Microsoft
Postdoctoral Researcher (Foundational AI: Intelligent Systems)

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Overview
The Machine Intelligence team at Microsoft Research Cambridge conducts foundational machine learning research across learning algorithms, model architectures, intelligent systems, and efficient AI.
We are seeking Postdoctoral Researchers for our programme of integrated intelligent systems. The roles will investigate memory, reasoning and control, and tool-integrated computation, with optional work on directly relevant multi-agent learning or architectures. Researchers will develop and evaluate new mechanisms for long-horizon, reliable, and governable AI agents.
Contract Length: 2 Years
Location: Cambridge, UK
Responsibilities
- Conduct original research in one or more areas: memory; reasoning and control; tools and computation; or relevant multi-agent algorithms and architectures.
- Formulate falsifiable hypotheses and evaluate them using controlled experiments, matched baselines, ablations, held-out tasks, and reproducible research artifacts.
- Contribute to the team’s task environments, evaluation harnesses, traces, or other reusable infrastructure as appropriate.
- Investigate reliability, cost, latency, provenance, authorization, privacy, and human-oversight constraints alongside capability.
- Pursue an independent research program and contribute to the team's broader scientific direction.
- Disseminate research through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, open scientific engagement, and collaboration with the broader research community.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
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Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
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Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
- A PhD (completed or near completion) in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.
- Expertise in one or more sub-fields of AI/ML, evidenced by top-tier publications and/or experience.
Preferred/Additional Qualifications
- A strong record of original, peer-reviewed research published at leading venues in AI, machine learning, such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, UAI, AISTATS.
- Research evidence in persistent memory, long-horizon planning, adaptive computation, formal or practical tool interfaces, verification, recovery, or agent evaluation.
- Experience with reproducible benchmarks, evaluation harnesses, systems instrumentation, security, privacy, or safety research for AI agents.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas to a broad scientific audience.


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We value depth, originality, and transferable skills in a candidate's chosen area. We do not expect applicants to cover all the topics or methods listed above, and we welcome candidates whose primary contributions are theoretical, empirical, or methodological.
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.
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