Cambridge Residency Programme: Model Predictive ControlInternship

Overview

At Microsoft Research Cambridge, Microsoft's scientists and engineers undertake world-leading, ambitious projects to transform the world through deep research. Microsoft's lab has contributed to many of Microsoft’s most successful products, services, and partnerships.

The Future AI Infrastructure team is a highly cross-disciplinary group of researchers and engineers with diverse expertise across computer science, optical sciences, image processing, and engineering. Microsoft partner closely with product teams across Microsoft to tackle the big challenges of next-generation cloud infrastructure.

During this internship, you will work with the researchers in Project Analogue Optical Computer (AOC). Additionally, you will be part of the larger internship program at Microsoft Research, Cambridge.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for creating a Multi-Joint dynamics with Contact (MuJoCo) Model Predictive Control (MPC), MJPC, controller that leverages the AOC optimization service for online computations, and applying this controller to control tasks implemented in MuJoCo. This includes:

• Integrate the AOC optimization service into MJPC to create a standalone MPC controller.
• Evaluate the MPC controller on selected optimization problems with respect to speed and solution quality.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Studying towards a PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related areas.

A successful candidate would have the following desirable experiences and capabilities:

• 1-3 years’ experience in designing and evaluating optimization algorithms for hard-optimization problems.
• Strong programming skills in a modern programming language, particularly in Julia, Python, Java, or C#/F#.
• Understanding of mathematical programming.
• Experience in mapping optimization problems to physical solvers.

Other Requirements

Besides the core competencies above, a successful candidate would have many of the following desirable experiences and capabilities:

• Good organizational skills, capable of managing multiple tasks effectively.
• Experience applying Computational Thinking techniques in experimental science.
• Good presentation and communication skills.
• Prior knowledge in control theory and MPC.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience in developing and maintaining software artifacts for community use.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to various protected characteristics.