Joining Causality Lab

You do not need prior experience in causal inference to join us. If you enjoy probability, statistics, graphs, optimization, or machine learning—and want to understand not just what data predicts, but why it does so and what an intervention would change—you may find our research interesting.

We welcome students from mathematics, statistics, computer science, economics, and related fields. What matters most is curiosity, solid fundamentals, and a willingness to learn.

Research Internship (one semester or longer)

Our internships are project-based. Each intern joins an ongoing research project and works closely with a graduate student, with opportunities to:

  • Learn the foundations of causal inference, causal discovery, or causal decision-making.
  • Attend our weekly lab meetings and reading groups.
  • Develop ideas, run experiments, and present progress regularly.
  • Contribute to a publication when the work leads to a substantial result.

Research takes time to learn and contribute to meaningfully, so we ask interns to commit for at least one full semester. Internship experience is not required for admission to our graduate program, although successful interns may receive priority consideration.

Who should apply:

We look for self-motivated students with solid foundations in probability and statistics, proficiency in Python, and clear communication skills. Prior research experience is helpful but not required.

How to apply:

Please email Prof. Sanghack Lee with your CV and transcript. We review applications throughout the year, primarily for internships beginning in mid-June or mid-December. Please apply well before your intended start date.

Graduate Program (M.S. / M.S.–Ph.D. / Ph.D.)

We are recruiting graduate students through Seoul National University’s Graduate School of AI (GSAI), Department of Artificial Intelligence, starting with the fall 2026 application round for spring 2027 entry.

Our lab is currently based in the Graduate School of Data Science (GSDS) and will move to GSAI in spring 2027.

If you are interested, please email Prof. Lee with your CV, transcript, and a brief statement of research interests. We expect strong mathematical foundations and programming skills; prior research experience is required for Ph.D. applicants.

For degree-specific requirements, application documents, and deadlines, please see the GSAI admissions guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior knowledge of causal inference to apply?
No. We encourage applicants who are new to causality but have strong foundations in mathematics, statistics, or machine learning. Before applying, we recommend reading about our recent work and identifying a question or topic that interests you.
Are there specific attendance or work-hour requirements?
We operate under a principle of responsible autonomy. There are no strict clock-in or clock-out rules. We trust members to manage their time while participating reliably in their project and the lab's academic activities.
Is financial compensation provided for interns?
Internships are typically unpaid. In some cases, partial support may be available depending on the project and funding.
Can I intern here if I plan to attend graduate school elsewhere?
Our internship is primarily intended for students considering graduate study in our lab. Because our mentoring capacity is limited, we generally cannot offer positions to students who already plan to attend another institution. If your plans later change, please understand that we may not be able to provide a recommendation for applications elsewhere.
When should I reach out?
  • For internships: Apply at least 1–2 months before your preferred start date (for example, by April for a summer start).
  • For graduate admission: Contact Prof. Lee before the official GSAI application deadline, preferably at least one semester in advance.

Last updated: September 2026