Position:
Research Intern - AI
Company:
IBM
Location:
Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Job Type:
Full-time
Job Mode:
On-site
Job Requisition ID:
Not specified
Years of Experience:
0–3 years (College students/Fresher/Entry-level eligible)
Company Description
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IBM, founded in 1911, has grown into one of the most influential technology corporations in the world, recognized for its consistent contributions to computing, software, and consulting.
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Since its establishment in India in 1992, IBM has become a leading force in transforming industries across the nation. Its diverse solutions cover financial services, healthcare, education, telecommunications, government, and automotive sectors.
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The company’s Indian operations serve as a critical component of IBM’s global ecosystem, focusing on hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and automation technologies.
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IBM collaborates closely with major corporations and public institutions to enable digital transformation through advanced data-driven systems and research-backed solutions.
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With its headquarters in Armonk, New York, and a large presence in Bangalore, Pune, and Gurgaon, IBM India combines research, innovation, and engineering to address complex business and technological challenges.
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IBM emphasizes innovation at scale, investing heavily in AI and quantum computing research. Its India Research Lab remains one of the most advanced AI research centers globally, contributing to projects in cloud computing, generative AI, data analytics, and automation.
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The organization is known for its inclusive culture and deep collaboration between research scientists, engineers, and business consultants to create sustainable and scalable technology.
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IBM’s philosophy centers around solving human problems with advanced computation, aiming to build systems that are trustworthy, ethical, and transformative for global communities.
Profile Overview
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The Research Intern - AI position at IBM India is an opportunity designed for students and early-stage researchers who aspire to build strong technical foundations and contribute to leading-edge innovation.
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This internship is part of IBM Research India’s Summer Internship Program, which connects academic excellence with practical exposure to industrial challenges.
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Selected candidates will work alongside experienced researchers and engineers on real-world AI problems involving data, automation, and large-scale computing.
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Interns will get hands-on experience in designing, developing, and testing AI models that address enterprise-level use cases.
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The focus areas include artificial intelligence for IT automation, generative AI, multi-modal systems, reasoning engines, AI for math and science, and AI-powered software engineering tools.
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IBM expects interns to demonstrate a strong grasp of AI fundamentals, coding proficiency, and research-oriented thinking.
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Participants will collaborate within multidisciplinary teams and may contribute to ongoing research projects that support IBM’s AI-driven business initiatives.
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The internship typically spans three months, scheduled between May and August 2026. During this time, interns gain practical exposure, build technical skills, and receive mentorship from some of the most accomplished scientists in the industry.
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IBM uses this program as a bridge between academia and corporate research, encouraging interns to bring fresh ideas and novel approaches to problem-solving.
Qualifications
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Candidates must be pursuing or have completed one of the following degrees:
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Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) or Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)
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Master of Engineering (M.E.) or Master of Technology (M.Tech), including integrated dual-degree programs
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Doctorate (Ph.D.) in fields related to Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or Mathematics
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A minimum of 70% or a CGPA of 7.0 in the current degree program is required to qualify.
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Academic backgrounds in computer science, machine learning, statistics, and mathematics are preferred.
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Strong programming skills, particularly in Python, are essential. Candidates should be comfortable using libraries like Pandas and NumPy for data manipulation.
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Applicants must possess a solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and computational problem-solving.
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Knowledge of linear algebra, probability, and statistics forms the mathematical foundation expected for this internship.
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Familiarity with development tools like VS Code, Jupyter Notebooks, and Git is desirable.
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Exposure to AI and ML techniques such as supervised and unsupervised learning, regression, classification, clustering, and neural networks is required.
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Candidates should be aware of how to handle large datasets efficiently, perform data analysis, and derive insights.
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Prior experience or coursework involving AI libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn will be an added advantage.
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Understanding of emerging technologies like Foundation Models, Large Language Models (LLMs), and Generative AI frameworks (e.g., LangChain, Crew.ai) is highly valued.
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Familiarity with IBM’s Watsonx.ai or comparable AI platforms is considered beneficial.
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Awareness of ethical concerns, including risks of AI models behaving unpredictably or “agents going rogue,” is important for responsible research and deployment.
