidisciplinary collaboration, state-of-the-art AI tools, and global mentorship, this program serves as a springboard for doctoral students interested in translating research into real-world solutions.
About the AI for Good Research Lab
The AI for Good Research Lab, with headquarters in Redmond, Washington, and an active branch in Nairobi, Kenya, stands at the confluence of advanced technology and humanitarian impact. The lab was established to address some of the most critical and enduring problems facing humanity today—ranging from food insecurity and water scarcity to natural disasters, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
The Nairobi office plays a pivotal role in the lab’s global operations. Located in a region rich in biodiversity and deeply affected by many of the challenges the lab aims to solve, the Nairobi branch offers a unique environment for deploying AI technologies that have local relevance and global implications.
AI for Good takes an interdisciplinary approach to research and development, integrating technical prowess in machine learning, statistics, and computer science with domain knowledge in environmental science, agriculture, economics, and beyond. The lab brings together researchers, software engineers, domain experts, and partner organizations from around the world.
Research Focus Areas
The lab’s work is driven by a desire to develop data-driven and AI-powered interventions that can have measurable impacts. Current research focus areas include:
1. Food and Water Security
AI for Good works on projects aimed at improving food production, enhancing agricultural sustainability, and ensuring access to clean water. These initiatives often utilize remote sensing, geospatial data analysis, and predictive modeling to assess crop yields, monitor soil health, or predict drought conditions.
2. Disaster Response and Early Warning Systems
Leveraging data from satellites, IoT sensors, and social media, the lab designs models that can forecast natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, or wildfires. The goal is to enhance community resilience and enable governments and organizations to respond more effectively to emergencies.
3. Biodiversity and Conservation
With the rise of AI capabilities in bioacoustics and computer vision, the lab also contributes to conservation efforts by monitoring endangered species, analyzing ecosystem health, and combating poaching. Tools developed in this domain often rely on machine learning models to interpret large-scale audio and visual data collected from field sensors.
4. Geospatial Imagery and Computer Vision
The lab is deeply involved in building AI models that can process satellite and drone imagery for applications like land use classification, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure assessment. These tools provide critical insights for decision-makers and help optimize resource management.
5. Language Models and Communication Technologies
AI for Good has made investments in developing large language models (LLMs) that facilitate knowledge access, translation, and communication across multiple languages and dialects, especially in regions with linguistic diversity like Africa. These efforts are particularly relevant for bridging information gaps in education, healthcare, and governance.
Why Apply for This Internship?
Joining the AI for Good Research Lab means becoming part of a community of innovators, scientists, and change-makers. The internship is not just an academic exercise—it’s a real opportunity to work on tangible problems alongside leading experts in the field. Interns are expected to contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects and are encouraged to bring fresh perspectives and original ideas.
This is an ideal opportunity for doctoral students who want to:
- Apply their technical skills in real-world settings with high societal relevance.
- Gain mentorship from world-class researchers and engineers.
- Be exposed to diverse, interdisciplinary teams and global collaborations.
- Work in a professional and intellectually stimulating environment.
- Publish research findings and contribute to open-source tools and datasets.
Required Qualifications
Candidates must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the internship:
- Enrollment in a Doctoral Program: Applicants must currently be enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science or a closely related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) discipline.
- Proficiency in Python Programming: At least two years of experience using Python for data modeling, simulation, or algorithm development is required. Candidates should demonstrate strong command over scientific computing libraries and tools commonly used in machine learning workflows.
- Experience with Deep Learning Models: Interns should have a solid foundation in building, training, and evaluating deep learning architectures, including convolutional neural networks, transformers, or recurrent networks. At least two years of hands-on experience in this area is expected.
Preferred Qualifications
While not mandatory, the following skills and experiences will strengthen a candidate’s application:
- Experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow: Prior experience using these deep learning frameworks for computer vision applications will be highly beneficial. Applicants should be comfortable building custom models, tuning hyperparameters, and leveraging GPU acceleration.
- Familiarity with Geospatial Data or Bioacoustics: Candidates with knowledge of satellite imagery analysis, remote sensing, or biological sound interpretation may have the opportunity to work on domain-specific projects.
- Research Publications or Open Source Contributions: A strong track record of academic publications or active participation in collaborative coding communities is a plus.
Roles and Responsibilities
Interns at the AI for Good Lab are fully integrated into ongoing research projects and are given responsibilities that mirror those of full-time researchers. A typical internship experience involves:
- Research and Development: Interns contribute to the design and implementation of experiments, the analysis of large datasets, and the development of machine learning models. Their work often results in academic publications, technical reports, or software tools.
- Collaboration and Mentorship: Each intern is paired with a mentor who provides guidance, feedback, and professional development support. Interns are also encouraged to engage with other researchers, participate in lab meetings, and present their work to internal and external audiences.
- Innovation and Creativity: The lab values original thinking and problem-solving. Interns are invited to explore novel approaches, question assumptions, and suggest new research directions.
- Community Engagement: As part of Microsoft Research, interns may also have the opportunity to participate in workshops, seminars, and conferences. These events foster knowledge exchange and help interns build lasting professional networks.
Work Culture and Environment
Microsoft is known for its inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance culture. The Nairobi office of the AI for Good Lab reflects these values by creating a supportive environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. The lab fosters an atmosphere where diverse perspectives are valued, and interns are treated as equal contributors to the mission.
Additionally, the Nairobi location offers proximity to many of the communities and ecosystems the lab seeks to serve. This direct exposure helps interns gain contextual understanding and build empathy for the end-users of their solutions.
Compensation and Benefits
Microsoft offers a competitive compensation package for its interns, along with a wide array of benefits designed to support personal and professional well-being. Benefits may vary by location and duration of employment, but generally include:
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage, including access to medical, dental, and mental health services.
- Access to educational resources and continued learning platforms.
- Discounts on Microsoft products and third-party services.
- Savings and investment plans to help plan for the future.
- Paid maternity and paternity leave policies.
- Generous time off for personal needs and holidays.
- Giving programs that match employee donations to charitable causes.
- Opportunities to network and connect with leaders in the tech industry.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Microsoft is firmly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All applicants are considered without regard to age, race, color, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other protected status under applicable laws. The company takes pride in fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive and grow.
Microsoft’s equal opportunity policy extends to its internship programs. Interns are selected based on merit, and the company ensures equitable access to training, mentorship, and advancement opportunities.
