IBM Research Intern Opportunity

IBM Research Intern Opportunity 2026 – Johannesburg

IBM is inviting applications for its Research Intern Programme in Johannesburg, Gauteng. This opportunity is ideal for Master's and PhD students who are passionate about artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, and advanced technology research.

Location

• Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

About IBM Research

IBM Research is the innovation engine behind IBM's technological breakthroughs. Researchers work at the forefront of artificial intelligence, hybrid cloud computing, quantum computing, and advanced software development, helping solve some of the world's most complex challenges.

Interns will collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and researchers while contributing to projects that have the potential to transform industries and create real-world impact.

Internship Overview

As a Research Intern, you will work on groundbreaking research projects involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, cloud technologies, and scalable software systems. You will gain hands-on experience while contributing to innovative solutions, research publications, patents, and commercial products.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and support foundation models and agentic AI workflows
• Contribute to quantum machine learning algorithms and advanced computing solutions
• Participate in research meetings, technical discussions, and innovation projects
• Collaborate with research scientists and engineers on industry-focused projects
• Contribute to internal and open-source software repositories
• Assist in developing commercial products, research papers, and patents
• Build scalable software systems and AI-driven solutions

Minimum Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a Master's (MSc) or PhD programme
• Studying Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Quantum Computing, or a related technical field
• Strong programming skills in Python
• Experience with PyTorch and/or TensorFlow
• Knowledge of additional programming languages such as Java, C, or C++
• Strong understanding of machine learning algorithms
• Experience building, training, and evaluating Vision Transformers
• Knowledge of optimisation techniques and approaches
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD studies in a relevant field
• Experience publishing research at conferences such as NeurIPS, CVPR, ICML, ICLR, IJCAI, AAAI, KDD, or IEEE QCE
• Knowledge of Quantum Computing
• Experience with MLOps
• Background in Climate Science or Remote Sensing

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is ideal for postgraduate students who are passionate about research, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, software development, and emerging technologies.

• Master's (MSc) students in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Quantum Computing, or related fields
• PhD students looking to gain industry research experience
• Students interested in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Individuals with strong programming skills in Python and related technologies
• Aspiring researchers interested in publishing papers and contributing to innovative projects
• Students seeking exposure to Quantum Computing, Cloud Computing, and advanced software systems
• Candidates who enjoy problem-solving, research, and working with cutting-edge technology

Skills and Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Machine Learning (ML)
• Quantum Computing
• Python Programming
• PyTorch
• TensorFlow
• Cloud Computing
• Data Science and Analytics
• Software Development
• MLOps

What IBM Offers

• Hands-on experience with world-class research teams
• Exposure to advanced AI and quantum computing projects
• Opportunities to contribute to patents and research publications
• Collaboration with global experts and innovators
• Professional growth and mentorship opportunities
• Experience working on technologies that shape the future

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through IBM's official careers platform. Ensure your academic qualifications, research experience, and technical skills are clearly highlighted in your application.

Need Help With Applications?

We assist students and graduates with:

• Internship applications
• Graduate programme applications
• Learnership applications
• Bursary applications
• CV writing and updates
• University applications

Contact: tlouglendah1@gmail.com

🕒 Posted: 2026-05-30