Research Fellows Program at Microsoft Research India
Region: Asia-Pacific
Research Fellows Program
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 2025. 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.
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?
A. Yes, we accept international applications.
Q. What is the difference between a referral and a letter of recommendation?
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.
Q. Will applying with a referral improve my chances?
A. For this particular role – Research Fellows, we do not check any referrals.
Important dates
| 7th January 2025 | Applications open |
| 15th February 2025 | Deadline for applications |
| March – May 2025 | Interviews conducted |
| April – June 2025 | Offers extended to candidates |
| July 2025 | Research Fellows start at MSR India |