Research Scientist Intern (Privacy Innovation Lab) - 2025 Summer (PhD)

Tiktok - Seattle, WA

Full-time - Intern

Seattle, WA

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

About the position

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video, and our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. The Privacy Innovation (PI) Lab at TikTok is dedicated to exploring the next frontier of privacy technology and theory in our increasingly digital world. We provide key insights and technical solutions on privacy-related innovations for all TikTok products, collaborating with global technical and academic communities to foster an open ecosystem that promotes a privacy-friendly digital experience. We are currently seeking talented individuals for a Research Intern position for the summer of 2025. This internship is designed to offer students industry exposure and hands-on experience, allowing them to turn their ambitions into reality while contributing to our mission. Interns will engage in a vibrant blend of social events and development workshops, providing opportunities to explore potential career paths while utilizing their knowledge in real-world scenarios. The internship program will run for 12 weeks, starting in May/June 2025, with specific start dates available for candidates to choose from. Successful candidates will assist in identifying new opportunities and developing scientifically sound systems to enhance technological guarantees for user privacy. They will contribute to the development of libraries and tools that support both research and business objectives, and will have the opportunity to publish influential research findings in prestigious journals and conferences. This role is pivotal in advancing the efficient frontier of privacy and utility within our systems, making it an exciting opportunity for those passionate about privacy technology.

Responsibilities

• Identify new opportunities to improve technological guarantees for user privacy.
• Develop scientifically sound systems that advance the efficient frontier of privacy and utility.
• Contribute to the development of libraries and tools to support research and business.
• Publish influential research findings in prestigious journals and conferences.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a PhD degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
• Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2025.
• At least one of the following skills is required: Secure Multi-Party Computation techniques, Differential Privacy, Federated Learning or Federated Analytics, Homomorphic Encryption.
• Ability to communicate research findings clearly and precisely.
• Ability to design and implement analytical and/or algorithmic solutions tailored to specific business needs and tested on large data sets.
• Programming proficiency in Python, C++, Pytorch, Tensorflow, etc.
• A demonstrated track record of research publication.
• Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment.

Nice-to-haves

• Graduating December 2025 onwards with the intent to return to degree program after the completion of the internship.

Benefits

• Hands-on experience in developing fundamental skills.
• Opportunities to explore potential career paths.
• Vibrant blend of social events and enriching development workshops.