Research Intern (AML-Algorithm) - 2026 Start (PhD)

Join ByteDance's Applied Machine Learning team as a Research Intern (PhD) in 2026. This role involves conducting cutting-edge research in machine learning for recommendation systems, exploring large-scale models, generative recommendation, or reinforcement learning for personalization. You will prototype new modeling strategies using multi-modal data and investigate long-term user behavior. Collaborate with experts, test ideas in real-world environments, and share findings through presentations and publications, contributing to products like TikTok and Douyin.

Must Have

• Currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Strong research background in machine learning, deep learning, recommender systems, or related areas.
• Proficiency in Python or C++.
• Familiarity with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Solid understanding of modern machine learning methods (transformers, LLMs, multi-modal learning).
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, with strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Good to Have

• Prior research or publications in top-tier ML/AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, KDD, RecSys, WWW).
• Experience with large-scale ML systems or end-to-end ML pipelines.
• Passion for applying research to real-world challenges in recommendation, personalization, and user experience.

Perks & Benefits

• Day one access to health insurance
• Life insurance
• Wellbeing benefits
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid sick time (56 hours if hired in first half of year, 40 if hired in second half of year)
• Housing allowance (for non-100% remote interns)

Responsibilities

You will be joining our Applied Machine Learning team, a central team responsible for delivering state-of-the-art solutions powering our company's recommendations, ads, and search systems across various products such as TikTok, Douyin. We own the end-to-end ML lifecycle, from ideation and research to building, deploying, and iterating on models in production. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about solving complex problems and have a strong foundation in machine learning theory and practice. We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship in 2026. PhD Internships at ByteDance aim to provide students with the opportunity to actively contribute to our products and research, and to the organization's future plans and emerging technologies. PhD internships at ByteDance provide students with the opportunity to actively contribute to our products and research, and to the organization's future plans and emerging technologies. Our dynamic internship experience blends hands-on learning, enriching community-building and development events, and collaboration with industry experts. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis - we encourage you to apply early. Please state your availability clearly in your resume (Start date, End date). Responsibilities: - Conduct research in machine learning for recommendation systems, with opportunities to explore large-scale recommendation models, generative recommendation, or reinforcement learning for personalization. - Explore and prototype new modeling strategies that leverage multi-modal data (e.g., text, image, video) to enhance content and user understanding. - Investigate long-term user behavior modeling and reinforcement learning techniques to improve sustained engagement. - Collaborate with mentors and other researchers/engineers to test your ideas in real-world environments. - Share findings through internal presentations, technical reports, and potentially external publications.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: - Currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field. - Strong research background in machine learning, deep learning, recommender systems, or related areas. - Proficiency in at least one programming language such as Python or C++, and familiarity with deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow). - Solid understanding of modern machine learning methods, such as transformers, large language models (LLMs), or multi-modal learning. - Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, with strong problem-solving and analytical skills. Preferred Qualification: - Prior research or publications in top-tier ML/AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, KDD, RecSys, WWW). - Experience with large-scale ML systems or end-to-end ML pipelines is a plus. - Passion for applying research to real-world challenges in recommendation, personalization, and user experience. By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://jobs.bytedance.com/en/legal/privacy

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern

The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $60- $60.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Interns have day one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits and more. Interns also receive 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in first half of year, 40 if hired in second half of year). Interns who are not working 100% remote may also be eligible for housing allowance.

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:

1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;

2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and

3. Exercising sound judgment.

About Us

Founded in 2012, ByteDance's mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life. With a suite of more than a dozen products, including TikTok, Lemon8, CapCut and Pico as well as platforms specific to the China market, including Toutiao, Douyin, and Xigua, ByteDance has made it easier and more fun for people to connect with, consume, and create content.

Why Join ByteDance

Inspiring creativity is at the core of ByteDance's mission. Our innovative products are built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and enrich life - a mission we work towards every day.

As ByteDancers, we strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our Company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion

ByteDance is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At ByteDance, our mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.

Reasonable Accommodation

ByteDance is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request