Machine Learning Research Intern - Summer 2027 - Chicago

IMC Trading; Illinois; On-site; USD 270,000 - 330,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel and accommodation

Job summary

IMC Trading offers a Machine Learning Internship designed for PhD candidates who want to apply ML to real-world trading problems. Over 10-12 weeks, you will work with experienced researchers to build models, analyze datasets, and contribute to research influencing IMC's trading strategies across global equities, futures, and options.

You will receive classroom and on-desk training, professional development, and networking opportunities, with travel and accommodation provided.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or a related quantitative field and graduating between September 2027 - July 2028.
• Strong foundations in machine learning, probability, and statistics, with experience applying advanced ML techniques to solve challenging research or real-world problems.
• Demonstrated hands-on research experience in deep learning fundamentals such as neural network architectures, sequence modeling, training dynamics, or optimization.
• Proficiency in Python and modern machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, Tensorflow, and/or JAX.
• Demonstrated research excellence through publications, preprints, research internships, or significant research projects; publications at venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, or equivalent conferences are highly preferred.
• Must be able to start internship in-person on June 7, 2027

Responsibilities

• Conduct hands-on research to design, develop, and apply original machine learning algorithms, with the support to explore and innovate.
• Analyze large-scale datasets, develop predictive models, and evaluate novel approaches to complex market problems
• Develop your research skills through hands-on project work, mentorship, and regular feedback from experienced researchers
• Enhance your understanding of quantitative trading through classroom-based instruction in options theory, market making, and related topics

Skills

Machine learning

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

JAX

Research experience

Education

PhD candidate

Job description

Our Machine Learning Internship is designed for curious, ambitious researchers who want to apply machine learning to complex, real-world problems. Over 10-12 weeks, you'll work alongside experienced researchers and mentors to develop models, analyze large-scale datasets, and contribute to research that informs IMC's trading strategies across global equities, futures, and options markets. You'll gain hands-on experience designing experiments, evaluating novel approaches, and tackling challenging problems in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where your work can have real-world impact.

Throughout the program, you'll deepen your understanding of quantitative trading through a combination of classroom and on desk training, while benefiting from professional development and networking opportunities. We offer a highly competitive compensation package, including travel and accommodation. High-performing interns may be considered for a full-time Graduate Researcher position upon graduation.

YOUR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct hands-on research to design, develop, and apply original machine learning algorithms, with the support to explore and innovate.
• Analyze large-scale datasets, develop predictive models, and evaluate novel approaches to complex market problems
• Develop your research skills through hands-on project work, mentorship, and regular feedback from experienced researchers
• Enhance your understanding of quantitative trading through classroom-based instruction in options theory, market making, and related topics

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Pursuing a PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or a related quantitative field and graduating between September 2027 - July 2028
• Strong foundations in machine learning, probability, and statistics, with experience applying advanced ML techniques to solve challenging research or real-world problems
• Demonstrated hands-on research experience in deep learning fundamentals such as neural network architectures, sequence modeling, training dynamics, or optimization
• Proficiency in Python and modern machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, Tensorflow, and/or JAX
• Demonstrated research excellence through publications, preprints, research internships, or significant research projects; publications at venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, or equivalent conferences are highly preferred
• Must be able to start internship in-person on June 7, 2027

The Base Salary range for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance. Please visit Benefits - US | IMC Trading for more comprehensive information.

Base Salary: $300,000

About Us

IMC is a research-driven trading firm where quantitative modeling, machine learning, and engineering shape how modern markets are traded. A stabilizing force in markets since 1989, we provide liquidity across trading venues, delivering the best outcome in value and risk management to investors. Using our own technology and capital, we build proprietary systems and algorithms that operate across global markets. Our researchers, traders, and engineers work as a collective, combining rapid experimentation, advanced infrastructure, and real-time feedback to turn insight into execution and execution into advantage.