Quant Researcher Track
Pass the research panel at
the systematic giants.
Statistics, time series, signal construction, and the Python data-handling problems Two Sigma, D.E. Shaw, Citadel, and Point72 actually ask. Prep that pairs theory drills with the applied questions you face on the desk.
Research roles tracked at
What this track actually tests
The four corners of the round
Each capability below is a real round you'll sit. Surface them up front so prep aims at the right thing, not generic interview practice.
01 · Probability
Bayes, expectation, and the long-tail traps
Conditional expectation, optional stopping, martingales, and the deceptively simple bets that hide a Borel paradox. The first-round filter at Two Sigma and D.E. Shaw.
02 · Time series
Stationarity, regimes, and signal noise
AR/MA, cointegration, regime-switching, and the practical questions of separating real signal from leakage. The applied stats that the research panel actually leans on.
03 · Python
Vectorised pandas, no for-loops in sight
Realistic research problems framed in pandas/NumPy. Backtest a signal, decompose a return stream, debug a leaky cross-validation. The kind of one-shot script you'd write on a desk.
04 · ML
Where the model breaks before it ships
Cross-validation pitfalls, leakage, regularisation, and the 'why did this work in backtest but not live' diagnostic that distinguishes a researcher from someone who runs scikit-learn.
Topics on this track
Drill what interviewers actually ask
Each topic is a tagged subset of the question pool. Click through to practice every question in that category.
Practice by firm
Train on the firm you're targeting
Every question is tagged with the firms that ask it. Filter to the firm whose interview is on your calendar.
Curated study plans
Don't just practice. Follow a sequenced plan
Plans tell you which questions to solve and in what order, paced for the firm or role you're targeting.
Comp snapshot · 2026
What this track actually pays
Bands sourced from the Myntbit /comp dataset. Numbers are the most recent confirmed across 8 firms hiring this track.
- Intern
- $10k–$14k/mo
- New grad
- $190k–$370k
- Senior
- $500k–$1.2M
Researcher comp is bonus-heavy and PnL-tied. Senior bands stretch wide; a top performer at Two Sigma or Citadel can multi-x the median in a strong year.
See full comp datasetNeed fundamentals first?
Bridge to /learn before you drill
Lessons covering the math, coding, and markets fundamentals that this track's questions assume. Skip to practice when you're ready.
Frequently asked
Researcher track questions
Do I need a PhD to interview as a quant researcher?
What's the difference between a researcher and a trader role?
How important is the math relative to the coding?
Where does the compensation data come from?
Start drilling the researcher track
2,134+ questions · 8 firms · 2 curated plans · free to start
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