About the role#
This PhD research internship focuses on the intersection of reinforcement learning and large language models. The applied deep learning research team works on building foundation models and developing methods to improve their reasoning, alignment, reliability, and task performance. You will be responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating new reinforcement learning methods with a focus on rapid prototyping and experimentation at scale.
What you'll do#
- Develop and prototype reinforcement learning algorithms for large language models.
- Explore methods for improving reasoning, alignment, instruction following, and multi-turn interaction.
- Design experiments to evaluate model behavior, robustness, hallucination, and task performance.
- Implement research ideas in Python and PyTorch, and run experiments on large-scale GPU clusters.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing a PhD in AI, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field.
- Strong background in reinforcement learning and natural language processing.
- Excellent programming skills, specifically in Python.
- Experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch.
- Comfort with experimental research, debugging models, and working with large-scale training pipelines.
- Preference is given to candidates with publications or open-source contributions in reinforcement learning, large language models, alignment, reasoning, or post-training.
- Experience with RLHF, RLAIF, policy optimization, reward modeling, or agentic systems is beneficial.
Location & details#
- Location: Santa Clara, California.
- Term: Fall 2026.
- Modality: On-site.
- Employment: Full-time paid internship.
About NVIDIA
NVIDIA operates as a computer hardware manufacturer based in Santa Clara, California. Founded in 1993, the company focuses on accelerated computing and graphics technology. It produces hardware for markets including artificial intelligence, gaming, and data centers. The organization employs over 50,000 people and maintains a global presence.
How to get in at NVIDIA
Applying early gives you a distinct advantage at NVIDIA because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can apply among the first before the pile grows. Getting your resume in front of a human early is often the difference between a screening call and a rejection. You can use Intern Insider to surface the recruiters behind NVIDIA roles to reach out directly. Asking a recruiter about the role or a referral materially improves your response rates compared to submitting into a general queue. It is a simple way to make your application stand out in a competitive process.