Additional Information
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The internship program is part of IBM India’s University Relations initiative, aimed at creating strong collaboration between academic institutions and IBM’s global research network.
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Selected interns will be exposed to IBM’s latest research initiatives in areas like Hybrid Cloud, AI, and Quantum Computing.
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This program offers a mix of academic rigor and corporate research experience. Students will work on solving practical AI challenges under the mentorship of experienced professionals.
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The focus will be on innovation and application of AI principles to complex business domains, ranging from data integration to reasoning systems and automation tools.
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Research domains may include:
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AI for IT automation
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Intersection of data and AI
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Agentic middleware and models
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Time series foundation models
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Geospatial and multimodal AI
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AI for mathematics and scientific computation
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AI-driven software development and engineering
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The internship duration is up to three months, from May to August 2026.
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IBM encourages interns to publish or present their findings under appropriate guidance and to explore how their academic insights can translate into practical, enterprise-ready solutions.
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Candidates will have access to IBM’s state-of-the-art research tools, data systems, and collaboration platforms.
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The organization promotes diversity and inclusivity, encouraging participation from individuals across different backgrounds, academic disciplines, and universities.
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Performance during the internship may lead to further research collaboration or full-time employment opportunities within IBM India.
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The culture at IBM fosters curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning. Interns are encouraged to challenge existing paradigms and explore new technological possibilities.
Detailed Responsibilities and Learning Outcomes
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Engage in hands-on research and experimentation on ongoing projects in AI, ML, and data systems within IBM Research India.
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Collaborate with mentors and project leads to identify and address research questions in applied AI.
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Design experiments, run simulations, and validate hypotheses using Python and AI frameworks.
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Participate in collaborative discussions that explore ways to improve enterprise-level AI applications.
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Work on large-scale datasets to extract meaningful insights and support AI model training.
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Assist in developing, optimizing, and fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) for specific use cases.
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Contribute to the design and deployment of Generative AI systems for practical enterprise contexts.
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Apply data-driven reasoning to improve efficiency and scalability of machine learning algorithms.
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Utilize platforms such as Watsonx.ai to build prototypes and test models in real-world settings.
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Collaborate across teams including software engineers, data scientists, and researchers.
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Gain exposure to advanced technologies such as quantum computing, hybrid cloud infrastructure, and agent-based AI systems.
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Document project progress, prepare reports, and present results to IBM mentors and researchers.
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Learn best practices in responsible AI, focusing on explainability, fairness, and ethical considerations in AI systems.
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Develop communication and teamwork skills by working in a diverse research environment.
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Experience the practical workflow of an international R&D lab that values both academic precision and real-world applicability.
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Understand IBM’s approach to building AI models that align with enterprise reliability and compliance standards.
Technical Skill Focus
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Programming Languages: Python (with Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn)
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Mathematics and Statistics: Linear Algebra, Probability, Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
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Machine Learning: Regression, Classification, Clustering, Neural Networks, and Reinforcement Learning
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AI Tools: TensorFlow, PyTorch, LangChain, Crew.ai
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Development Environments: Jupyter Notebook, VS Code, GitHub
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Data Engineering: Data Manipulation, Cleaning, and Feature Engineering
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Research Skills: Experiment Design, Evaluation Metrics, and Literature Review
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Platforms: Watsonx.ai, Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift familiarity preferred
Candidate Profile Ideal Fit
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Enthusiastic learner with a passion for innovation and a desire to contribute to AI research that makes an impact.
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Proactive problem solver who can approach open-ended research questions creatively.
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Capable of working independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, research-driven setting.
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Possesses an analytical mindset with attention to detail and commitment to quality results.
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Willing to explore cutting-edge technologies beyond traditional AI paradigms, such as foundation models and generative systems.
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Communicates clearly, both verbally and in writing, and is open to feedback and continuous learning.
Internship Structure
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Duration: 3 months (May 2026 – August 2026)
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Type: Paid internship under IBM’s University Relations Program
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Work Mode: On-site in Gurgaon or Bangalore
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Mentorship: Direct guidance from senior IBM researchers
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Deliverables: Project report, presentation, and potential publication opportunities
Please click here to apply.