2025 Summer Intern, PhD, Behavior Research - Vision Language Action Models

As a 2025 Summer Intern in Behavior Research at Waymo, you will extend Vision Language Models to Vision Language Action Models, establish scaling laws for foundational models relevant to autonomous vehicles, and explore advanced language models to enhance driving tasks. This role involves collaboration on exciting projects within the Waymo Research team that aim to solve open problems in the autonomous driving space.

To qualify for the 2025 Summer Intern position in Behavior Research at Waymo, you should be currently enrolled in a PhD program in fields such as computer science, statistics, or applied mathematics. Additionally, basic programming skills in languages like Python or C/C++, experience with machine learning and deep learning frameworks, and familiarity with foundational models or large language models are essential.

The 2025 Summer Intern, Behavior Research position at Waymo requires basic software programming or scripting skills, particularly in Python or C/C++. Experience with modern deep learning frameworks such as Pytorch, JAX, or Tensorflow is also beneficial, as this will facilitate your work on advanced modeling and machine learning projects.

During your internship at Waymo, you'll work on projects that include extending Vision Language Models into Vision Language Action Models, exploring the intersection of large foundational models and robotics, and investigating how language models' reasoning can improve end-to-end driving tasks. Your contributions will have a substantial impact on the company's research efforts.

While previous industry experience is preferred for the 2025 Summer Intern position at Waymo, it is not strictly necessary. Experience in software engineering, along with a strong academic foundation in machine learning or computer vision, can make you a competitive candidate. Internships or relevant projects in these areas can also add valuable insights.

When answering this question, focus on how your research aligns with the projects at Waymo, such as advancements in machine learning or specific techniques you have used that could enhance Vision Language Models. Highlight your ability to adapt your research findings to practical applications in autonomous driving.

Discuss your proficiency in programming languages like Python or C/C++, providing examples of projects where you employed these skills. Mention any frameworks like Pytorch or Tensorflow that you have worked with and how they relate to the projects you would be involved in at Waymo.

This is an opportunity to showcase your communication skills. Choose a concept such as deep learning or reinforcement learning and break it down into simple terms. Use relatable analogies that make it easy for someone without a technical background to understand its significance in the context of autonomous driving technology.

This question assesses your understanding of the field. Discuss trends you see on the horizon, such as increased safety or improvements in AI-driven technologies. Emphasize the importance of research in ensuring that advancements are grounded in safety and reliability, showcasing your alignment with Waymo's mission.

Share your strategies for collaboration, such as actively listening to team members’ ideas, leveraging each person’s strengths, and promoting an open dialogue. Provide a specific example of a successful team project where you played a crucial role in problem-solving to illustrate your approach.

Choose a project that emphasizes your technical skills and perseverance. Detail the challenges faced, your problem-solving methods, and the outcome. This shows your ability to tackle difficulties head-on and adapt in a dynamic research environment like Waymo.

Discuss methodologies such as reinforcement learning or generative modeling that are relevant to Waymo’s research focus. Explain why you believe these approaches are beneficial, potentially referencing your own research or data to support your claims.

Demonstrate your understanding of Waymo's values by discussing your enthusiasm for collaborative learning and knowledge sharing. Explain how you would engage with peers in brainstorming sessions or enjoy exchanging ideas to foster a productive environment.

Reflect on your passion for innovation and technology, and how it connects to your long-term career goals. Mention specific aspects of autonomous driving that excite you, such as safety improvements or the potential for enhanced mobility, appealing to Waymo's mission.

Articulate your interest in Waymo, emphasizing its status as an industry leader in autonomous technology and its commitment to research and development. Mention any specific initiatives or technologies they are working on that resonate with your academic interests or career aspirations.