PhD Quant Focus (Sydney) 2026

Youve spent years working on open-ended problems building models and testing ideas. PhD Quant Focus is a two-day program designed to show how your approach in academia applies to practical challenges in global markets.

Through hands-on workshops and technical discussions youll work on problems similar to those ourteamstackle where models interact with fast-moving noisy dataand feedback is see how techniques from machine learning statistics and applied mathematics are used in practice and where they break.

Explore how your research translates in a trading environment. Apply now.

• Eligiblefor PhD studentsinSTEMdisciplines with experience inareas such as MachineLearningStatisticsorApplied Mathematics.
• Program dates:23 July 2026
• Applicationsclose:29 May 2026
• Where: Optiver Sydney office*

*Travel and accommodation will be provided for participants outside of Sydney.

What youll do

• Work through appliedproblems across research trading and technology:Gain practical experience in applying data analysis statistical modelling techniques to extract signals from large noisyevent-driven data.
• Participate in hands-on trading workshops:Build foundationalknowledge and skillsaround market making and quantitative decision-making. See firsthand how research connects to real-time market dynamics and trading outcomes.
• Connectwith quantitative researchers traders and engineers:Meet PhD graduates and getinsights into their day-to-day work career paths and tips on successfully transitioning from PhD to industry.
• Receive practical feedback to advance your transition to industry: Get feedback on how you frame problems reason throughassumptionsand communicate your thinking in an applied setting.

What youll get

• Clarity on howPhD worktranslates howyour approach in academia isapplied assessed and developed within Optiver.
• Experience firsthand how researchers traders and engineers collaborate openly share knowledge and rapidly iterate to deliver breakthroughs at scale.
• Connect with aPhD network consisting ofpeers andexpertsacross research trading andtechnology.
• Opportunity tobe considered forafutureinternship if you excelwithinthe program.
• Experience Optiversoffice perks including daily breakfast lunchand coffee.

Who you are

• PhD student studying Mathematics Statistics Physics Electrical / Mechatronic / Software Engineering Computer Science Applied/Quantitative Finance or Econometrics.
• An Australian or New Zealand Citizen Australian Permanent Resident or able to secure full working rights after graduating.
• Enjoy working with complex data-intensive problems comfortable operatinginconditionsof uncertainty and confident in applying programming mathematical modelling and data-driven methodologies toanswerchallenging questions.
• Clear communicator of technical ideas who thrives in collaborative multidisciplinary environments.
• Excited to test yourself in one of the most dynamic areas of the financial market.

Diversity statement

Optiver is committed todiversity and inclusion and itis hardwired through every stage of our hiring process. We encourage applications from candidates from any and all backgrounds and we welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process to ensure that you can best demonstrate your abilities.

QuestionsGet in touch with our team at.