PhD Research Intern - Remote, Open-Source & Impact

Metacognition; United States; Remote; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote working

Competitive remuneration

Collaborative, fast-moving environment

Ownership and influence on product/方向

Job summary

Metacognition is seeking a Research Intern, a PhD student who will join for a fixed-term three-month placement to contribute to an active research project. You will work closely with a Research Scientist and the Chief Scientist to shape a defined research question aligned with priority areas, bringing fresh ideas and technical depth from your doctoral work.

You will implement methods, build prototypes, run rigorous experiments, and produce a tangible outcome such as a paper, workshop

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a PhD in computer science, machine learning, mathematics or related field.
• Research experience in an area relevant to the company’s priorities, evidenced in your doctoral work.
• Strong programming skills using agentic frameworks (e.g., Claude Code and Codex), and experience implementing and running research experiments using PyTorch.
• Familiarity with current research in your field, and the ability to read, evaluate, and build on recent literature.
• Solid grounding in the mathematical and methodological foundations of your research area.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain technical work to colleagues.
• Ability to work independently on a defined problem while collaborating well with a supervisor and team.
• Availability for a full-time, three-month placement.

Responsibilities

• Work with your supervisor to refine a research question within the company’s priority areas and help shape the project’s direction from the start of the internship.
• Get up to speed quickly on prior and current work related to the project and identify gaps or opportunities the project can address.
• Implement methods, build prototypes, and carry out rigorous experiments, with careful attention to baselines, evaluation, and reproducibility.
• Draw on your own expertise to suggest new approaches, challenge assumptions, and enrich the team’s thinking.
• Interpret findings critically and share progress regularly with your supervisor, the Chief Scientist, and the wider research team through meetings, discussions, and written updates.
• Engage with other researchers and interns, take part in reading groups and research discussions, and contribute constructively to the team’s culture.
• Work toward a tangible result by the end of the internship, such as a paper or workshop submission, a technical report, or an open-source release.
• Leave behind clean, well-documented code and clear notes so the work can be continued or built on after the internship ends.

Job description

Metacognition is seeking a Research Intern, a PhD student who will join for a fixed-term three-month placement to contribute to an active research project. You will work closely with a Research Scientist and the Chief Scientist to shape a defined research question aligned with priority areas, bringing fresh ideas and technical depth from your doctoral work.

You will implement methods, build prototypes, run rigorous experiments, and produce a tangible outcome such as a paper, workshop