Intern, Machine Learning - Protein Design (MS/PhD)

Position description:

Calico is seeking an intern to join the Machine Learning (Protein Design) group. To succeed, you will need to be an enthusiastic team player, detail-oriented, extremely organized and comfortable working on complex problems.  In this position you will perform research in the area of generative AI for protein and molecular design. The successful candidate will work closely with members of the Machine Learning (Protein Design) group on advancing the state-of-the-art in protein language modeling, structure prediction, and design.

Responsibilities: 

• Gain expertise in state-of-the-art research ideas and literature in machine learning based protein design
• Implement novel ideas for improving protein design methods
• Develop benchmarks to validate models and compare performance to existing internal and public methods
• Communicate results through presentation and/or publication

Position requirements:

• Currently pursuing a Master’s (MS) or PhD degree in Computer Science, Computational Biology, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field 
• Experience working with machine learning methods to solve challenging problems, including experience working with Python and PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX or related ML frameworks
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem solving skills
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• Self-motivated with a “can-do” attitude
• Flexible, able to respond quickly to shifting priorities and able to multitask
• Available to work for the summer months in person at our location in South San Francisco, CA

Nice to have:

• Experience with language models for biological sequence data, structure prediction models such as AlphaFold, generative models such as RFDiffusion, and/or inverse folding models for de novo protein design
• Experience applying machine learning to problems in the physical sciences, especially biology or chemistry
• Strong software engineering skills, especially working in a team environment and familiarity with software engineering best practices

About our Program:

Calico’s internship program is a paid 12-week program over the summer for students interested in understanding the fundamental science of aging and finding treatments for the associated and intractable diseases. Working in a collaborative environment and fully embedded in one of our labs/teams, Calico interns tackle a unique project under the mentorship of at least one of our scientists or engineers. Students from all schools, and students who identify with a demographic that is underrepresented within the technology, data science, and healthcare industries are encouraged to apply. This includes but is not limited to Black, Latinx, Native American, students with disabilities, veterans, and non-binary people.

Program Features:

• 3-month summer timeline
• In-person experience at our offices in South San Francisco
• Matching with at least one Calico mentor
• Group supplemental activities weekly featuring guest speakers, Senior Leadership spotlights, and discussion groups on aging science, our drug development approach, and more
• End-of-summer company-wide project showcase and poster session
• Competitive compensation ($40 - $65/hour) and monthly living expenses stipend
  

Program Eligibility:

• Able to work in-person at our offices in South San Francisco
• Free for a consecutive period of 11-12 weeks in June, July, and August
• Not graduating before December 2025
  • Exception for students enrolling into a graduate degree program in Fall 2025
• Must be enrolled in a US university