PhD Data Science Internship 2027 (USA)
About this role
Pinterest needs skilled data scientists to help bridge the gap between user data and product innovation, addressing the challenge of connecting millions of users with actionable content while measuring advertiser value. This internship sits within a broader team building foundational insights to accelerate product evaluation and shape the future roadmap.
Interns will apply quantitative analysis, modeling, and statistical techniques alongside engineering and product partners to translate raw data into real-world features. Responsibilities include designing core metrics, evaluating A/B experiments, and surfacing user preferences through surveys and statistical methods. Success in this position requires a strong academic background, fluency in data manipulation, and the capability to connect quantitative findings to concrete business goals.
What you will do
- Influence the product roadmap through exploratory data analysis that uncovers user behavior patterns and opportunities for innovation.
- Design and implement core metrics to serve as north stars for various team efforts across the organization.
- Help design, run, and evaluate A/B experiments alongside alternative experimentation techniques to speed up idea validation.
- Gather explicit signals regarding Pinner, Merchant, Creator, or Advertiser preferences utilizing survey methodologies and statistical modeling.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, designers, and researchers to build next-generation platform experiences.
- Translate complex data analyses into clear insights and communicate findings effectively to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
What you need
- Currently pursuing a PhD degree in statistics, mathematics, economics, applied sciences, computer science, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to manipulate large, high-dimensionality datasets with high complexity.
- Fluency in SQL alongside a scripting language such as Python or R.
- Experience solving complex analytical problems using quantitative approaches within machine learning, statistical modeling, forecasting, or econometrics.
- Strong critical thinking skills when evaluating AI-generated suggestions, including validating correctness, performance, security, and maintainability.
- Proven capacity to connect data analysis to real business problems to impact overall performance.
Benefits
- 12 weeks paid internship
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the work location policy for this internship?
Depending on the team, our summer internships will be located either remote or hybrid in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York or Seattle offices. This role may require you to be located near an office for in-person collaboration, and therefore may need to be located a commutable distance from one of our Pinterest offices.
What is the compensation for this position?
The salary for this position is $12,100 monthly. Final salary is based on a number of factors including location, travel, relevant prior experience, or particular skills and expertise.
What is the duration and timeline of the internship program?
Internships are 12 weeks paid, with fixed start dates in May or June to accommodate varying school calendars. We offer 2 internship start dates: May 17, 2027 - August 6, 2027 or June 14, 2027 - September 3, 2027.