Research Fellows Program at Microsoft Research India
Region: Asia-Pacific
Research Fellows Program
The RF applications and nominations deadline for Fall 2024 is extended to 16th February 2024. Note: Filling the above mentioned Microsoft Form is mandatory for all applicants for consideration.
The Research Fellows (RF) Program at Microsoft Research India (MSRI) exposes bright, young minds in India to world-class research and the state-of-the-art technology. The program prepares students for careers in research, engineering, as well as entrepreneurship. MSR India has some of the best researchers pushing the frontiers of computer science and technology. Research Fellows have contributed to all aspects of the research lifecycle, spanning ideation, implementation, evaluation, and deployment.
People at Microsoft Research India: Link
MSR Research Fellows Alumni:
- Joined top PhD programs at universities such as MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, CMU, IISc, etc.
- Started companies such as Everwell, Capillary, and Ola!
- Are working at Microsoft (India and US) in development positions.
Eligibility
Candidates should have completed BS/BE/BTech or MS/ME/MTech in Computer Science or related areas, graduating by summer 2024. We evaluate candidates based on a combination of factors including academic performance, raw smarts, development skills, and proven ability or aptitude for research and software development. Microsoft offers an inclusive work environment, and we value diversity in our workforce.
Research Fellows Roles
Selected candidates spend 1 to 2 years at MSR India. Different roles require a different combination of skills. Current and past RFs have worked on: solving deep theoretical problems, pushing the boundaries of AI, designing new programming languages, field work in rural India, prototyping communication and sensing hardware, optimizing database queries, and building software systems. Regardless, they all consistently aim to create academic, industry and societal impact. Be sure to tell us what excites you most!
Hear from Shruti Rijhwani, a graduate of MSR India’s Research Fellow program who is currently doing her PhD at the Carnegie Mellon University on this episode of the Microsoft Research India podcast.
For any queries, contact: msrinominations@microsoft.com. Please ensure you have read the FAQs below before reaching out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the location?
A. The Research Fellows will be working out of the Microsoft Research (Lavelle Road office) in Bangalore.
Q. I am a pre-final year student with all degree requirements complete already. Am I eligible to apply now?
A. No, you must be graduated at the time of joining.
Q. I graduated several years ago. Am I eligible to apply?
A. While this program is designed for people graduated within the past 3 years, anyone is eligible to apply.
Q. I am a PhD student/graduate. Am I eligible to apply?
A. No, PhD students or graduates are not eligible.
Q. I am not from a Computer Science background. May I still apply?
A. Yes! Research Fellows at Microsoft Research are from varying backgrounds, including and not limited to design, economics, electronics, linguistics, psychology, and social sciences!
Q. I am an international student. Am I eligible to apply? Am I eligible to be nominated?
A. Yes, we accept international applications. No, you are not eligible to be nominated.
Q. What is the difference between a referral, a letter of recommendation, and a nomination?
A. A referral is when you ask someone you know at the company you are applying to, for better visibility to the recruiter. For this particular role, we do not check referrals. A letter of recommendation is taken from someone who can strongly vouch for your work, for example the manager from your current company or a professor you have closely collaborated with. A nomination for this program is done only by the HOD of the Computer Science (CS) department where they think that you are one of best fits for this program from your university. Note: The HOD of CS need not necessarily know the candidate being nominated personally. Moreover, the HOD of CS is free to nominate people from other departments too.
Q. Will applying with a referral improve my chances?
A. For this particular role – Research Fellows, we do not check any referrals.
Q. Does a nomination guarantee an interview call?
A. Although a nomination will not guarantee an interview, nominated candidates will be given priority during the initial screening process.
Q. I got nominated by my institute. Do I still need to apply on the portal?
A. Yes, you must go through the exact same process as everyone else.
Q. I got nominated by my institute. Do I still need to fill the Microsoft form?
A. Yes, you must go through the exact same process as everyone else.
Q. I graduated recently. Am I eligible to get nominated?
A. No, only current final year students are eligible to get nominated.
Q. I am a final year student but I did not get nominated by my university. Am I eligible to apply?
A. Yes! We highly encourage everyone interested in the program to apply.
Q. I am from another department which is closely related to Computer Science. Can the head of my department nominate me?
A. No, only the HOD of the Computer Science department can nominate people, but they are free to nominate people from any department.
Q. What if my institute does not have a Computer Science department?
A. If your institute does not have a Computer Science (CS) department, then you can be nominated by the director of your institute. Please ensure that they include a statement in the PDF file attesting that your institute does not have a CS department.
Important dates
| 11th December 2023 | Applications open |
| 16th February 2024 | Deadline for university nominations |
| 16th February 2024 | Deadline for applications (both for MS form & Careers portal) |
| March – May 2024 | Interviews conducted |
| April – June 2024 | Offers extended to candidates |
| July 2024 | Research Fellows start at MSR India |