Our Interns Reflect on their Summer Experience

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This summer, we had the pleasure of welcoming two exceptional interns, Samuel House and Parmeet Sangha. These aspiring finance and data science professionals spent their summer learning and shaping the future at Alpha Theory. Continue reading to gain insight into Samuel and Parmeet’s summer internship as they share their experiences and what they worked on during their time at Alpha Theory.

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Samuel House: My name is Samuel, and I am a senior at Queens University of Charlotte. I am majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Computing and Data Analysis.

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Parmeet Sangha: My name is Parmeet, and I am a full-time MBA student at Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC Chapel Hill, where I am focusing my studies on Capital Markets, Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurship.

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Why did you decide to pursue an internship at Alpha Theory?

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Samuel: I first met John Ryan at a networking event hosted by Queens University, and our conversation left a strong impression on me. Afterward, we connected a few more times, where I got to learn more about Alpha Theory’s mission and culture. It quickly became apparent that Alpha Theory was a perfect match for what I hoped to obtain in a summer internship—an ideal blend of industry focus and company culture.

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Parmeet: At an alumni event, I had the chance to meet Aaron Hirsch and Cameron Hight, and their enthusiasm for their work was truly inspiring. Their passion motivated me to reach out to Cameron about a potential internship opportunity. As luck would have it, there was an internship available on the Data Science team that exactly matched what I was hoping to pursue this summer.

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‍What were some of the most memorable projects you worked on?

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Samuel: This summer, I worked with the Client Experience team on a challenging and exciting project—training Alpha Theory’s new AI chatbot. It was a difficult and rewarding experience where I got to apply my machine-learning skills to teach the chatbot how to answer common client questions. When I wasn’t immersed in that, I collaborated with the CX team on daily tasks and brainstormed ideas for future client reports. This internship turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more!

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Parmeet: I had the opportunity to work with the Data Science team on a yet-to-be-released client report internally known as the ‘Decision Analysis Report.’ This report will offer Alpha Theory clients a comprehensive view of their data, featuring 15-20 graphs, 40-50 key metrics and a Bayesian regression model to help fund managers identify the metrics that have driven positive benchmark alpha their time using the platform.

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From the beginning, I was involved, leading the exploratory data analysis and developing a codebase using Python and SQL—ultimately writing about 1,500 lines of code and SQL queries. This project was both challenging and rewarding, allowing me to push my skills to the limit while collaborating with a team dedicated to finding innovative ways to deliver value to Alpha Theory clients.

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What aspects of the company culture did you find most appealing or interesting?

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Samuel: The Alpha Theory team is very tight-knit, and everyone works well together. This allows them to get an enormous amount of work done with a very small team. It was great to have the opportunity to work in this type of environment this summer.

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Parmeet: Overall, my 10-week experience at Alpha Theory was incredibly rewarding, but a few moments really stood out. One highlight was the Tuesday family-style lunches where the entire team gathers to share not just a meal, but also their experiences and plans. As an international student, I love learning about the diverse backgrounds of the Alpha Theory team. Trivia night and the intern lunch were also fantastic opportunities to connect with everyone outside of work.

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What truly sets Alpha Theory apart is the close-knit, collaborative environment. Unlike the 500-person organization I came from before my MBA, Alpha Theory’s team accomplishes just as much, if not more, because there are no silos between teams. The familiarity and trust among team members fosters an atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking for help or even challenging other’s ideas, leading to more innovative and efficient collaboration.

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What advice would you give future interns joining the company or entering the same field?

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Samuel: My advice to anyone thinking about joining the team is to fully embrace the company culture. At Alpha Theory, the culture is a key driver of the company’s success. I’ve seen firsthand how a strong, unified culture can positively impact workflow and efficiency when everyone is engaged and working together. Investing in the culture here means you’re contributing to the very foundation that makes Alpha Theory thrive.

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Parmeet: There are plenty of data science roles out there, but if you’re looking for something truly unique and impactful in the world of investment management, you should consider working with Alpha Theory. Here, you’ll find a collaborative team that genuinely values your opinions and perspectives. The learning curve is steep, but that’s part of the excitement. As an engineer and MBA student who hadn’t touched Python or SQL in a while, I was given the support and opportunities needed to quickly get up to speed and make meaningful contributions. So, take the leap—you never know what great experiences lie ahead.

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At Alpha Theory, we’re one team dedicated to helping our clients Be Better. We thrive on the fresh perspectives and ideas that interns bring to the table. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn sparks creativity and drives growth throughout our company.

To inquire about future internship opportunities and join our culture of fun-loving nerds, visit our website: https://www.alphatheory.com/careers  

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