Research Intern - Next Generation Systems (3 months)

Introduction At IBM Research, we are the innovation engine of IBM. Exploring what’s next in computing and shaping the technologies the world will rely on tomorrow. From advancing AI and hybrid cloud to pioneering practical quantum computing, we anticipate challenges and unlock new opportunities for clients, partners, and society. Working in Research means joining a team that accelerates discovery at the intersection of high-performance computing, AI, quantum, and cloud. You’ll collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and visionaries to push boundaries and turn ideas into reality. With a culture built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, IBM Research offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to breakthroughs that transform industries and change the world.

Your Role And Responsibilities As quantum computing and AI continue to evolve rapidly, a critical frontier is discovering and implementing quantum and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms that significantly outperform their best classical analogues.

This internship focuses on the intersection of quantum optimization algorithms, artificial intelligence, and systems engineering, targeting both near-term devices and future fault-tolerant hardware. We are exploring how AI can accelerate algorithmic development, automate complex experimentation, and help users harness the full power of quantum computing for optimization.

We invite applications from candidates interested in the areas like the following:

• Developing methods for efficiently determining the optimal solver (quantum, classical, AI or hybrid) for complex mathematical optimization problems.
• Designing, benchmarking, and evaluating agentic AI systems to help users and researchers harness quantum optimization algorithms.
• Co-design of hybrid quantum-classical optimization algorithms and the quantum platform to efficiently support novel workloads

This work sits at the cutting edge of quantum computing, agentic applications, and system design, offering the intern a unique opportunity to contribute to advancing the robustness, efficiency, and scalability of next-generation quantum-classical workflows.

Preferred Education Doctorate Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• PhD or Master's candidates in computer science, physics, applied mathematics, or related disciplines.
• Experience in two or more of: quantum computing (e.g., Qiskit), mathematical optimization (e.g., MIP, QUBO), generative AI / LLM agents, and distributed cloud systems.
• Strong Python and software engineering skills .