Microsoft opens EPIC AI research internships for HCI PhDs

Microsoft Research is accepting applications for a 12-week doctoral research internship with its EPIC group (Extended Perception, Interaction & Cognition) at its Redmond lab, with the role posted October 19, 2026. The listing pegs base pay at "USD $6,810 - $13,480 per month," rising to "USD $8,920 - $14,610 per month" for interns placed in the San Francisco Bay area or the New York City metropolitan area.

The brief is specifically HCI-plus-generative-AI. Microsoft says the internships "will be focused on creating new interactive experiences that 'blend artificial and human intelligence,'" and frames the group's remit as research "at the nexus of hardware, software, and human potential." Candidates are expected to arrive with "1+ year(s) experience conducting original research in Human-Computer Interaction" plus hands-on fluency across "Large Language Models (LLMs), Vision Language Models (VLMs), Stable Diffusion" and web-prototype tooling in "TypeScript, Node.js, and React."

During the twelve weeks, "Research Interns are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other Research Interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the vibrant life of the community." Applications are processed "on an ongoing basis throughout the academic calendar (September - April)."