Research Intern, ClickHouse Labs

Details

The ClickHouse PhD Research Internship Program offers doctoral students the opportunity to pursue ambitious research alongside ClickHouse Labs researchers and engineers working on challenges in databases, systems, and data infrastructure.

Research interns join ClickHouse Labs for approximately 10–12 weeks to explore meaningful research questions, develop new ideas, and investigate technologies that could advance the broader research community and the future of ClickHouse. The program is research-focused, mentor-supported, and shaped around areas of mutual research interest.

Program Overview

Interns are paired with experienced researchers and may pursue work aligned with their academic interests, ongoing research, or areas of interest within ClickHouse Labs. An internship may build on research, a prototype, or a system the student has already begun exploring at their university.

Interns will have opportunities to:

• Work closely with ClickHouse Labs researchers and engineers.
• Engage with ClickHouse's open-source technology and engineering community.
• Share their findings.
• Contribute to the broader research community.
• Continue their work after the internship through academic research, open-source contributions, publications, or other collaboration.
• Potentially pursue co-authored papers, thesis advising, or longer-term academic collaboration.

Program length: 10–12 weeks, with flexibility based on academic calendars and research needs
Typical timing: Summer, beginning approximately June 1
Locations: Opportunities across the United States and Europe, subject to role and employment requirements; remote first
Research environment: ClickHouse Labs
Compensation: $6,000–$10,000 per month, commensurate with experience

Research at ClickHouse Labs

ClickHouse Labs explores ambitious ideas at the intersection of databases, distributed systems, data infrastructure, and the broader systems research community. Researchers and engineers collaborate to explore new ideas, investigate challenging technical problems, and connect academic research with real-world systems at scale.

Program Goals

• Identify exceptional PhD researchers working in areas directly relevant to ClickHouse.
• Provide opportunities to work on meaningful, open-ended problems with ClickHouse Labs.
• Build long-term relationships with researchers and academic institutions.
• Encourage continued research and open-source contributions after the internship.
• Create opportunities for co-authored papers, thesis advising, or other academic collaboration.
• Increase ClickHouse's visibility within the database and systems research community.
• Publish and share meaningful research outcomes through the ClickHouse website and other appropriate channels.

Research Environment and Project Scope

This is intentionally not a highly structured engineering internship. Specific projects do not need to be defined when recruiting begins. The high-level problem area and expectations should be established several months before the internship begins, while the specific research direction may adapt to:

• Emerging research questions.
• Current ClickHouse priorities.
• New academic research.
• Interesting systems or database prototypes.
• Work candidates have already completed.
• Opportunities to apply new research ideas to ClickHouse.

Research projects may emerge from a candidate's existing research, a recent academic paper, a prototype or system they have developed, an emerging ClickHouse Labs research priority, or an opportunity to test or extend an existing research concept within ClickHouse.

Requirements

Ideal candidates:

• Are currently pursuing a PhD in computer science or a closely related field.
• Conduct research in areas relevant to ClickHouse.
• Demonstrate research excellence.
• Have a strong background in database systems, distributed systems, hardware, or a related technical area.
• Can independently pursue complex research questions.
• Ideally have prior experience with ClickHouse open source, although this is not required.
• Have research, prototypes, or publications that could translate into meaningful work with ClickHouse.
• Are interested in continuing research beyond the internship.
• May be interested in open-source contribution and academic collaboration.

The strongest candidates will have work specifically relevant to what ClickHouse Labs wants to explore. Experience working with ClickHouse, building a relevant database or systems prototype, publishing research relevant to ClickHouse, or exploring a technical problem of interest to ClickHouse may be valuable.

Benefits

• Flexible work environment at a globally distributed, remote-friendly company.
• Employer contributions toward healthcare.
• Stock options for new team members.
• Flexible time off in the United States and generous entitlement in other countries.
• USD 500 home-office setup allowance for remote employees.
• Opportunities to engage with colleagues at company-wide offsites.

ClickHouse provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics.