Quantitative Research Intern - PhD

Opportunities available in Chicago, Sydney, and Amsterdam
At IMC, Quant Research Interns work at the intersection of advanced machine learning techniques and high-impact, real-world trading strategies. Our internship program is designed to allow you to apply your research skills in a fast-paced, innovative environment. As part of our team, you will work on developing predictive models using large-scale data analyses, pushing the boundaries of our research methodology. You will collaborate with experienced researchers, traders, and engineers, all while receiving mentorship from a senior member of our team.
Your Core Responsibilities:

• Conduct hands-on research to design, develop, and apply original machine learning algorithms, with the autonomy to explore and innovate
• Apply your experience in at least one of the following techniques: Deep Neural Networks, Reinforcement Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Time Series Analysis, Anomaly Detection, and Pattern Recognition
• Architect, prototype, and refine predictive models and trading strategies for robustness and scalability
• Analyze large, complex datasets to uncover statistically significant patterns and market behavior insights
• Communicate research progress and outcomes effectively, ensuring knowledge transfer within the team and across departments
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team to enhance IMC's machine learning capabilities and trading strategies

Your Skills and Experience:

• Currently enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or related field of study
• Must be able to intern starting June 2025 and open to commence full-time employment upon graduation in 2026 or 2027
• Deep understanding of machine learning, probability, and statistics, with practical experience in areas such as time series analysis, pattern recognition, portfolio optimization, market impact modelling and NLP
• Proven ability to conduct original research and deliver impactful results
• Extensive experience with modern deep learning architectures, with a solid foundation in classic machine learning techniques
• Strong programming skills in Python required
• Demonstrated experience with C++ a plus
• Experience with multi-modal, multi-domain learning, and online learning is highly desirable
• Familiarity with analyzing large, unstructured, and heterogeneous datasets
• Theoretical and hands-on experience with time series forecasting is a plus

About Us
IMC is a global trading firm powered by a cutting-edge research environment and a world-class technology backbone. Since 1989, we've been a stabilizing force in financial markets, providing essential liquidity upon which market participants depend. Across our offices in the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and India, our talented quant researchers, engineers, traders, and business operations professionals are united by our uniquely collaborative, high-performance culture, and our commitment to giving back. From entering dynamic new markets to embracing disruptive technologies, and from developing an innovative research environment to diversifying our trading strategies, we dare to continuously innovate and collaborate to succeed.