Off-Cycle Quant Research Associate (PhD)

About the RoleWe are looking for a Quant Research Associate to join our research team and work on quantitative strategies for crypto and DeFi markets.This position is designed for PhD students who want hands-on exposure to quantitative research in digital assets before pursuing a full-time role in the industry.You will work directly with researchers and founders on problems involving:Market makingDelta-neutral strategiesReinforcement learningPortfolio allocationBacktesting infrastructureMarket microstructure researchResponsibilitiesConduct quantitative research on crypto and DeFi marketsAnalyze market data and identify alpha opportunitiesDevelop and evaluate trading strategiesBuild and improve backtesting frameworksResearch applications of machine learning and reinforcement learning in tradingDesign experiments and evaluate strategy performanceCollaborate with the team on production research initiativesRequirementsCurrently pursuing a PhD (or final-year Master’s) in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Financial Engineering, Quantitative Finance, or a related field at HKUST, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), or Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)Strong mathematical and statistical backgroundProficiency in PythonExperience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or Scikit-LearnFamiliarity with quantitative research methodologiesAbility to work independently in a research-driven environmentGood written and spoken EnglishPreferred QualificationsPrevious internship experience at a quantitative trading firm, hedge fund, market maker, or research labExperience with reinforcement learningKnowledge of financial markets or market microstructureExperience working with order book or trade-level dataInterest in digital assets, crypto markets, or DeFiWhat We OfferDirect exposure to real-world quantitative researchOpportunity to work on live strategies and production researchFlexible schedule compatible with PhD studiesRemote-first environmentCompensation: HKD 15,000–25,000 per month (depending on experience and availability)Outstanding candidates may be considered for future full-time opportunitiesApplicationPlease send to admin@overnight.finance:CVBrief description of your research backgroundGitHub (optional)Publications or research projects (optional)