Research Scientist Intern

About Upstart

At Upstart, we are united by a mission to reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. We use creativity, advanced AI, and experimentation to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially.

Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals to power smarter, fairer decisions. We are proudly digital-first with a focus on meaningful in-person connections through team onsites and collaborative sessions.

The Team

The Machine Learning team at Upstart includes research scientists, data scientists, and ML engineers focused on developing business-critical models that power underwriting, pricing, fraud detection, and fair lending. Collaboration, experimentation, and quality engineering are at the heart of our work.

The Role

As a Research Scientist Intern, you will work on applied machine learning problems, prototype new features and architectures, present your findings, and write production code in Python. You will receive mentorship from experienced ML practitioners and closely collaborate with ML scientists to improve our models.

How You’ll Make An Impact

• Research, develop and deploy new features/architectures/models.
• Write production-grade, tested, and scalable Python code.
• Communicate findings clearly to drive next steps.
• Collaborate with mentors to align stakeholders.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor degree in a quantitative field, on track to graduate by Summer 2027, proficiency in math, statistics, machine learning, programming in Python, and strong communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications: PhD or specialized research/training in machine learning, excellent Python coding skills.

Location & Work Arrangement

This role is available remotely across the United States, with periodic in-person collaborative sessions.

Compensation & Benefits

The anticipated base salary range is approximately $141,000 to $150,000 USD per year. In addition, Upstart offers target bonuses, equity compensation, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, and more.

Equal Opportunity

Upstart is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices. For accommodations during the application process, please email candidate_accommodations@upstart.com.

Key skills/competency

• Machine Learning
• Python
• Research
• Data Science
• Model Deployment
• Statistical Analysis
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Mentorship