Join Our Group

Opportunities for students and researchers to contribute to human-aligned AI research

1. External Students

Opportunities for students from outside IIT Madras to join HAILS Group.

PhD and MS (Research) Students

I am looking for multiple PhD and MS students to join the Human-Aligned Intelligent Learning Systems (HAILS) Group. Prospective students should apply to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras and mention my name in their application.

HAILS Group Mission:

Develop AI systems that are safe, reliable, and deeply aligned with human values and goals.

I am not hiring students for specific projects. I am looking for people who are generally interested in AI safety, human-AI collaboration, planning, and learning. Most of all, I want to build a diverse group aligned around our mission.

Application Process:
  1. Apply to IIT Madras: Submit your application through the official IIT Madras research admission portal
  2. Department Selection: Apply specifically to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering
  3. Mention My Name: In your application, mention Pulkit Verma as your preferred advisor
  4. Admission: Complete the admission process and get admitted to the department
  5. Contact Me: After admission, reach out to discuss research opportunities in HAILS Group

More relevant information is available from last admissions cycle at the Department of CSE's MS/PhD admissions page.

Apply to IIT Madras Research Programs

Summer Internships for Undergraduate Students

Internships are available during the summer break, typically from May 15 till July 15. We prefer students who have come through the "Summer Fellowship" of IIT Madras. It is also possible to host an intern with funding from one of our projects. As of now, I do not have open positions and you are encouraged to apply directly for the IITM summer fellowship programme through sfp.iitm.ac.in.

Some tips for prospective applicants:
  • Check our website (pages on research and publications) to see if your area of interest aligns with what is going on in our group.
  • Use the search box on the main website of IIT Madras for "summer fellowship" and go through the brochure. Usually the application process for this programme will be at sfp.iitm.ac.in
Some tips on how not to write for an internship:
  • Generic emails without addressing me directly. If an email does not address me directly, I am unlikely to respond positively. It is okay to use my first name. For more tips on emailing professors, see this guide.
  • Generic mail addressed to a whole bunch of faculty in one mail. I will assume that others in the To: list will respond.
  • Mailing a faculty member with their address in the bcc list. I don't even know if it is you or a virus in your computer that is sending the mail out. To be safe, I shall ignore such mails.
  • A mail without specifics on what you are interested in and what you want to work on with the host. I think it is easier for you to do homework and identify a topic than for me to spend time on a student who is not yet in my group.
  • Bombarding the inboxes of faculty members across the world with frequent mails without any homework on who could be interested and on what topic.
About the right time to apply for an internship:
  • Just after first year of your UG: You have no experience of courses in computer science and engineering. Internships are not possible for those entering second year UG. Use this summer break to do some general reading, improve your programming skills, meet up with grand parents and so on.
  • Just after second year: You would have already done couple of courses in computer science and engineering but perhaps not enough to actually think of a topic. You are welcome during this break but perhaps on generic topics which do not rely much on your core background. Take this up only if you are already comfortable with your academic responsibilities. It is often a good idea to spend this break at your own institute with your favourite teachers to learn more about what your Department / Institute has to offer you.
  • The summer break after third year of your UG: This is the best time to do an internship. Think of a topic that you could possibly continue working on during your project so that you can bring the work to a logical conclusion.

Note: The summer internship information above is adapted from Prof. Gandham Phanikumar's internships page.

2. IIT Madras Students

We are looking for IIT Madras students interested in research opportunities. Students from all departments are welcome to apply.

All IIT Madras Ph.D. and MS (Research) students please email me directly (pulkitv@cse.iitm.ac.in). All B.Tech. and M.Tech. students please fill the form below.

Interviews for positions will typically be performed at the beginning of each semester. We take undergraduate and Masters students at all levels. Prior research experience is not required.

Requirements:

Please keep in mind the following requirements (which are primarily in place to enable undergraduate and Masters researchers to be successful):

  • We expect a minimum of 15 hours per week commitment to research during the semester, and a minimum of 20 hours per week for Masters students. We expect 40 hours per week if student is working with us during the summer.
  • We expect all researchers to commit to at least one calendar year of research with the group (ideally more). Hence, we will typically not accept final semester undergraduates and final-year Masters students. Masters students, and 2nd and 3rd year undergrads are encouraged to apply (basically anyone who can work with us for at least a year).
  • Although courses like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are not a requirement, we do expect applicants to have some amount of prior experience in ML/AI, which may include online courses. Prior experience in robotics courses and other relevant AI courses such as Automated Planning and Learning, Reinforcement Learning, etc. is also encouraged. We encourage all applicants and undergraduate researchers to self-study relevant coursework.
How to Apply:

Fill out the application form using the link below.

Application Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about joining HAILS Group and the application process.

Can I contact you directly?

Feel free to email me at pulkitv@cse.iitm.ac.in, but please mention why you are specifically interested in my lab and your research interests. Include your CV and academic background.

What are you looking for in prospective students?

I'm looking for students with strong mathematical and programming backgrounds who are genuinely interested in AI safety, human-AI collaboration, and making AI systems more reliable and aligned with human values. Prior research experience is a plus but not required.

What is your advising style?

I believe in collaborative research where students have the freedom to explore their interests while receiving guidance and support. I work closely with students on research projects and encourage independent thinking and problem-solving.

Are you hiring postdocs?

I am not actively looking for a postdoc at this time, but if the right person comes along, I will be opportunistic. Please contact me if you are such a person and include your research interests and background.

I am not ready for a PhD or MS. Are there other opportunities?

If you are a current IIT Madras student interested in research in my group, please contact me. I don't have other open positions at this time, but I'm always open to discussing research opportunities with motivated students.

What research areas does HAILS Group focus on?

Our research spans AI safety, human-AI collaboration, automated planning, reinforcement learning, interpretable AI, and leveraging large language models for planning and reasoning. We're particularly interested in making AI systems more reliable and aligned with human values.

Note: This FAQ section is inspired by and adapted from Tom Silver's hiring page.