Senior NLP/ML Researcher

Location: Nairobi, Nairobi City, Kenya (+3 more locations)
Worksite: Up to 50% work from home
Travel: Minimal (0-25%)
Role Type: Individual Contributor
Employment: Full-Time
Date Posted: September 4, 2024

Overview:
Microsoft Research Africa in Nairobi is seeking a Senior Researcher with expertise in Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Generative AI to join their multidisciplinary team. This position focuses on advancing Globally Equitable Generative AI, emphasizing AI solutions for African languages and contexts.

The lab’s mission is to address Africa-specific challenges and contribute to global innovations in work, health, and society through AI and cloud technologies. Candidates will have opportunities to work on foundational ML innovations, platform development, and practical AI applications with a focus on under-resourced languages and culturally appropriate output.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct cutting-edge research on Generative AI tailored for African contexts.

• Shape and lead research agendas aligned with Globally Equitable Generative AI.

• Collaborate with Microsoft researchers and external stakeholders to align research with real-world needs.

• Mentor and support junior researchers.

• Publish research findings in leading journals, present at conferences, and organize workshops or seminars.

• Engage with academic communities and product teams to translate research into impactful applications.

• Contribute to the lab's strategic planning to ensure sustainable, impactful research initiatives.

Qualifications:
Required:

• Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, or a related field.

• Minimum 4 years of post-Ph.D. work experience.

• Strong theoretical and practical expertise in ML algorithms for language and vision processing.

• Proficiency with deep learning toolkits, particularly in NLP, vision, or multimodal applications.

• Proven research record with publications in top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, CVPR, EMNLP, etc.

• Passion for staying updated on AI advancements and leading research initiatives.

Preferred:

• Experience in Generative AI for African languages or data-constrained tasks.

• Expertise in data generation and augmentation.

• Demonstrated research interest in Africa.

• Effective collaboration and communication skills within multidisciplinary teams.

Benefits:

• Industry-leading healthcare.

• Educational resources for career development.

• Discounts on Microsoft products and services.

• Savings and investment opportunities.

• Generous parental leave and time off.

• Opportunities for professional networking and growth.

Equal Opportunity:
Microsoft values diversity and inclusion and provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:
Visit Microsoft Careers for more details and to submit your application.

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