Human-Centered AI Intern, Computational Social Science
Toyota Research InstituteLos Altos, California
Internship
Posted February 18, 2026
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Application opens on company website
Job Description
A summer internship position at Toyota Research Institute focused on developing AI-driven tools and systems for exploring future scenarios and understanding collective wellbeing within complex social systems, involving conceptual work, data analysis, and system design in a multidisciplinary environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Create and advance tools supporting data-driven exploration of possible futures.
- Conduct conceptual work, quantitative analysis, and system design with an emphasis on multilevel thinking.
- Explore new methods of extracting insights and future scenarios from data using AI systems.
- Communicate future scenarios in ways that inspire curiosity, deeper thinking, and action.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and broader organizational events.
- Engage in strategy discussions on how research projects connect to business impact at Toyota.
Requirements
- Applicants must have strong methodological training and interest in collective wellbeing, with educational background in fields such as computational social sciences, computer sciences, social sciences, psychology, organizational behavior, sociology, behavioral economics, human factors, or related disciplines.
- Candidates should have experience in at least two of the following areas: data science or machine learning, human-computer interaction (HCI), information visualization, and software engineering.
- Candidates must be capable of creating and advancing tools that support data-driven exploration of possible futures, involving conceptual work, quantitative analysis, and system design with an emphasis on multilevel thinking.
- Candidates should have experience in building prototype solutions and taking on high-risk, high-reward challenges outside of academic research settings.
- Candidates must be able to participate in interdisciplinary meetings including Harmonious Communities group meetings, Human-Centered AI Division meetings, and broader TRI events, and engage in strategy discussions about the connection of their research project to business impact at Toyota.
- Candidates should be excited to work on high-risk, high-reward challenges outside of academic research.
- Candidates must be willing to work in a hybrid in-office role, with the internship scheduled for Summer 2026, lasting 12 weeks.
- Candidates should be able to communicate future scenarios in ways that inspire curiosity, deeper thinking, and action.
- Candidates should have a strong interest in exploring new ways of extracting insight from data using contemporary AI systems, and in extracting plausible, possible, and impossible futures from data.
- Candidates must be able to participate in all relevant meetings and events as part of the internship program, including division meetings and broader TRI events.
- Candidates should include a link to Google Scholar and a full list of publications and presentations when submitting their CV.
- Candidates must be able to work within the pay range of $45 to $65 per hour for California-based roles or $40 to $58 per hour for Massachusetts-based roles, depending on experience and other factors.
- Candidates should be able to demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion, aligning with TRI’s values and equal employment opportunity policies.
Benefits & Perks
Paid 12-week internship
Hybrid in-office role
Compensation ranging from $45 to $65 per hour (California) or $40 to $58 per hour (Massachusetts)
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Paid time off including holiday pay and sick time
Ready to Apply?
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