Research Intern: Robotics & Physics Simulation - Honda Research Institute USA

Research Intern: Robotics & Physics Simulation

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Research Intern: Robotics & Physics Simulation

Job Number: P25INT-34
Honda Research Institute USA (HRI-US) is seeking a self-motivated PhD Student to join our Intelligent Robotics Research Division. The intern will contribute to the development of core simulation technologies for robotics-related simulation. Example areas include complex physical phenomena (e.g., fracture and cracking), advanced rendering problems (e.g, multilayer translucent materials), and gradient-based optimization of nonlinear dynamical systems in large state spaces (e.g., system identification, control optimization).
San Jose, CA

 

Key Responsibilities

 
  • Develop core simulation technology for robotics applications with strong grounding in the underlying physics and mathematics.
  • Formulate research hypotheses, design experiments, and evaluate results.
  • Identify and address numerical issues that arise in simulation and optimization, including ill-conditioning and solver instability.
  • Contribute to the portfolio of patents, and publish research results when applicable at top-tier conferences and journals.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 
  • Currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in computer science, computer graphics, robotics, or related fields.
  • Minimum of 1-year research experience relevant to the position (e.g., physics simulation, material rendering, optimization).
  • Strong background in physics and mathematics (especially calculus and linear algebra).
  • Programming skills including sufficient technical depth to critically evaluate and validate outputs from AI-assisted coding or research tools if used.

 

Bonus Qualifications​

  • Experience or understanding of simulation methods involving contact barriers.
  • Experience or understanding of robot dynamics, PD controllers, and real-world hardware (e.g., gears, joint friction).
  • Experience or understanding of implicit time-integration methods for dynamics, Newton-based solvers, ill-conditioning in numerical solves.
  • Experience or understanding of contact-rich manipulation.
  • Experience or understanding of physically based rendering, appearance modeling, differentiable rendering, or complex material modeling.
     
    Additional Note:
    Experience using existing robot simulation frameworks is NOT required and by itself is not sufficient. We are particularly interested in candidates who can reason about and develop the underlying simulation methods, numerical algorithms, and physical models.

 

Years of Work Experience Required   0
Desired Start Date  9/14/2026
Internship Duration  3 Months
Position Keywords  Physics Simulation, Rendering, Nonlinear Dynamics, Robot Dynamics

Alternate Way to Apply

Send an e-mail to careers@honda-ri.com with the following:
- Subject line including the job number(s) you are applying for 
- Recent CV 
- A cover letter highlighting relevant background (Optional)

Please, do not contact our office to inquiry about your application status.