PhD Research Intern, Generative AI - 2026

NVIDIA is hiring a PhD Research Intern, Generative AI - 2026 in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $38-$94/hr and Level rates it ; you can apply on NVIDIA.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this role is Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
Tools and skills the posting cites include PyTorch and computer vision.
Level classifies it as an internship.
Level lists 2,700+ other open roles at NVIDIA.

AI in this role

PyTorch

computer-vision

At NVIDIA, we are building Cosmos world foundation models and generative AI systems for Physical AI across robotics, autonomous driving, smart spaces, and embodied agents.

The NVIDIA Cosmos Platform enables multimodal world understanding, simulation, synthetic data generation, and embodied reasoning. We are looking for outstanding PhD interns to help advance the frontier of Physical AI and world models.

What you’ll be doing:

Conduct research in generative AI, multimodal foundation models, world models, and embodied AI.
Develop algorithms for video understanding/generation, action-conditioned simulation, multimodal reasoning, and policy learning.
Train and evaluate large-scale models using video, image, language, and robotics or autonomous driving data.
Collaborate with researchers and engineers across AI, robotics, simulation, and graphics teams.
Publish research at top conferences and transfer innovations into NVIDIA products.

What we need to see:

Currently pursuing a PhD in CS, EE, Robotics, or related fields.
Strong background in generative AI, computer vision, multimodal learning, robotics, or reinforcement learning.
Prior publication record and research experience.
Strong Python and PyTorch skills.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

Experience with large-scale foundation model training.
Research in video models, VLMs, world models, robotics, or autonomous driving.
Experience with distributed training, simulation, or embodied AI.

NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most forward-thinking and hardworking people in the world working for us. If you're creative and autonomous, we want to hear from you!

Our internship hourly rates are a standard pay based on the position, your location, year in school, degree, and experience. The expected hourly rate for this position is 38 USD – 94 USD.

You will also be eligible for Intern benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until November 3, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

How we rate this

PhD Research Intern, Generative AI - 2026 at NVIDIA rates 97 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

PhD Research Intern, Generative AI - 2026 is an open job at NVIDIA.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed pay is $38-$94/hr.
The role is based in US, CA, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on May 27, 2026.
Seniority: intern.
Applications are handled by NVIDIA. Apply on NVIDIA

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Computer visionPyTorch

Questions you could be asked

Walk me through a computer vision problem you solved, from raw data to a deployed model.
Walk me through how you've used PyTorch in your day-to-day work.
How would you decide a model or AI system is ready to ship?
Tell me about a time a model underperformed in production. How did you find out, and what did you change?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Computer vision and PyTorch. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.

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