Postdoctoral IT Research Scientist - IBM Research South Africa

Introduction

Join us for a unique 24-month paid internship at the IBM Research Africa lab in Johannesburg, South Africa. This program will give you an opportunity to work on meaningful technology solutions, develop scalable software systems, and collaborate with research scientists and engineers on cloud-based workflows in generative AI or in quantum computing.

At IBM Research Africa, one of our missions is to get Africa Quantum-ready. We are therefore building an enthusiastic, highly skilled Quantum Computing Applications and Community team to attract, develop and support Quantum skills, research, and applications, which includes the development of quantum machine learning-based solutions for some of Africa’s most pressing challenges.

Depending on your interests and experience, you will be working in one of the following areas: AI for data management or applications of quantum computing, focusing specifically on quantum machine learning.

Your Role And Responsibilities

As a Student/Intern: Generalist, you will be employed by IBM as part of your academic program or during university breaks. This role is designed for students who are looking to gain professional experience while pursuing their education. Your primary responsibilities will include:

* Assist with projects: You will contribute to various projects and tasks, gaining hands-on experience and exposure to different aspects of the business. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of the company's operations and goals.

* Learn from professionals: You will have the opportunity to observe and learn from experienced professionals, gaining insight into their roles and responsibilities. This will help you build your skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.

* Support teams: You will assist teams with various tasks and projects, developing your teamwork and communication skills. This will give you a chance to collaborate with others and contribute to the success of the team.

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

Currently enrolled in a Doctoral degree program in Computer Science, Computer & Electronics Engineering, Machine Learning, Data Science, Statistics, Quantum Computing or Quantum Information Science or related technical fields. You have just completed your thesis and will be graduated as PhD in the coming weeks.

* Proficiency in Python, PyTorch and experience in at least one additional programming language such as Java, JavaScript, NodeJS, C/C++, etc.

* For interest in Quantum Applications research, we require experience with Qiskit

* For interest in AI for Data Management, we require familiarity with natural language processing (NL), Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic frameworks, database query languages and data integration tools

* Require strong problem solving and analytical skills.

* Require strong communication and collaboration skills.