Applied Scientist Intern

Upstart; United States; Remote; USD 141,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

401(k) with company match

Equity / ESPP

Comprehensive health coverage

Job summary

Upstart is seeking an Applied Scientist Intern to become a specialist in our models, products, and codebase. You will identify problems, communicate insights, and propose solutions with mentorship from experienced ML practitioners.

You will research machine learning approaches, design experiments, and translate results into actionable recommendations and production-ready improvements for our lending platform.

Qualifications

• On track to graduate by 2028 in a quantitative field.
• Strong fundamentals in statistical theory, probability, and ML.
• Experience evaluating models with Python and basic SQL.

Responsibilities

• Research ML approaches to improve model performance and business value.
• Design, implement, and evaluate model or product enhancements with rigorous experimentation.
• Translate findings into clear recommendations and production-ready solutions.
• Collaborate with mentor to align stakeholders and plan next steps.

Skills

Python

Data analysis

SQL

Machine learning theory

Statistics

Communication

Agentic tooling

Education

Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in quantitative field

Tools

Python

Codex

Claude Code

Job description

About Upstart

At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.

As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 3,000 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.

We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City, you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.

If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role

As an Applied Scientist Intern, you will become a specialist in our models, products, business and/or codebase. You will identify potential problems or opportunities for improvement, communicate these to the team and suggest solutions. This involves self-directed investigation, offline analyses using creative thinking as well as presentation to the ML team. You will receive mentorship from experienced ML practitioners and collaborate closely with the team to improve our products and models.

How you’ll make an impact

• Research machine learning and statistical approaches to discover improvements to the predictive performance and/or business value of a model.
• Design, implement, and evaluate model, product, or technical enhancements using rigorous experimentation and validation methods.
• Translate research findings into clear recommendations, documented methodologies, and production-ready solutions.
• Work with your mentor to align stakeholders, and drive next steps.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor. Masters or PHD degree in mathematics, statistics, physics, econometrics, computer science, or a related quantitative field. On track to graduate by 2028.
• Strong fundamentals in statistical, probability, and machine learning theory.
• Ability to perform data analysis and evaluate machine learning or statistical models using Python, as well as basic SQL foundations.
• Intellectual curiosity, humility, drive and teamwork.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to use modern agentic tooling (Claude Code, Codex, …) efficiently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Phd in mathematics, statistics, physics, econometrics, computer science, or a related quantitative field. On track to graduate by the summer of 2028.
• Experience in supervised learning, model evaluation, and feature engineering techniques.
• Advanced statistical (frequentist, bayesian, causal) theory/econometrics knowledge.
• Strong coding skills in Python.

Position location

This role is Fully Remote

Travel requirements

As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. To this end, over the course of the internship, you will meet to collaborate once or twice, for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

This internship is eligible for a different set of benefits than those listed below for our full-time roles. Your recruiter will be happy to share more details.

At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).

United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$141,000—$150,000 USD

What you'll love

At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
• Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only)
• Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only)Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security
• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country)
• Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only)
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
• Connection and community through team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City

For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in Quebec.

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [e-mail]