OPT Summer Associate Jobs
Summer Associate roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in law, consulting, and finance, structured programs that run 10 to 12 weeks, well within your OPT authorization window. Most employers in these programs have existing visa pipelines, making them realistic targets for F-1 students who need sponsorship beyond OPT.
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INTRODUCTION
Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry?
Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it possible for AI to impact clinical care in a meaningful way. Tempus' proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time.
Tempus is seeking an AI Data Science Summer Associate focused on applying advanced data science, AI, and machine learning techniques to solve complex business and research problems. You will join a dynamic team exploring cutting-edge AI/ML techniques, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), to drive process modernization and automation for business operations. The primary focus of this role is the development and implementation of AI models to streamline documentation and improve efficiency.
Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive overview of what it’s like to work at Tempus and the chance to have a true impact. Our hope is that at the end of your internship you leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation for Tempus’ profound goals and mission; to connect an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a AI Data Science Intern, you will:
- Design and implement advanced machine learning models and NLP algorithms to address specific business challenges in document processing.
- Conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA), feature engineering, and data preprocessing to uncover insights in complex, large-scale datasets.
- Leverage state-of-the-art LLMs to automate documentation, data extraction, and other key business functions.
- Work with a cross-functional team to integrate AI models into operational workflows and business systems.
- Translate business objectives into scalable data science solutions by collaborating with domain experts.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently pursuing a Master’s or PhD in Data Science, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related discipline.
- Strong academic or project-based foundation in AI-augmented processing and automation.
- Bioinformatics background is not required; the role is focused on the technical application of data science.
- Proficiency in supervised and unsupervised learning, deep learning, and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
- Strong programming skills in Python, SQL, or similar languages used for model development.
- Experience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, or XGBoost.
- Direct experience or research focus on Large Language Models (LLMs) is a strong bonus.
- Proficiency in statistical analysis and visualization using tools like pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib.
- Familiarity with cloud-based services (AWS, GCP) and building machine learning pipelines is a plus.
- Proven track record of building and deploying machine learning models in academic or real-world applications.
- Experience analyzing and wrangling large, complex datasets.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical results to non-technical stakeholders.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
- You will spend 9 or 11 weeks working in our Chicago office.
- The internship will be a hybrid, onsite 3 days/week with the option to work remotely the remaining days.
- The program will run in two waves, commencing June/July and running through August/September (dependent upon your school calendar and availability).
- A competitive hourly wage will be provided for the summer employment and a relocation bonus to help offset some of the relocation costs and resources to help you find housing.
CHI: $35 hr
The expected salary range above is applicable if the role is performed from Illinois and may vary for other locations (California, Colorado, New York). Actual salary may vary based on qualifications and experience. Tempus offers a full range of benefits, which may include incentive compensation, restricted stock units, medical and other benefits depending on the position.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
About us
Tempus was founded in August of 2015 by Eric Lefkofsky, after his wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Shortly after he founded the company in an effort to bring the power of technology and artificial intelligence to cancer care, he convinced Ryan Fukushima to join as the company’s first employee. Ryan and Eric began assembling a world class team, focused on building the first version of a platform capable of ingesting real time healthcare data in an effort to personalize diagnostics.
We built the platform for oncology and have expanded it to neuropsychiatry, cardiology, infectious disease (through COVID), and radiology. Despite our rapid growth, our mission remains the same—to help make sure patients are on the right drug at the right time, so they can live longer and healthier lives.
WHY WORK HERE?
We’re looking for people who can change the world.
Who question the status quo and don’t shy away from tough problems. For the builders who are never done building and the learners who are never done learning. We’re looking for passionate people with undying curiosity. Those who want to attack one of the most challenging problems mankind has ever faced. Head on.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Summer Associate
Apply before your OPT start date
Summer Associate programs recruit months in advance. Submit applications in the fall or early winter for summer positions. Starting your OPT authorization before the program begins gives employers confidence you'll be fully work-authorized on day one.
Prioritize firms with H-1B sponsorship track records
Law firms, Big Four accounting firms, and major consulting practices sponsor H-1B visas routinely for top performers from their summer programs. Ask recruiters directly whether the firm has sponsored past Summer Associates before accepting an offer.
Know your OPT end date before offers arrive
Summer programs typically run June through August. Confirm your OPT expiration covers the full program duration. If your OPT expires mid-summer, discuss a start date adjustment or STEM OPT extension eligibility with your international student advisor.
Treat the summer as a sponsorship audition
Many firms extend full-time offers to Summer Associates, and full-time offers often include H-1B sponsorship. Strong performance during the summer program is the most direct path to long-term work authorization at that employer.
Disclose your OPT status early and confidently
Bring up your OPT authorization in the first substantive recruiter conversation. Employers who sponsor know exactly what OPT means. Early disclosure filters out firms that won't sponsor and builds trust with those that will.
Confirm your EAD card arrives before your start date
USCIS processing for OPT EAD cards can take two to three months. Apply at least 90 days before your intended start date. Without a valid EAD in hand, you cannot legally begin working, even if the firm has approved your offer.
Summer Associate OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Summer Associate on OPT?
Yes. Summer Associate positions are standard W-2 employment, which is fully covered by OPT work authorization. Your role must be directly related to your degree field, a finance or economics degree supports a summer associate position at an investment bank or consulting firm, while a law degree supports a legal summer associate role. Keep documentation of that connection in case your DSO asks.
What happens to my OPT status if I don't receive a return offer?
Your OPT authorization continues until its expiration date regardless of whether you receive a return offer. The summer program counts as authorized employment, so those weeks satisfy your OPT work requirement. After the program ends, you can continue job searching on OPT. If you have a STEM-eligible degree, you may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension before your initial OPT expires.
Do Summer Associate programs typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Large law firms, consulting firms, and financial institutions with structured Summer Associate programs generally sponsor H-1B visas for candidates they convert to full-time roles. Sponsorship is rarely offered for the summer position itself, it typically comes with a full-time return offer. Research a firm's H-1B filing history through public DOL disclosure data before prioritizing their summer program.
Where can I find Summer Associate jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Summer Associate positions from employers with documented visa sponsorship histories, so you're not spending time applying to firms that won't support your work authorization. Filtering by OPT eligibility on Migrate Mate surfaces programs where international students have successfully converted to full-time sponsored roles, which is a meaningful signal when you're evaluating where to invest your application effort.
Does a Summer Associate position count toward my OPT unemployment limit?
No, any week you're actively employed as a Summer Associate counts as authorized work, not unemployment. OPT allows a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during the authorization period (150 days for STEM OPT). A 10 to 12 week summer program fully employed means zero days of unemployment accrued during that window, which is a meaningful buffer if your job search extends afterward.