Research Scientist Intern

Job ID: 1106
Department: Machine Learning

About Upstart

At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence. As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress. We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you. If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.

The Team

Machine Learning is at the heart of Upstart’s business model; our models are the product. Our team includes research scientists, data scientists, and machine learning engineers who build and improve production models and the systems around them across the funnel: underwriting and pricing, fraud detection, performance marketing, loan servicing and fair lending/explainability. We tackle high‑impact problems from underwriting and pricing to monitoring and fairness where creativity, rigor, and strong engineering directly move the business.

The Role

As a Research Scientist Intern, you will work on real-world applied machine learning problems and contribute to the development of business-critical models. You will prototype new features/architectures, present your findings to the team and write production code to deploy your changes. You will receive mentorship from experienced ML practitioners and collaborate closely with ML scientists to improve our models.

How you’ll make an impact

Research, develop and deploy new features/architectures/models.
Write production-grade code (tested, reviewed and scalable Python).
Communicate findings clearly to get buy-in for recommended next steps.
Work with your mentor to align stakeholders and drive next steps.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor (or above) degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Computer Science or a related quantitative field. Must be on track to graduate by summer 2027.
Proficiency in a broad array of mathematical, statistical, and machine learning skills.
Programming skills in Python.
Strong sense of intellectual curiosity, humility, drive and teamwork as well as communication skills.
Ability to use modern agentic tooling (Claude Code, Codex, etc.) efficiently.

Preferred Qualifications

PhD in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Computer Science or a related quantitative field. Must be on track to graduate by summer 2027.
Specialized research in statistical/probabilistic modeling or machine learning OR specialized training (e.g., data science bootcamp) covering all steps of modeling process from ideation to productionalizing code.
Excellent coding skills in Python.

Position location

This role is available remotely.

Travel requirements

As a digital first company majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. Most employees can live/work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to spend high quality time collaborating via regular onsites. In-person sessions cadence varies depending on team/role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2–4 consecutive days at a time.

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Compensation & Benefits

At Upstart your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected within: United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range $141,000—$150,000 USD Actual base pay depends on geographic location (Upstart uses compensation regions), job-related skills/experience/education/training. Recruiter can share specific salary range during hiring process. In addition:

Target bonuses
Equity compensation
Generous benefits packages including medical/dental/vision/401k

What you'll love

Upstart benefits support health financial well-being family personal growth:

Competitive compensation: base pay + bonus + annual equity grants vesting quarterly
Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed up to $15k/year
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
Affordable medical/dental/vision coverage; Upstart covers 90%-100% depending on plans chosen
Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
Income protection benefits including company-paid Basic Life AD&D Short-/Long-Term Disability coverage; options for supplemental coverage purchase
Paid time off including sick/safe time & company holidays
Paid family & parental leave supporting caregiving & major life moments
Family-centered benefits through Carrot & Cleo supporting fertility parenthood caregiving
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support & life-centered resources
Financial wellness resources including financial planning tools & concierge service
Annual wellness allowance supporting physical/emotional well-being & personal development based on individual needs
Annual productivity allowance for relevant tools/resources needed regardless of work location
Connection/community via team events/onsites/all-company updates/employee resource groups (ERGs)
Onsite perks including catered lunches & fully stocked micro-kitchens at four offices: Bay Area Austin Columbus New York City (opening Summer 2026)

Upstart is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusive/fair hiring practices. If reasonable accommodation needed during application/interview/testing process contact: candidate_accommodations@upstart.com Privacy policy link: https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy