Tokka Labs | Singapore, SG

We are specialized market makers for top protocols on the most popular blockchains in the world. Our work involves deploying some of the most advanced trading algorithms and strategies aimed at unlocking liquidity in the most challenging environments. This is made possible by our dedication to cutting-edge research at the frontiers of decentralized finance, exploring new and exciting opportunities at the forefront of the industry. Equally important is the technical wizardry driving our in-house trading platform, designed to constantly redefine what's possible in the decentralized world, all hours of the day, every day. At the core of it all lies our unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and we are always on the lookout for like-minded gamechangers to join us on this journey! 

Position Summary

Our PhD Quant Internship Program aims to attract the most exceptional PhD students to join us in uncovering the latest in decentralized market-making. 

For a minimum commitment of 3 months, successful applicants will be exposed to the best-in-class research infrastructure, guided by some of our most successful Quant Traders, to work on novel approaches in the most testing areas of decentralized finance. 

Some areas of research our team is currently looking into: 

• Zero-knowledge proofs and applications
• Proposer-builder separation applications
• MEV applications such as MEV-Boost, MEV-Share
• Cross-chain liquidity
• Order flow auctions

What to expect:

• Perform thorough research utilizing traditional as well as cutting-edge research methodologies and tools.
• Derive valuable insights from your research for our trading strategies.
• Write and optimize production ready code for both on-chain (i.e. smart contracts) and off-chain (e.g. blockchain node client).
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to transform research concepts into viable solutions for live trading.

Who you are:

• You are a current PhD student or a recent PhD graduate in a quantitative subject (e.g. Statistics, Finance, Financial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science)
• You are committed – we require applicants to be based in Singapore and commit a minimum period of 3 months toward this internship programme.
• You possess a strong interest in DeFi protocols - and good knowledge of blockchain basics.
• You are a quant at heart – you look at everything from a quantitative and analytical lens, utilizing back-testing and simulation as your go-to. 
• You are a coder – you possess strong programming skills in either Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Golang and/or Solidity. Having knowledge of EVM Assembly is a plus
• You are a research scientist – you possess exceptional problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• You are results driven – you are decisive and prioritize achieving overall results