Climate Data Science Intern

Job Reference:: 2025-3861
Location:: Zurich
Category:: Research
Solution:: Climate

Your Team Responsibilities

We are seeking a sharp, energetic, and organized Intern to join the MSCI in a collaborative team of climate researchers, financial modelers, and software engineers. This 6-month-internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of climate-related finance. As a core member of the team, you will help translate pressing environmental challenges into finance-related metrics that guide the investment decisions of some of the world’s largest investors.

The team you would work with focuses on the development of climate transition risk models and datasets for private assets—covering both corporates and real estate—for use by financial institutions, banks, and asset owners.

The team’s work includes:

Building advanced models in Python, leveraging Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Microsoft Azure.
Delivering large datasets and model calculations to clients via APIs.
Developing AI-driven solutions for automated document extraction and sustainability analysis.
Producing Transition Risks, Carbon Footprinting, and Temperature Alignment metrics for private real estate and corporates.

This team plays a pivotal role in advancing the tools and metrics that investors need to evaluate and manage climate transition risks.

This role can be based in either the Zurich or Geneva office

Your Key Responsibilities

Develop methodologies, models, metrics, and interactive tools to assess climate risk in investments.
Contribute to software and data science projects related to climate risk, including data analysis, statistical modeling, and software development.
Collaborate within a cross-functional team of researchers, industry analysts, technologists, and client-facing colleagues.
Anticipate potential challenges and opportunities, and adapt quickly to evolving circumstances.
Write, maintain, and validate model documentation and methods.

Your skills and experience that will help you excel

Experience in data manipulation and software development, particularly with Python, Pandas, and NumPy.
Background in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Demonstrated interest in climate science, environmental modeling, and sustainability.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Currently enrolled in a master’s degree program
Self-motivated, proactive, and a logical thinker.

About MSCI

What we offer you

Transparent compensation schemes and comprehensive employee benefits, tailored to your location, ensuring your financial security, health, and overall wellbeing.

Flexible working arrangements, advanced technology, and collaborative workspaces.

A culture of high performance and innovation where we experiment with new ideas and take responsibility for achieving results.

A global network of talented colleagues, who inspire, support, and share their expertise to innovate and deliver for our clients.

Global Orientation program to kickstart your journey, followed by access to our Learning@MSCI platform, LinkedIn Learning Pro and tailored learning opportunities for ongoing skills development.

Multi-directional career paths that offer professional growth and development through new challenges, internal mobility and expanded roles.

We actively nurture an environment that builds a sense of inclusion belonging and connection, including eight Employee Resource Groups. All Abilities, Asian Support Network, Black Leadership Network, Climate Action Network, Hola! MSCI, Pride & Allies, Women in Tech, and Women’s Leadership Forum.

At MSCI we are passionate about what we do, and we are inspired by our purpose – to power better investment decisions. You’ll be part of an industry-leading network of creative, curious, and entrepreneurial pioneers. This is a space where you can challenge yourself, set new standards and perform beyond expectations for yourself, our clients, and our industry.

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data, and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process.

MSCI Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy (including unlawful discrimination on the basis of a legally protected parental leave), veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. MSCI is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please email Disability.Assistance@msci.com and indicate the specifics of the assistance needed. Please note, this e-mail is intended only for individuals who are requesting a reasonable workplace accommodation; it is not intended for other inquiries.

To all recruitment agencies

MSCI does not accept unsolicited CVs/Resumes. Please do not forward CVs/Resumes to any MSCI employee, location, or website. MSCI is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs/Resumes.

Note on recruitment scams

We are aware of recruitment scams where fraudsters impersonating MSCI personnel may try and elicit personal information from job seekers. Read our full note on careers.msci.com

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Benefits

MSCI is committed to providing a competitive benefit package to you and, where applicable, your family. You are entitled to an extensive range of core benefits along with a range of additional benefits.

Core benefits:

Compulsory Accident Insurance
Base Pension Scheme including life assurance, disability benefits and surviving partner/orphan pension

Additional benefits:

Supplementary Pension Scheme including life assurance, disability benefits and surviving other/orphan pension
Voluntary Health Insurance
Supplementary Accident Insurance
STD Indemnité Insurance

Development opportunities

Guided by your manager, our learning and development opportunities empower you to perform at your best, make an impact and shape your career.

Career paths are multidirectional and we believe new and challenging experiences drive personal growth and innovation. With access to LinkedIn Learning Pro and our bespoke Learning@MSCI platform, you can easily customize and tailor your learning journey to accelerate your career.

Zurich

Hardstrasse 201,
2nd Floor, Primetower
8005
Switzerland

Our Zurich office is in the Zurich-West district, just a minute away from the train station and 5 minutes from the city center by train. This location hosts our Climate Risk Center for ESG and Climate researchers, engineers and analysts. You’ll have access to areas for interactive and hybrid meetings, a cafeteria, a relax room and showers for colleagues who like to exercise before work. We also host a Team Drinks event every month and additional fun events every quarter.

MSCI Zurich office - Bright and welcoming office space

Recruitment process

Apply online

First, click Apply and upload a CV that shows us the skills and passion you could bring to this role, as well as your contact details so we can reach out to you.
Talk to our recruiter

If you look like a good match, our recruiters will arrange a chat where we’ll ask about your motivations, experience, and background, and where you can ask us anything you want to know about working at MSCI.
Interview with our team

If you like what you hear, and we think you have what we need, then it’s time to interview with your future team, either virtually or in the office. These interviews will give you a clear insight into the team and the day-to-day responsibilities of the role. Read our interview top tips.
Make your decision

If you’re successful, we’ll make you an offer and give you any further information you need to help you make your decision. If the answer is yes, it’s time for some background checks, and then we’ll welcome you on board. Learn more about our onboarding experience.