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

Tiktok - San Jose, CA

Full-time - Intern

San Jose, CA

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 a privacy-friendly digital experience. We are currently seeking talented individuals for a Research Internship in 2025, aimed at offering students industry exposure and hands-on experience in a vibrant and innovative environment. As a Research Intern, you will play a crucial role in identifying new opportunities and developing scientifically sound systems that enhance technological guarantees for user privacy. You will contribute to the development of libraries and tools that support both research and business objectives, and you will have the opportunity to publish influential research findings in prestigious journals and present at notable conferences. This internship program runs for 12 weeks, starting in May/June 2025, and successful candidates must be able to commit to one of the specified start dates. We encourage applicants to clearly state their availability in their resumes, as we prioritize candidates who can commit to these dates. Internships at TikTok are designed to provide students with hands-on experience in developing fundamental skills and exploring potential career paths. Participants will benefit from a blend of social events and enriching development workshops, allowing them to utilize their knowledge in real-world scenarios while laying a strong foundation for personal and professional growth. Candidates who pass the resume evaluation will be invited to participate in TikTok's technical online assessment in HackerRank.

Responsibilities

• Identify new opportunities to improve technological guarantees for user privacy.
• Develop scientifically sound systems to advance the efficient frontier of privacy and utility in our systems.
• Contribute to the development of libraries and tools to support research and business.
• Publish influential research findings in prestigious journals and at notable 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.
• Programming proficiency: Familiar with 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.
• 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.

Benefits

• Hands-on experience in a vibrant and innovative environment.
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth through workshops and social events.