Machine Learning PhD Intern, Economics (Fall)

About this role

Instacart's Economics team is seeking PhD-level interns to develop machine learning solutions addressing marketplace optimization, pricing, and causal inference problems. You'll work cross-functionally on high-impact projects spanning advertising, uplift modeling, logistics, and behavioral economics in a remote, flexible environment.

What you'll do

• Design and implement end-to-end machine learning solutions for economics problems
• Conduct causal inference analysis using observational and experimental data
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineers, product managers, and data scientists
• Own projects from problem definition through experimentation and solution recommendation
• Contribute to marketplace optimization across consumers, shoppers, and retailers
• Share research insights and best practices within the internal economics community

What they're looking for

• Python or R programming
• Causal inference and econometrics
• Machine learning frameworks (scikit-learn, XGBoost, Keras/TensorFlow)
• SQL and data manipulation (Pandas)
• Economic theory and applied econometrics
• Experimental design and A/B testing
• Statistical analysis
• Business acumen

Benefits

• Flexible remote work arrangement
• Market-competitive compensation
• In-person community events
• Access to internal economics and data science community
• Ownership opportunities on meaningful projects