Microsoft Research provides a vibrant research environment with an open publications policy and with close links to top academic institutions around the world. Post-doc researcher positions provide an opportunity to develop your research career and to interact with some of the top minds in the research community, with the potential to have your research realized in products and services that will be used world-wide. Post-doc researchers are invited to define their own research agenda and demonstrate their ability to drive forward an effective program of research. Successful candidates will have a PhD and a well-established research track record as demonstrated by journal publications and conference papers, as well as participation on program committees, editorial boards, and advisory panels.

Post-doc researchers receive a competitive salary and benefits package, and are eligible for relocation expenses. Post-doc researchers are hired for a one- or two-year fixed term appointment.

Open positions by lab

• New England Lab (Cambridge, MA)
• New York City Lab (New York City, NY)

New England Lab (Cambridge, MA)

You can review the biographies of our current post-docs and see our former post-docs.

Applicants must have completed the requirements for a PhD, including submission of their thesis, prior to joining Microsoft Research.

• Qualifications include a strong academic record in one of the following areas in which we are focusing our search:
• Computer science (including algorithms, algorithmic game theory, complexity, communication, cryptography, machine learning)
• Economics and game theory
• Mathematics
• Social media (including anthropology, communication, media studies, and sociology)

To be considered for employment for any post-doctorate opportunity at the New England lab, we require your completion of an online application and the submission of the following:

• CV
• Publications list
• Research statement
• At least three letters of recommendation.

To apply for a post-doc position at Microsoft Research New England

1. Submit your online application.
   1. Indicate that your location preference is “New England, U.S.”
   2. Review which New England lab’s member is most closely related to your area of research, and indicate their name in the "Microsoft Research Contact" field, which can be found under the "Personal Information" section of the application.
   3. Qualified social media candidates can learn more here. Please upload the following three attachments with your online application:
      1. two journal articles, book chapters, or equivalent writing samples (uploaded as two separate attachments);
      2. a single research statement (four-page maximum length) that addresses the following: outlines the questions and methodologies central to your research agenda (~two-page maximum length); provides an abstract and chapter outline of your dissertation (~one-page maximum length); offers a description of how your research agenda relates to research conducted by the social media collective (~one-page maximum length)
   4. Qualified candidates may also consider applying for the joint Microsoft Research and MIT Schramm Postdoctoral Fellowship in Probability Theory and Discrete Mathematics. Schramm Fellowship applications should be submitted via mathjobs.org; see http://math.mit.edu/about/employment.html.
   5. Qualified economics candidates need not apply at the Microsoft Research site, and are instead encouraged to review our listing on the American Economic Association’s Job Openings for Economists. 
2. Upon submitting your application, alert us by sending us an email (msrnejob@microsoft.com).
   1. In the body of the email, indicate the name of the New England lab’s member most closely related to your areas of research.
   2. If your application meets the above requirements, a request for letters will be sent to your list of referees on your behalf.
   3. At least three letters of recommendation must be received by our deadline to ensure full consideration.
3. Monitor the status of your requested letters of recommendation. Please make sure to check back with your referees or us if you have any questions about the status of your requested letters of recommendation. A complete application includes three submitted letters of reference.

Application Deadlines
To ensure full consideration, we encourage candidates to complete their applications by November 30, 2012.

• A complete application includes three submitted letters of reference.
• Social Media applications are requested to be complete by Monday, November 19, 2012.
• Our deadline ensures full consideration of applicants to whom the Monday, February 4, 2013 job offer deadline coordinated by AMS applies.
• Applications will continue to be reviewed after the deadline, subject to availability.

 For any questions about the application process, send us email.

New York City Lab (New York City, NY)

You can review the websites of our current post-docs here.

Applicants must have completed the requirements for a Ph.D., including submission of their thesis, prior to joining Microsoft Research.

We welcome applicants with a strong academic record in one of the following areas:

• Computational Social Science
• Online Experimental Social Science
• Algorithmic Economics and Market Design
• Large-Scale and Interactive Machine Learning

We will also consider applicants in other focus areas of the lab, including Information Retrieval and Behavioral and Empirical Economics. To be considered for employment for any post-doctorate opportunity at the New York City lab, we require your completion of an online application and the submission of the following:

• CV, including a Publications list
• Research statement
• At least three letters of recommendation.

To apply for a post-doc position at Microsoft Research New York City

1. Submit your online application.
   1. Indicate that your location preference is “New York City, U.S.”
   2. Review which New York City lab’s member is most closely related to your area of research, and indicate their name in the "Microsoft Research Contact" field, which can be found under the "Personal Information" section of the application.
   3. Qualified economics candidates need not apply at the Microsoft Research site, and are instead encouraged to review our listing on the American Economic Association’s Job Openings for Economists.
   4. If your application meets the above requirements, a request for letters will be sent to your list of referees on your behalf.
   5. At least three letters of recommendation must be received by our deadline to ensure full consideration.
2. Monitor the status of your requested letters of recommendation. Please make sure to check back with your referees or email our recruiting team if you have any questions about the status of your requested letters of recommendation. A complete application includes three submitted letters of reference.

Application Deadlines
To ensure full consideration, we encourage candidates to complete their applications by January 11, 2013.

• A complete application includes three submitted letters of reference.
• Applications will continue to be reviewed after the deadline, subject to availability.

For any questions about the application process, send us email.

Related Links

• About Researcher and Post-Doc Full-Time Positions
• Microsoft Careers
• Microsoft Research New England