Physics PhD - Research Specialist

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: Physics Domain Expert
Type: Contract
Compensation: $90–$140/hour
Location: Remote

Role Responsibilities

• Evaluate physics tasks and AI model outputs to identify flawed derivations and unjustified approximations.
• Write precise problem specifications and rigorous reference solutions reflecting real research physics practices.
• Design challenging, research-level problems and evaluation sets in your area of specialization.
• Collaborate with researchers and experts to turn tacit expert judgment into explicit, teachable criteria.
• Work independently and asynchronously to improve AI model performance.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• PhD in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, or a closely related field.
• Senior role such as faculty appointment, principal investigator, or senior scientist.
• Specialization in areas like condensed matter, high-energy physics, or astrophysics.
• Strong peer-reviewed publication record.
• Hands-on use of large language models and sound judgment in physics arguments.
• Excellent written communication skills.

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

• Upload resume
• AI interview based on your resume
• Submit form

Resources & Support

• For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
• For any help or support, reach out to: [email protected]

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.