2025 Summer Internship, Content Platform Research Scientist - PhD (NYC)

As a 2025 Summer Internship Content Platform Research Scientist at Spotify, your key responsibilities include applying scientific knowledge to solve application-oriented challenges related to AI, machine learning, and natural language processing. You will work with an interdisciplinary team to develop new and efficient ways to understand, search, and explore audio and video content. You'll also have the opportunity to present your findings in internal forums and potentially prepare research papers for publication.

To qualify for the 2025 Summer Internship Content Platform Research Scientist role at Spotify, you should be pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, Natural Language Processing, or similar fields. You must have a graduation year of 2025 or 2026, along with valid work authorization for the internship duration. Key skills include knowledge and experience in large language models, machine learning, and a passion for problem-solving in real-world scenarios.

The internship for the Content Platform Research Scientist position will be held in Spotify’s New York City office. You will be expected to come in three days a week to engage fully with on-site events, networking opportunities, and hands-on collaboration with your team.

The 2025 Summer Internship for the Content Platform Research Scientist at Spotify will last approximately ten weeks, beginning in early June and concluding around mid-August. This timeframe allows interns to gain valuable experience and contribute significantly to ongoing projects.

Interns at Spotify can expect a collaborative and energetic work environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged. The internship includes engaging in various projects alongside diverse teams, participating in office events, and receiving mentoring and professional development opportunities to make the most of their internship experience.

When answering this question, provide specific examples of machine learning projects you have worked on, particularly those that relate to audio or natural language processing. Highlight your understanding of algorithms, your involvement in the data preparation process, and any results or impacts your work had, using metrics if possible.

Employ the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to demonstrate your problem-solving process. Discuss a specific complex problem you encountered, outline the approach you took, the methods or tools used, and the outcomes of your solution. Showcase your ability to think critically and creatively in resolving challenges.

In your response, connect your passion for music and audio content with Spotify's mission. Discuss how Spotify’s innovative approach aligns with your own interests in AI and technology, and express enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to enhancing user experiences through research.

Detail any projects where you've applied large language models, discussing specific tools (like GPT or BERT) and methodologies you employed. Highlight your understanding of their implications in audio or natural language processing, and mention any relevant results or findings from your work.

Focus on a specific scenario where you worked with individuals from various backgrounds. Explain the project context, your role, and how the diversity of thought contributed to better outcomes. Discuss the lessons learned about teamwork, communication, and the value of varied perspectives.

Share your preferred methodologies, whether statistical, machine learning-based, or a hybrid approach. Provide examples of where and how you’ve applied these methodologies in your research, emphasizing how they’ve proven effective in analyzing large datasets.

Discuss strategies like using visual aids, simplified language, and relatable analogies to make complex information accessible. Share an example of a past experience when you effectively communicated with a non-technical audience, emphasizing clarity and engagement.

Stay informed about current trends, like advancements in transformer models or ethical AI development. Highlight specific technologies or research papers that have inspired you, and discuss how you see these trends impacting the audio and content landscape.

Summarize the research paper, its objectives, methods, and results. Focus on its significance to the field, what feedback you received, and if it led to further research, publications, or practical applications. Emphasizing applicability can demonstrate your impact.

Outline the critical role user experience plays in developing innovative solutions at Spotify. Emphasize that user-centric research directly informs product design and functionality, ensuring that technological advances genuinely enhance the listener's experience and engagement.