Data Scientist Intern

About the Team:

The Data Science & Insights team is the engine behind SCMP’s data-driven operations. We operate at the intersection of behavioural data, machine learning, and business strategy. Our mission isn't just to build dashboards, but to create a high-velocity insight-action-feedback loop.

We help the newsroom, user growth, and product teams decide what to do, execute based on data, and rapidly iterate based on results. We turn complex signals into operational roadmaps for Product, Editorial, and Marketing, ensuring SCMP stays ahead in a shifting media landscape.

Purpose of the Position:

As a Data Science Intern, you won't just be "supporting decision-making"—you will be an active participant in the analyse-act-iterate cycle. This role is for a builder and a problem-solver who wants to see their code and insights turn into immediate operational changes.

Working with senior mentors, you will help close the gap between data theory and newsroom practice. You will identify growth opportunities, help implement data-driven interventions, and measure the feedback loop to refine our strategy in real time.

In this role, you will:

• Drive the Operational Loop: Conduct deep-dive analyses to identify friction in the reader journey, propose specific actions, and track the impact of those interventions.
• Rapid Experimentation: Design and monitor A/B tests and multivariate experiments. You’ll be responsible for evaluating if a change worked and "failing fast" or scaling up based on evidence.
• Build Predictive Workflows: Develop and refine models (propensity, engagement, churn) that don't just sit in a notebook but trigger automated marketing or product actions.
• Scalable Data Processing: Use Python and AI-assisted coding to build robust data pipelines that turn "messy" behavioural logs into clean, actionable signals.
• Iterative Insight: Move beyond static reports to provide "live" insights that allow Editorial and Product teams to adjust their tactics daily.

• Currently pursuing or recently graduated with a Degree in Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence or a related discipline.
• A deep curiosity about how quality journalism survives and thrives.
• The ability to look at data from two perspectives: the reader (UX and value) and the editor (storytelling and impact).
• Python is a must. You should be comfortable writing clean, modular code.
• AI-Enabled Workflow: A big plus if you use LLMs/AI tools to accelerate your data processing, automate analysis, or build internal prototypes.
• Proficiency in SQL for data extraction and Git for version control.
• A strong background in Statistics is a significant advantage.
• You should understand hypothesis testing, regression, and the difference between correlation and causation to ensure our "feedback loop" is based on truth, not noise.

Work location will be at Causeway Bay office.

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