Research Intern, ClickHouse Labs

ClickHouse; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Healthcare - employer contributions

Equity in the company

Time off - Flexible time off

Home office stipend

Global gatherings

Job summary

ClickHouse Labs is hosting a PhD Research Internship Program that enables doctoral students to pursue ambitious research alongside ClickHouse Labs researchers and engineers. Interns engage in research collaboration, pairing with experienced researchers to explore meaningful questions in databases, systems, and data infrastructure.

Interns join for 10-12 weeks, with potential continuation through academia, open-source work, publications, or collaboration.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a PhD in computer science or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research excellence in database or systems topics.
• Strong background in databases, distributed systems, or related areas.

Responsibilities

• Pursue meaningful research questions in ClickHouse Labs.
• Develop new ideas and investigate technologies with potential impact.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to align with academic interests.

Skills

PhD student

Research collaboration

Database systems

Distributed systems

Education

PhD in computer science or related field

Job description

Program Overview

The ClickHouse PhD Research Internship Program offers doctoral students the opportunity to pursue ambitious research alongside ClickHouse Labs researchers and engineers working on some of the most interesting challenges in databases, systems, and data infrastructure.

Research interns join ClickHouse Labs for approximately 10-12 weeks to explore meaningful research questions, develop new ideas, and investigate technologies that have the potential to advance both the broader research community and the future of ClickHouse.

The program is intentionally designed around research collaboration. Interns are paired with experienced researchers and have the opportunity to pursue work that aligns with their academic interests, ongoing research, and areas of interest within ClickHouse Labs. In some cases, an internship may build on research, a prototype, or a system the student has already begun exploring at their university.

We believe the strongest research relationships extend beyond a single summer. Interns may continue their work after returning to their university through academic research, open-source contributions, publications, or other forms of collaboration. Where there is a strong mutual fit, an internship may become the beginning of a longer-term relationship between the researcher, ClickHouse Labs, and the broader academic community.

During their internship, researchers will have the opportunity to work closely with ClickHouse Labs, engage with ClickHouse's open-source technology and engineering community, share their findings, and contribute to the intellectual life of the broader research community.

Program length: 10-12 weeks, with flexibility based on academic calendars and research needs

Typical timing: Summer, beginning approximately June 1

Locations: Opportunities available across the US and Europe, subject to role and employment requirements. Remote first.

Research environment: ClickHouse Labs

Internship format: Research-focused, mentor-supported, and shaped around areas of mutual research interest

Compensation: commensurate with experience, a monthly stipend will be paid

Research at ClickHouse Labs

ClickHouse Labs explores ambitious ideas at the intersection of databases, distributed systems, data infrastructure, and the broader systems research community.

We believe some of the most interesting advances in these areas happen through close collaboration between industry and academia. ClickHouse Labs brings together researchers and engineers to explore new ideas, investigate challenging technical problems, and connect academic research with real-world systems at scale.

Research interns are an important part of that community. Interns have the opportunity to bring their own research interests and perspectives into ClickHouse Labs while working alongside researchers and engineers who are deeply engaged with both the practical challenges and open research questions shaping the future of data systems.

Program Goals

• Identify exceptional PhD researchers working in areas directly relevant to ClickHouse.
• Give researchers the opportunity to work on meaningful, open-ended problems with ClickHouse Labs.
• Build long-term relationships with researchers and academic institutions.
• Encourage continued research and open-source contributions after the internship.
• Create opportunities for co-authored papers, thesis advising, or other academic collaboration.
• Increase ClickHouse's visibility within the database and systems research community.
• Publish and share meaningful research outcomes through the ClickHouse website and other appropriate channels.

What Makes the Program Different

This Is Intentionally Not a Highly Structured Engineering Internship And Should Not Detailed Planning. ****But The High-level Problem Area And Expectations Should Defined Several Months Before The Internship Begins. This Flexibility Is Intentional And Allows ClickHouse Labs To Respond To

• Emerging research questions
• Current ClickHouse priorities
• New academic research
• Interesting systems or database prototypes
• Work candidates have already completed
• Opportunities to apply new research ideas to ClickHouse

Candidate Profile

We are looking for exceptional PhD students conducting research directly relevant to ClickHouse and the broader database/systems space.

Ideal candidates

• Currently pursuing a PhD in computer science or a closely related field
• Conducting research in areas relevant to ClickHouse
• Demonstrated research excellence
• Strong database systems, distributed systems, hardware, or related technical background
• Has demonstrated ability to independently pursue complex research questions
• Ideally has prior experience with ClickHouse open source but not required**.
• Has research, prototypes, or publications that could translate into meaningful work with ClickHouse
• Interested in continuing research beyond the internship
• Potential interest in open-source contribution and academic collaboration

Candidate Selection Philosophy

The strongest candidates will be researchers whose work is specifically relevant to what ClickHouse Labs wants to explore.

A Candidate Who Has Already

• Worked with ClickHouse
• Built a relevant database or systems prototype
• Published research in an area relevant to ClickHouse
• Explored a technical problem ClickHouse is interested in

may be significantly more valuable than a candidate with an otherwise impressive academic profile but no meaningful connection to our research areas.

Research Areas & Project Scope

Unlike an engineering internship program, specific projects do not need to be defined when recruiting begins.

Research Projects May Emerge From

• A candidate's existing research
• A recent academic paper
• A prototype or system the candidate has developed
• An emerging ClickHouse Labs research priority
• An opportunity to test or extend an existing research concept within ClickHouse

Perks

• Flexible work environment - ClickHouse is a globally distributed company and remote-friendly. We currently operate in over 25 countries.
• Healthcare - Employer contributions towards your healthcare.
• Equity in the company - Every new team member who joins our company receives stock options.
• Time off - Flexible time off in the US, generous entitlement in other countries.
• A USD$500 Home office setup if you’re a remote employee.
• Global Gatherings - We believe in the power of in-person connection and offer opportunities to engage with colleagues at company-wide offsites.

Culture - We All Shape It

As part of a rapidly scaling start-up, you will be instrumental in shaping our culture.

Are you interested in finding out more about our culture? Learn more about our values here. Check out our blog posts or follow us on LinkedIn to find out more about what’s happening at ClickHouse.

Equal Opportunity & Privacy

ClickHouse provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on factors such as race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Please see here for our Privacy Statement.