--- title: 'STEM Operations Intern at QED.ai' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/stem-operations-intern-qed-ai-global-w40cmcrq4bqx' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-10' --- # STEM Operations Intern at QED.ai - **Company:** QED.ai - **Location:** Global - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-07-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/qed-ai/dd1a2de5-3676-4957-87d2-33717f900334 ## Job description QED (https://qed.ai) is a tech company focused on public health, agriculture, and education in Sub-Saharan Africa. We build the digital infrastructure and AI used at the intersection of aid and scientific inquiry, including in-situ nutrient analysis of crops and soils, and surveillance of HIV and malaria at national-scale in multiple African countries. Our funding comes from multiple philanthropic and governmental organizations such as the Gates Foundation, U.S. government, WHO, the EU, the Global Fund, and more. We are looking for a STEM Operations Intern to work with us on practical applications of STEM in African countries such as Malawi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Mozambique, and potentially other countries throughout the Global South. Scope of Work - Scope of Work will depend on the intern's abilities and interests in the three fields of health, agriculture, and education. Below are possible tracks. - Health: Engage with Ministries of Health in Africa, as well as donor organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Department of State, UNICEF, to fully understand all current data processing workflows and pains, and governmental requirements for data capture and data analysis. Build data capture and analytical solutions for our clients, using training that QED provides. - Agriculture: Train AI models to recognize nutrients and adulterants for food safety and agricultural input applications, using proximal sensors such as the ScanSpectrum handheld spectrometer. - Education: Run creative STEM programs that advance critical thinking, algorithmic thinking, creative problem-solving, and game-theoretic mindsets in children. Design, administer, and run olympiad contests at national-scale in LMICs. ## Requirements - Working proficiency (ILR 4/5, or CEFR ≥C1) in speaking, reading, writing, and typing in English. (An official certificate is unnecessary, we’ll just have a conversation.) - For Francophone countries, at least B2 proficiency in French speaking, reading, writing and typing is expected; C1 or above is preferred. - For Lusophone countries, at least B2 proficiency in Portuguese speaking, reading, writing and typing is expected; C1 or above is preferred. - Logical reasoning, number sense, and creative problem solving skills. Ability to express quantitative ideas clearly, both orally and in writing. - Must be willing to work in the African country of project implementation. - Culturally adaptive and adventurous! - At ease using computers and digital systems. - Willingness and interest in working with people from other cultures. - Resilience. - High Emotional Intelligence. - A demonstrated interest in innovative problem solving. We look for people who are courageous, forward-leaning problem-solvers. - … and you have to care about the work that you do! Below are additional skills that are a bonus, but are not required: - Experience with STEM olympiads such as the Pan-African Math Olympiad (PAMO), PAIO, or other math or informatics or physics competitions. - foreign language skills, especially in French, Portuguese, Swahili, Chichewa, or Chinese. willingness to work in Sub-Saharan Africa, because it is a great and exciting place to live! ## About QED.ai ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: QED.ai (Quantitative Engineering Design) builds AI-driven data systems and solutions for global health and agriculture in developing countries. - **Entity Type**: Private (Bootstrapped/Mission-Driven) - **Headquarters**: Global presence with offices in USA, Kenya, Poland, and Malawi - **Founded**: 2008 - **Founders**: Dr. William Wu (CEO, Co-Founder), Dr. Jiehua Chen (Chief Statistician, Co-Founder) ## Core Business - **Primary Industries**: Global Health, Agriculture, International Development, AI/Data Systems - **Target Customers**: Governments (e.g., Ministries of Health), NGOs, and international organizations (CDC, Gates Foundation, USAID, CIMMYT) in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America - **Mission/Purpose**: To empower local organizations in developing countries by using technology to build their capacity, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 15 (Life on Land). ## Products & Services - **ScanForm**: An AI-powered mobile app that digitizes and analyzes handwritten data on paper forms (e.g., medical registers) using a smartphone camera. Integrates with systems like EMR and DHIS2. Used at national scale for HIV testing in Malawi and other countries. - **ScanSpectrum**: A rugged handheld visible/near-infrared spectrometer (400-1100 nm) for field measurements of plants and environmental science. - **PACK (Portable Automated Carbon Kit)**: A low-cost, lunchbox-sized device for measuring soil carbon in the field. - **Geospatial Mapping**: Remote sensing and AI services for classifying land-use at regional and national levels, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. - **Data Systems & Analytics**: Custom data processing pipelines for surveillance of malaria, child mortality, crop disease, and soil health; clinical trial support. