Short-Term Fixed-Term Opportunity for PhD and Master's Course Candidates

Job description

Job Description: Position Overview.

The Japan Core Rates Trading Team is seeking Master’s and PhD candidates who wish to apply expertise developed in master’s and doctoral courses to real-world challenges in financial markets. Successful candidates will join us on a fixed-term contract of one to three months as fixed-term contract employees and undertake an individual research project on-site at our Tokyo office under the guidance and supervision of a senior member of the team. Each project will combine theoretical consideration and analysis with practical implementation, providing an opportunity to deepen expertise in areas such as financial markets, data analytics and AI in a practical way. Subject to approval from the candidate’s university and satisfaction of the Bank’s confidentiality, intellectual-property and information-governance requirements, research results may be used as a research foundation for a master’s thesis (MSc) or doctoral thesis (PhD). The specific topic will be determined based on business needs and priorities at the start of the contract or assignment, the candidate’s area of expertise, available relevant data and other relevant factors. We welcome candidates who can independently advance the process from hypothesis setting and hypothesis development through analysis, implementation and validation of solutions within a limited or focused timeframe and communicate the results and findings clearly to stakeholders.

Illustrative Research Projects.

AI Research: Evaluate opportunities to apply AI solutions to financial-markets research and trading-floor processes, and design and optimise LLM prompts.

Data Analytics: Analyse financial datasets using Python and statistical and machine-learning methods, develop visualisations and dashboards, and support general quantitative business research.

Research & Innovation: Review academic papers and industry materials or publications, propose new research questions by replicating and extending prior findings, and explore emerging research methods and technologies, including emerging technologies.

Key Responsibilities.

Review prior research, public information and internally available materials on the assigned topic. Define research hypotheses, analytical plans, evaluation metrics and implementation approaches. Process data, perform statistical analysis, and develop models or prototypes using Python and other relevant tools. Validate analysis results and organise limitations, risks and practical implications. Prepare visualisations, dashboards, technical documentation and presentation materials. Share progress regularly with the supervisor and relevant stakeholders and deliver a final presentation of results. Comply with the Bank’s information-security, confidentiality, model-risk, compliance and other applicable policies.

Candidate Profile.

Mandatory: Current enrolment in a master’s or doctoral course or programme at the time of appointment, or equivalent advanced research experience. Expertise in mathematics, statistics, computer science, AI or machine learning, physics, engineering, economics, financial engineering or a related discipline. Experience in data analysis or implementation using Python. Ability to formulate hypotheses, review literature, conduct reproducible analysis and explain results logically. Ability to read and write technical materials and explain one’s own research in English; Japanese-language capability would be an advantage. Availability to work on-site at the Tokyo office throughout the contract period. Legal authorisation to work in Japan by the start date.

Preferred: Interest in, or foundational or basic knowledge of, financial markets, rates products, bonds, derivatives or quantitative research. Research experience in machine learning, natural-language processing, LLMs, time-series analysis, optimisation, causal inference or related areas. Experience with SQL, Git, cloud environments, BI or visualisation tools, or dashboard development. Experience completing research projects, publishing peer-reviewed work, presenting at academic conferences or contributing to open-source projects. Ability to structure highly uncertain or ambiguous problems independently and translate them into achievable outcomes within a short timeframe.

What We Offer.

Experience addressing practical financial-market challenges through both theoretical analysis and implementation. Specialist supervision and regular feedback from a senior member of the Japan Core Rates Trading Team. Opportunities to translate research findings into practical insights and communicate them clearly to non-specialist stakeholders. Understanding of markets operations and activity, risk management and information governance within a global financial institution. Practical learning through a live project and opportunities to build a professional network with experts.

Assignment Details.

Employment type: Part-time fixed-term employee. Number of openings: One. The Bank may decide not to appoint if no candidate meets the required standard or depending on the selection outcome. Contract duration: One to three months; start and end dates to be agreed. Working hours: Approximately 10–20 hours per week, subject to agreement. Location: Tokyo office, principally on-site; working arrangements to be discussed. Team: Japan Core Rates Trading Team. Supervision: A senior team member will provide guidance on setting the research theme or project scoping, progress reviews and feedback. Compensation: Planned hourly rate of JPY 3,000. Commutation and transportation expenses: Reimbursed at actual cost in accordance with applicable internal policy.

Application & Selection.

CV or résumé in English. A research summary of approximately one A4 page stating the research topic, methodology, technologies used and key outcomes. Preferred contract duration and dates or times of availability.

We strive for a culture in which we are empowered to excel together every day. This includes acting responsibly, thinking commercially, taking initiative and working collaboratively. Together we share and celebrate the successes of our people. Together we are Deutsche Bank Group. We welcome applications from all people and promote a positive, fair and inclusive work environment. For over 150 years, our dedication to being the Global Hausbank for our clients has been driven by our people – in around 60 countries and across more than 150 nationalities. Their deep understanding, insights, expertise, and passion help our clients navigate an increasingly complex world – be it in our Corporate Bank, our Private Bank, our Investment Bank or our Asset Management (DWS) division. Together we can make a great impact for our clients at home and abroad, securing their lasting success and financial security. More information at: Deutsche Bank Careers (db.com)