Research Intern - Office of the Chief Economist

Microsoft
Redmond - United States
S: Internship

Empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. That's what inspires us, drives our work, and pushes us to challenge the status quo every day. At Microsoft, we also work to empower our employees, so they can achieve more. We believe we should each find meaning in our work and we ensure employees have the freedom and the reach to help make a difference in the world.

Microsoft AI & R provides a dynamic environment for research careers with a network of world-class research labs led by globally-recognized scientists and engineers. Our researchers and engineers pursue innovation in a range of scientific and technical disciplines to help solve complex challenges in diverse fields, including computing, healthcare, economics, and the environment.

Interns will work closely with the economists and data scientists in the Office of the Chief Economist on high-impact projects in a supportive research environment. Topic areas include market design, cloud marketplaces, search auctions, optimal pricing contracts, retail product competition, scalable demand estimation, structural demand estimation, machine learning for both prediction and causal inference, optimal capacity investment, and other applied theory. Successful candidates should drive their own agenda as well as work with their mentor and the broader team.  The goal is to get a draft version of an economics paper finished by the end of the internship. Projects will also have insights for Microsoft business units.  

Responsibilities

Interns put inquiry and theory into practice. Alongside fellow doctoral candidates and some of the world's best researchers, interns learn, collaborate, and network for life. Interns not only advance their own careers, but they also contribute to exciting research and development strides. During the 12-week internship, students are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the vibrant life of the community. Research internships are available in all areas of research, and are offered year-round, though they typically begin in the summer.


Qualifications

In addition to the qualifications below, you'll need submit a minimum of two reference letters for this position. After you submit your application, a request for letters may be sent to your list of references on your behalf. Note that reference letters cannot be requested until after you have submitted your application, and furthermore, that they might not be automatically requested for all candidates. You may wish to alert your letter writers in advance, so they will be ready to submit your letter.

Required Qualifications

Must be currently enrolled in a PhD program in Economics, Computer Science, or a related STEM field.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to develop original research agenda.
Ability to collaborate effectively with other researchers and product development teams.
Demonstrated interest in topics related to empirical IO, applied micro, market design, and econometrics rooted in microeconomic theory.

Job summary