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly available (private, mission-driven firm) - **Key Metric**: Since 2008, has provided mission-critical support to health and agriculture projects in 23+ countries. - **Notable Partners/Clients**: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Gates Foundation (BMGF), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), United States Agency for International Development (USAID). - **Growth Signals**: National-scale deployment of ScanForm for HIV testing in Malawi (expanded to PrEP, PCR, STI); expansion to multiple other countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, others); COVID-19 pandemic accelerated demand for ScanForm; featured in The Gates Notes as one of Bill Gates' Goalkeepers. ## Competitive Advantages - **Deep Domain Expertise**: 15+ years of on-the-ground experience in developing countries with a pragmatic, infrastructure-aware approach. - **Proprietary AI/Data Stack**: ScanForm is a proven, scalable solution for digitizing handwritten data in low-resource settings, a critical gap in global health data systems. - **Strong Partner Network**: Long-standing collaborations with top-tier global health and development organizations. - **Mission-Driven Model**: Fully focused on impact, not profit maximization, allowing for unconventional, high-impact projects. ## Strategic Focus - **Current Priorities**: Scaling ScanForm to more countries and disease areas (HIV, malaria, STIs); expanding geospatial mapping and soil health work; building local capacity through training and partnerships. - **Direction**: Deepening its role as the go-to technology partner for governments and donors in the Global South for data systems and AI, particularly in health and agriculture. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Described as the "opposite of a big corporation" with extremely light bureaucracy, no matrix organization, and a focus on mission and delivering excellent work. They seek people eager for challenge, passionate about their craft, and genuinely interested in international development. - **Work Style**: Unconventional, rapid scientific experimentation. High expectations for commitment and responsibility, reciprocated with devotion to the cause. - **Perks**: Opportunity to work on meaningful, socially conscious projects that clearly benefit others; travel to exotic places around the world (e.g., Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Nepal, Cambodia); little bureaucracy. - **Remote/Hybrid**: Offers both remote and in-office roles depending on the position (e.g., Data Scientist – Warsaw is in-office; Data Engineer – Cameroon is remote). Offices in USA, Kenya, Poland, and Malawi. - **Engineering Culture**: Values pragmatic innovation, learning through rapid experimentation, and working in highly demanding environments. Founders have strong technical backgrounds (NASA JPL, UC Berkeley, bioinformatics). ## Sources 1. [QED.ai Official Website](https://about.qed.ai/) 2. [QED.ai About Us](https://about.qed.ai/about-us) 3. [QED.ai Careers Page](https://about.qed.ai/careers) 4. [QED.ai LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quantitative-engineering-design) 5. [Built In - QED.ai Careers](https://builtin.com/company/qedai) 6. [Ashby Careers Page](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/qed-ai) ## Other roles at QED.ai - [ScanForm Country Lead - Cote d'Ivoire](https://feeny.ai/job/scanform-country-lead-cote-d-ivoire-qed-ai-cote-d-ivoire-prww27f7y22v) — Côte d'Ivoire - [ScanForm Operations Manager - Côte d'Ivoire](https://feeny.ai/job/scanform-operations-manager-cote-d-ivoire-qed-ai-cote-d-ivoire-h2bs597jea88) — Côte d'Ivoire - [Lead Infrastructure Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-infrastructure-engineer-qed-ai-warsaw-hvfhm9nbg2bc) — Warsaw, Poland - [Administrative Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/administrative-coordinator-qed-ai-malawi-8y6s594zvyr7) — Malawi - [High School STEM Teacher – Philippines to Malawi](https://feeny.ai/job/high-school-stem-teacher-philippines-to-malawi-qed-ai-philippines-ryvcxexa63mk) — Philippines - [Math Instructor - Early Years](https://feeny.ai/job/math-instructor-early-years-qed-ai-malawi-50epk7n45aba) — Malawi - [Math Instructor - Primary Years](https://feeny.ai/job/math-instructor-primary-years-qed-ai-malawi-e1jmva755nr9) — Malawi - [IT Operations Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/it-operations-specialist-qed-ai-warsaw-j6y70nc3bq6d) — Warsaw, Poland - [Data Scientist – Warsaw](https://feeny.ai/job/data-scientist-warsaw-qed-ai-warsaw-dche6y1jx53k) — Warsaw, Poland - [Assistant(e) d'impression - Côte d'Ivoire](https://feeny.ai/job/assistant-e-d-impression-cote-d-ivoire-qed-ai-cote-d-ivoire-snsg5ecz6jkw) — Côte d'Ivoire