Research Scientist Intern

Upstart•San Mateo, CA

1d•$141,000 - $150,000•Remote

About The Position

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.

Requirements

Bachelor (or above) degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Computer Science or a related quantitative field. We require that you are on track to graduate by the summer of 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, …) efficiently.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Research, develop and deploy new features/architectures/models.
Write production-grade code, i.e. 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.

Benefits

Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service
Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
Connection and community through team events and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).