Intern, Machine Learning and Genomics (MS/PhD)
Who We Are:
Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science, and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.
Position description:
Calico is seeking an intern to join the Kelley Lab. 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 advance on machine learning approaches for regulatory genomics, particularly developing and evaluating methods for analyzing regulatory sequence functions. The successful candidate will work closely with members of the Kelley lab, driving a project that we’ll shape together to derive greater biological insight from deep learning models of gene regulation.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and evaluate machine learning models for regulatory genomics, focusing on model interpretability
- Collaborate with experimental scientists to validate computational predictions and derive biological insights from large-scale functional genomics data
- Communicate research to the broader scientific community through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and open-source software
Position requirements:
- Currently pursuing a MS or PhD degree in Computer Science, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field
- Fluency in Python and practical experience building models with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch preferred)
- Strong computational fundamentals including machine learning, algorithms, data structures, and statistics
- Self-motivated and detail-oriented with a collaborative mindset for working in cross-functional scientific teams
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to present complex technical topics to scientific audiences
Nice to have:
- Knowledge of molecular biology, genetics, or regulatory genomics
- Experience analyzing functional genomics data
- Experience working with DNA sequence models
Application Note: A cover letter is required to apply for this position
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.
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 ($45 - $70/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 2026
- Exception for students enrolling into a graduate degree program in Fall 2026
- Must be enrolled in a US university
- Must apply by application deadline: February 1, 2026.