2027 PhD Summer Associate, Machine Learning Research

About AQR Capital Management

Founded in 1998, AQR is a global systematic investment management firm. As quantitative investors, research is the foundation of everything we do. We manage a range of alternative and long-only strategies designed to meet the needs of institutional and wealth investors around the world.

AQR’s culture reflects the firm’s academic roots and entrepreneurial spirit. Our collaborative environment fuels innovation and encourages employees to ask thoughtful questions, think creatively and bring new ideas forward. Continuous learning is an important part of the employee experience, helping our people build skills and grow throughout their careers. Employees at every level have opportunities to contribute, regardless of title or tenure.

The firm has 800 employees with headquarters in Greenwich, Connecticut and offices in London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Hong Kong, Sydney and Bengaluru.

The Internship Program

Our 10-week summer program puts real work of the firm in your hands. You will work alongside brilliant people, gain insights and know-how from our Quanta Academy Summer Term curriculum, and experience what it’s like to work at the pinnacle of global, systematic investing.

Learning is the cornerstone of our culture and plays an active role in the internship experience — through daily collaboration and interaction with employees at all levels, in workshops and classes, and most significantly by working on projects that matter to the many clients we serve. Our unique AQR Quanta Academy: Summer Term learning series, a structured program, consists of over 40 hours of educational, skill-building and networking events.

Your Role

AQR Capital Management is seeking a Research Associate to join our team of professionals and focus on our machine learning proprietary strategies related to global stock selection, asset allocation, risk management and trading. Candidates should be motivated and enthusiastic about implementing new ideas and are expected to be hands-on and self-sufficient in conducting all aspects of research projects. The role will involve collaboration with other researchers, portfolio managers, risk managers and traders to develop new and improve current investment strategies. As a summer intern your projects will include aspects of the following:

Performing statistical and economic research using financial data to develop new, and improve current machine learning investment strategies in collaboration with existing research teams

Conducting research on various aspects of the implementation of investment strategies such as trading cost models, risk models, optimization, and portfolio construction

Adding features to proprietary research system to implement new research ideas

Participating in the design and development of research infrastructure for the purpose of conducting economic and statistical research

What You’ll Bring

December 2027 or Spring 2028 PhD candidate from a top program in finance, economics, or a quantitative discipline (Operations Research, Applied Math, Computer Science, Statistics, etc.)

Strong understanding of machine learning concepts and how they are applied to finance preferred

Research experience with AI and agentic frameworks preferred

Experience with high performance computing and cloud computing

Experience with AIML modeling and machine learning software libraries such as TensorFlow or PyTorch

Experience conducting empirical research, including the cleaning, structuring, and analyzing large data sets

Strong background in econometrics or statistics

Knowledge of optimization methods

Coding experience in Python, R, C++, or MATLAB required

Strong analytical and problem solving skills

Strong presentation skills and ability to discuss and explain involved concepts in both verbal and written form

AQR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EEO/VET/DISABILITY