Introduction

IBM Research is seeking an intern to conduct research in quantum algorithms and quantum AI. The work combines quantum computing, machine learning, and scientific computing to develop new methods for learning and simulation and to identify problems where quantum resources may provide advantage over classical counterparts. You will work in a collaborative environment with researchers across quantum algorithms, AI, and the physical sciences.

Your role and responsibilities

As a research intern, you will develop and evaluate quantum algorithms and quantum-classical methods at the intersection of quantum computing and AI. Your project will be defined with your mentor and may involve quantum models for classical or quantum data, hybrid learning workflows, algorithms for simulating physical systems, or theory and benchmarking of quantum and classical learning methods. You will:

• Develop quantum and hybrid algorithms for scientifically meaningful learning or simulation tasks.
• Implement research prototypes and benchmark accuracy, resource requirements, and scalability against strong classical methods.
• Apply these methods to problems involving classical or quantum data in physics, chemistry, materials science, or related domains.
• Analyze when quantum resources may offer a meaningful advantage and clearly state the assumptions and costs.
• Present results through technical reports, talks, open-source code, and, where appropriate, a publication or conference submission.

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

Master's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• Enrollment in a graduate program in quantum computing, computer science, physics, applied mathematics, statistics, information theory, engineering, or a related field.
• Strong foundation in quantum computing and quantum algorithms, with knowledge of linear algebra, probability, optimization, or numerical methods.
• Research experience in at least one relevant area, such as machine learning, quantum machine learning, quantum simulation, or hybrid quantum-classical methods.
• Experience implementing research code in Python or a comparable scientific programming language.
• Ability to conduct independent research, analyze results critically, and communicate technical findings clearly.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Experience developing or analyzing quantum algorithms for classical or quantum data.
• Familiarity with quantum machine learning methods, learning theory, or comparisons between quantum and classical models.
• Experience with quantum simulation, many-body physics, quantum chemistry, or related scientific applications.
• Experience with Qiskit, scientific Python libraries, machine-learning frameworks, or Git/GitHub.
• Experience running experiments on quantum processors or combining quantum measurement data with classical machine learning.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law. This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

Job Title

Quantum Algorithms and Quantum Machine Learning Intern 2027

Date posted

10-Sep-2026

Job ID

132433

City / Township / Village

Chicago

State / Province

Illinois

Country

United States

Work arrangement

Onsite

Area of work

Research

Employment type

Co-Op (Fixed Term)

Contract type

Internship

Projected Minimum Salary per year

74,400.00

Projected Maximum Salary per year

136,400.00

Position type

Internship

Travel required

No Travel

Company

(0147) International Business Machines Corporation

Shift

General (daytime)

Is this role a commissionable/sales incentive based position?

No