Staff Research Scientist – PhD, Agentic AI

Visa

. Conduct research to improve AI agent reliability, reduce hallucinations, and advance safety, security, and ethical alignment .

Posted 9/17/2026internshipAustin • Texas • United StatesEntry Level💰 $56 - $63 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in AI agent research, focusing on safety, security, and ethical alignment, while applying advanced techniques for model efficiency and multi-agent collaboration. Proficient in programming and capable of translating research into practical applications within the AI domain.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Ph.D. CandidateAI Safety and Security ResearchMulti-Agent Systems ExperienceProgramming Proficiency in Python, C++, JavaResearch Publication Record

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

AI Agent ResearchModel CompressionQuantizationFine-Tuning StrategiesInference OptimizationSecure Access ControlBenchmarking ToolsEvaluation TechniquesGuardrail SystemsReliable LLM Systems

Soft Skills

Strong CommunicationCollaboration SkillsAnalytical Problem-SolvingCuriosityAdaptability

Tools & Technologies

Generative AI ToolsChatGPTMicrosoft Copilot

Industry Keywords

Trustworthy AIAI EfficiencyResearch PublicationsTechnical ContributionsConference Presentations

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

JavaPythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Conduct research to improve AI agent reliability, reduce hallucinations, and advance safety, security, and ethical alignment
Design techniques to enhance AI agent efficiency, including model compression, quantization, fine-tuning strategies, and inference optimization
Develop and evaluate secure access control and guardrail systems for responsible AI interactions
Investigate multi-agent architectures for secure, coordinated, and efficient collaboration
Build tools and frameworks to benchmark agent safety, robustness, and performance
Prototype and experiment to translate research ideas into practical AI capabilities
Contribute to research publications, patents, and technical reports where appropriate
Participate in Visa's 12-week internship program and complete a final presentation for Visa leaders

Requirements

What you’ll need

Students pursuing a Ph.D. with a graduation date in December 2027 or later
Strong research record demonstrated by publications, patents, conference presentations, or technical contributions
Research experience in AI agents, AI safety, security, alignment, trustworthy AI, or reliable LLM systems
Experience with multi-agent systems, agent frameworks, planning, or evaluation techniques
Knowledge of techniques for reducing hallucinations, enhancing factuality, enabling guardrails, enforcing policies, or building secure AI systems
Experience applying efficiency methods such as compression, quantization, fine-tuning, or inference optimization
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, Java, or similar
Strong communication, collaboration, and analytical problem-solving skills
Ability to innovate, adapt to ambiguity, and tackle complex research challenges
Curiosity and continuous learning
Digital fluency, including the ability to work with emerging technologies such as Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot)
Ability to work at least 3 days in the office
Ability to travel 5-10% of the time

Benefits

Comp & perks

12-week immersive internship experience
Interactive workshops and learning sessions
Professional skills and industry knowledge development
Social events fostering community and connection
Hands-on experience in a dynamic, global environment