Joining Causality Lab

We are always looking for motivated students who are passionate about causal reasoning and its applications. Below you will find information on how to join our lab as an intern or as a graduate student.

Research Internship (1 semester or longer)

Internship experience is not a prerequisite for admission to our graduate program, but successful interns may be given priority consideration.

We recruit undergraduate research interns who can commit for at least one semester. Interns work closely with graduate students on ongoing research projects, gaining hands-on experience in causal inference, causal discovery, and causal decision making.

What you will do as an intern:

  • Participate in a research project led by a graduate student (matched based on your interests).
  • Attend our weekly lab meetings and reading groups.
  • Present your progress and receive feedback regularly.
  • Strong contributions can lead to co-authorship on publications.

How to apply: Please email Prof. Sanghack Lee with your CV and transcript. We look for self-motivation, solid foundations in probability and statistics, programming proficiency in Python, and clear communication skills. Research experience is helpful but not required for interns.

Timeline:

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but we recommend applying well before the semester you wish to join.
  • Typical start times: mid June or mid December.

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

Our lab is part of the Graduate School of Data Science (GSDS) at Seoul National University. To join as a graduate student, you must go through the official GSDS admissions process and be matched with our lab.

How it works:

  • M.S. & M.S.–Ph.D.: Pass the GSDS 2-stage admission (application screening + interview), then advisor matching with Prof. Lee.
  • Ph.D.: Contact Prof. Lee and submit an advisor application, then pass GSDS admission.

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. Research experience is strongly required for Ph.D. applicants.

For official admissions information, please visit the GSDS admissions page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I intern here if I plan to go abroad for graduate school (not join your lab)?
We prioritize students who intend to pursue their graduate studies in our lab. To focus our limited lab resources on future members, we generally do not accept interns who plan to attend another institution. If your plans change during the internship, please note that a recommendation letter for external applications may not be provided.
Is financial compensation provided for interns?
We typically do not provide financial compensation to interns. In special cases, partial support may be arranged depending on the project and funding availability.
Do I need prior knowledge of causal inference to apply?
No prior expertise in causal inference is required. However, we appreciate candidates who have read at least one of our papers or have basic familiarity with statistics and machine learning. A willingness to learn is the most important quality we look for.
Are there any specific attendance or work-hour requirements?
We operate under a principle of "responsible autonomy." There are no strict clock-in/clock-out rules. What matters is that you are genuinely committed to your research and academic growth. We trust our members to manage their own time effectively.
When should I reach out?
  • For internships: We recommend applying at least 1–2 months before the semester you want to start (e.g., by April for a summer start).
  • For graduate admissions: Please contact Prof. Lee before the official GSDS application deadline. We recommend reaching out at least one semester in advance.
Please note that we may not be able to respond to inquiries outside of the active recruitment periods.

Last updated: March 2026