About the role#
As a summer research intern in the Human-Machine Interaction Research group, you will focus on how people work with intelligent systems. You will build and test interfaces for quadruped robots to improve how humans and AI collaborate on physical tasks. This is a paid, 12-week internship.
What you'll do#
- Design and build prototypes that help embodied AI agents assist people with physical tasks.
- Use multimodal AI to track human activity and task progress.
- Create interaction strategies that allow AI agents to adjust to different contexts.
- Connect AI models and interaction logic to robotic hardware for real-time performance.
- Run user studies to see how AI assistance changes human collaboration and task performance.
- Gather and analyze data to measure system effectiveness.
- Work with research scientists and engineers across the organization.
- Share your findings through reports and presentations, including potential submissions to research venues.
What you'll need#
- You are currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Robotics, Machine Learning, Cognitive Science, or a related field.
- Experience building interactive or embodied AI systems, such as robots, multimodal assistants, or conversational agents.
- Familiarity with human-robot interaction, human-AI interaction, or human behavior modeling.
- Experience with experimental design, user studies, and data analysis.
- The ability to work independently, iterate quickly, and communicate your research clearly.
Location & details#
- Location: Los Altos, California.
- Modality: Hybrid and on-site.
- Term: Summer 2027.
- Compensation: $45 to $65 per hour, depending on experience and skills.
- Benefits: Includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus paid time off.
About Toyota Research Institute
Toyota Research Institute is a research organization founded in 2016. Based in Los Altos, California, it operates as a subsidiary of Toyota. The company focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics, automated driving, and material sciences. Its staff of approximately 485 employees works to develop technology for vehicles and robots while researching new materials for batteries and fuel cells.
How to get in at Toyota Research Institute
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