Research Scientist Intern, Optimization, Privacy and Inference

About Meta's Central Applied Science Team

Central Applied Science is a dynamic research and development team at Meta, dedicated to enhancing Meta’s products and infrastructure through rigorous scientific methods and innovative methodologies. Our work creates significant real-world impact by addressing new opportunities and challenges across Meta’s vast ecosystem, including the family of apps that connect billions globally daily.

Our team is interdisciplinary, bringing together expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, economics, and operations research. This diverse skill set fosters rich research and enables us to tackle a broad range of complex projects. We collaborate extensively with other Meta groups and the academic community, and we contribute to the open-source community by building and releasing technical products aligned with our research areas.

We are seeking Research Scientist Interns, Optimization, Privacy and Inference to join our team. Ideal candidates will possess extensive graduate training in a core scientific field, practical experience in developing applied solutions, and a strong interest in resolving challenging, open-ended problems to enhance Meta’s products and systems with tangible impact.

Our internships span sixteen (16) to twenty-four (24) weeks, designed to allow interns to both ship advancements into production and author papers for leading conferences and workshops. We offer various start dates throughout the year.

Research Scientist Intern, Optimization, Privacy and Inference Responsibilities

• Answer critical product and business questions by applying appropriate scientific methodologies and developing new ones as needed.
• Synthesize and apply insights from relevant academic literature to improve Meta’s products.
• Effectively communicate complex technical topics to diverse audiences.
• Work both independently and collaboratively with fellow scientists, engineers, and product teams to achieve intricate tasks that generate value for Meta’s community of over 3.5 billion users.
• Identify new opportunities across Meta’s family of apps and products where scientific insights can drive significant improvements in product features or infrastructure.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in empirical research, including the ability to manipulate and analyze complex data and clearly communicate quantitative analyses.
• Proficiency in common programming languages like Python or C++, strong development capabilities, and familiarity with software engineering best practices.
• Experience utilizing machine learning and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or scikit-learn.
• Proven interpersonal experience, particularly in cross-group and cross-cultural collaboration.
• Must obtain and maintain work authorization in the country of employment throughout the internship.

Preferred Qualifications

• A strong track record of achieving significant results, evidenced by grants, fellowships, patents, or first-authored publications in top-tier workshops or conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, KDD, AISTATS, or ICLR.
• Experience in cross-functional team environments and effective communication within such settings.
• Intent to return to a degree program upon completion of the internship/co-op.

About Meta

Meta is at the forefront of building technologies that empower connection, foster communities, and help businesses thrive. Since Facebook's inception in 2004, it has revolutionized global communication. With apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, billions have been further empowered. Meta is now pioneering the shift from 2D screens to immersive experiences through augmented and virtual reality, shaping the next evolution of social technology. Individuals who contribute to Meta help craft a future that extends beyond current digital connections – transcending screen limitations, spatial distances, and even the laws of physics.

Meta is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities during our recruiting process; please contact accommodations-ext@meta.com for assistance.

Key skills/competency

• Optimization
• Privacy
• Inference
• Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• Data Analysis
• Python
• C++
• PyTorch
• Scikit-learn