Student Researcher, PhD, Fall 2026 – Google, Canada
Location: Toronto, ON | Company: Google
Google is accepting applications for its Student Researcher, PhD, Fall 2026 program in Canada, with opportunities in Waterloo, Toronto and Montreal. This research opportunity is designed for PhD students in Computer Science and related technical fields who want to contribute to exploratory projects addressing real-world, large-scale scientific and computing challenges.
Selected students may work with research teams across organizations such as Google DeepMind, Google Research and Google Cloud. Project duration, time commitment and onsite or remote arrangements can vary depending on the specific research project and host team, with start dates typically between August and December 2026.
About the Student Researcher Program
Google’s Student Researcher Program supports academic collaboration by placing students on research projects aligned with company priorities in scientific advancement. Participants may contribute to research, development and scientific work across multiple Google organizations.
Projects are exploratory and may span areas such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language understanding, human-computer interaction, optimization, quantum information science, data science and software development.
Key Areas of Responsibility
The specific project will depend on the student’s background, research interests and available host teams. The central responsibility is contributing to research that develops solutions for complex, real-world problems at scale.
Research Projects
Participate in exploratory research projects designed to advance scientific knowledge and address real-world, large-scale technical problems.
Technical Investigation
Apply research methods and technical expertise to investigate challenging problems in areas relevant to Google’s research organizations.
Research Collaboration
Work collaboratively with researchers, software developers, research scientists and other technical specialists across Google.
Scientific Advancement
Contribute to work intended to advance computing research and support the development of future intelligent systems and technologies.
Project Matching
Be considered for opportunities across Google research teams based on academic background, technical skills, research interests and project availability.
Technical Development
Depending on the project, use programming, experimentation, analysis and other technical methods to develop and evaluate research solutions.
Research Areas and Teams
Applicants may be considered for Student Researcher opportunities across Google DeepMind, Google Research, Google Cloud and other research-focused teams. Matching depends on project availability and alignment between the student’s expertise and the host team’s research needs.
Relevant areas may include Natural Language Understanding, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, algorithmic optimization, Quantum Information Science, Data Science, software development and other related technical disciplines.
Who We’re Looking For
Candidates must currently be enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science, Linguistics, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Economics, Natural Sciences or another related technical field. Applicants should also have experience in at least one area of computer science.
Current enrollment in an eligible doctoral program in a technical, computational, quantitative or scientific discipline.
Previous research experience through academic work, internships, laboratories or other research environments is preferred.
Experience with general-purpose programming languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript or C/C++ is preferred.
Contributions to research communities, including papers published at major conferences or journals, are considered beneficial.
Experience in areas such as AI, machine learning, computer vision, optimization, data science or software development may support project matching.
Availability and Program Requirements
Participants must be located in Canada for the full duration of the engagement. Preferred candidates are currently enrolled full time in a degree program and will return to their studies after completing the research opportunity.
Projects vary in duration, time commitment and work arrangement depending on host needs. Start dates are generally available between August and December 2026. Google notes that this Student Researcher program is non-conversion eligible and is best suited for students who will not be seeking full-time employment immediately following the role.
Application Requirements and Compensation
Applicants must submit an updated CV or resume and a current official or unofficial transcript in English, with PDF files preferred. The resume should include anticipated graduation dates in MM/YY format and any relevant programming language proficiency.
Google lists a Canadian base salary of $120,000 CAD per year for a full-time equivalent position. Actual compensation is determined by role, level, location and factors such as relevant skills, experience, education and training.
How to Apply
Interested PhD students should apply through the official Google Careers website and select their preferred working location from Waterloo, Toronto or Montreal during the application process.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and Google recommends applying early. The anticipated application window remains open until November 27, 2026, although the posting may close sooner if all available research projects are filled.