PhD Research Internship 2027

Cooper & Hall Limited; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Diverse, multilingual environment

Job summary

Riverlane is offering a full-time PhD internship based at our Cambridge headquarters. You will work with researchers and engineers on quantum error correction challenges, with a supervisor and a defined project tailored to your background.

We welcome doctoral students from quantitative disciplines and value creative research, programming ability, and strong communication. The internship is 3–6 months, hybrid in Cambridge, with a pro-rata salary of £37,000 per annum and visa-eligibility

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a PhD in a quantitative discipline.
• Evidence of creative, high-quality research relevant to your stage of study.
• Experience with at least one general-purpose programming language.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including presenting scientific work.
• Ability to take initiative and work effectively as part of a team.
• Interest in applying academic expertise to practical industry challenges.

Responsibilities

• Investigate quantum error correction codes, decoding methods or related research challenges.
• Develop algorithms, simulations or software to support Riverlane's research and technology.
• Explore quantum algorithms and their industrial applications.
• Communicate findings through discussions, presentations, and written reports.

Skills

PhD-focused research

General-purpose programming

Communication skills

Teamwork & initiative

Analytical thinking

Education

PhD in physics / maths / CS / engineering

Job description

Cambridge, UK | Full-time | Fixed-term, 3–6 months | Hybrid

Salary: £37,000 per annum, paid pro rata for the internship duration.

About Us

Riverlane's mission is to master quantum error correction (QEC) and unlock a new age of human progress. From advances in material and climate science, to complex chemistry simulation for new drug design, quantum computers will help humanity solve some of its most important challenges. But without QEC, the industry's defining technical challenge, such breakthroughs can never be achieved. Riverlane is the world leader in QEC technology. QEC is a complex problem that requires a range of skills, talent and passion.

Having raised more than $125M in funding to date to accelerate our cutting-edge R&D in quantum error correction (QEC), Riverlane partners with many of the world's leading quantum hardware providers and government agencies to make fault-tolerant quantum computing a reality. We're making remarkable progress and growing fast.

About the Role

Our full-time PhD internships offer current doctoral students the opportunity to apply their research skills to scientific and technical challenges in industry. You do not need a background in quantum computing to apply. We welcome students from a wide range of quantitative disciplines, including mathematics, physics, computer science and engineering.

Based at our headquarters in Cambridge, UK, you will work alongside researchers and engineers tackling challenges in quantum error correction and its applications. You will have a dedicated supervisor and a defined project matched to your background and skills, with support to develop your understanding of quantum computing.

We aim for every internship to deliver a tangible contribution, such as a research paper, an algorithm, a software tool, or a contribution to a product.

What You Will Do

• Investigate quantum error correction codes, decoding methods or related research challenges.
• Develop algorithms, simulations or software to support Riverlane's research and technology.
• Explore quantum algorithms and their potential industrial applications.

Throughout your internship, you will:

• Contribute to a project that supports Riverlane's scientific or technical goals.
• Work with your supervisor and colleagues to develop ideas, evaluate approaches, and solve problems.
• Communicate your findings through discussions, presentations, and written reports.

What We Need

• Currently pursuing a PhD in a quantitative discipline, such as physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering or a related technical field.
• Evidence of creative, high-quality research relevant to your stage of study.
• Experience with at least one general-purpose programming language.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting scientific work to others.
• The ability to take initiative and work effectively as part of a team.
• An interest in applying your academic expertise to practical challenges in industry.

Important Notes

• PhD students must temporarily step away from their PhD studies to undertake this internship. We can therefore only accept applications from current PhD students who do not require a visa to study in the UK and who already have the right to work in the UK for the full internship duration.
• We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or letters of support for sponsorship applications for this internship.
• PhD internships are full-time and between 3 and 6 months in length. Start dates can be flexible in 2027 – please let us know your preferred dates when you apply.
• Internships are based at our head office in Cambridge, UK.
• Please note that we require a signed agreement from you assigning the ownership of any IP produced during your internship to Riverlane.

Deadline

Please submit your application by Friday 6 November 2026. Interviews will be held in Cambridge, or virtually if required.

What to Expect from Us

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer private medical insurance, a health cash plan and life assurance, as well as many other benefits. You can also expect a diverse work environment that brings together experts in many fields (including software and hardware development, quantum information theory, physics, and maths) and over 25 different nationalities.

Everyone is welcome at Riverlane. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from eligible and suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity/paternity.

Women and other underrepresented groups may be less likely to apply for a role unless they meet all or nearly all of the requirements. If this applies to you, we still encourage you to apply - you may be a great fit, even if you don't meet every single qualification. We'd love to hear from you.

If you need any adjustments made to the application or selection process so you can do your best, please let us know. We will be happy to help.

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