Research Intern: Computational Social Science - Honda Research Institute USA

Research Intern: Computational Social Science

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Research Intern: Computational Social Science

Job Number: P25INT-45
Honda Research Institute USA (HRI-US) is seeking a computational social scientist intern with experience in modeling human and community behavior using AI, and in studying the impacts of AI on society. The successful candidate will contribute to research by developing AI models of individuals and communities that simulate complex behaviors across modalities, supported by rich community-level data such as mobility trajectories, census data, and survey responses. The candidate will contribute to the development and evaluation of computational and machine learning models, analyze complex behavioral and mobility datasets, and apply societal-scale simulations to inform decision-making in domains such as technology rollout. The position will also entail conducting impact analyses from the individual to the community level using robust counterfactual evaluation methods.
San Jose, CA

 

Key Responsibilities

 
  • Develop and evaluate machine learning and computational modeling approaches for studying communities, social behavior, and mobility patterns.
  • Analyze multimodal behavioral data and community mobility data using statistical and causal inference methods.
  • Apply counterfactual explanation methods to support interpretation of model outputs and research findings.
  • Contribute to research on the societal impacts of generative AI.
  • Assist with brainstorming and refining research ideas related to ongoing project goals.
  • Lead the preparation of manuscripts, figures, analyses, and other research outputs for publication.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 
  • Currently enrolled as a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science or a related field.
  • Strong background in machine learning, computational modeling, and data-driven research methods.
  • Experience applying statistical methods, causal inference, and counterfactual explanation approaches.
  • Experience working with complex datasets relevant to human behavior, communities, or mobility patterns.
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and contribute to collaborative research projects.

 

Bonus Qualifications​

  • Research experience related to AI models of communities, computational social science, or social behavior modeling.
  • Experience working with multimodal behavioral data or community mobility datasets.
  • Familiarity with research on the societal impacts of generative AI.
  • Experience contributing to manuscripts for publication.
  • Publication record in high-impact journals or conferences such as AAAI, IJCAI, AAMAS, KDD, or CHI.

 

Years of Work Experience Required   0
Desired Start Date  9/21/2026
Internship Duration  3 Months
Position Keywords  Computational Social Science, Human Behavior Modeling, Community Simulation, Generative AI, Causal Inference 

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)

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