About the role#
UnitedHealthcare is seeking PhD-level Research Interns for Summer 2027 to join the Optum AI team. This role focuses on advancing artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve healthcare outcomes. You will work with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers to develop novel solutions for complex healthcare challenges, with opportunities to contribute to internal research documentation and external scientific publications.
What you'll do#
- Perform research that advances the state of the art in AI and machine learning.
- Implement algorithms and evaluate their performance using healthcare data.
- Communicate research results across an interdisciplinary team to explore real-world healthcare applications.
- Document research findings for internal use and external publication in scientific journals and conferences.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a PhD program related to machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, computer science, statistics, or biomedical informatics.
- Experience implementing and training machine learning algorithms or conducting statistical analysis.
- A deep understanding of the mathematical foundations of machine learning.
- Proficiency in Python, R, Java, C++, Matlab, or another modern programming language.
- Familiarity with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or Tensorflow.
- Legal authorization to work in the U.S. without company sponsorship.
- Ability to work in a team and communicate effectively.
- Preferred: Completion of PhD within 1-2 years and first-author publications in relevant computer science or medical conferences.
- Preferred: Experience with software development tools like git, packaging, and documentation.
- Preferred: Knowledge of genomic data, wearables, or medical records data.
Location & details#
- This is a paid, full-time internship for Summer 2027.
- The role is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, with remote work options available.
- Employees in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area are required to work on-site at least four days per week.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare operates as a division of UnitedHealth Group. It provides health insurance plans to individuals and groups. The company maintains a network of 6,500 hospitals and care facilities. It is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and employs over 10,000 people.
How to get in at UnitedHealthcare
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