Chemical Engineering PhD (STEM) Part-time

Chemical Engineering PhD (STEM)

$20-$50 per hour

Hourly contract

Remote

Mercor is seeking PhDs and PhD candidates in Chemical Engineering and related disciplines to join a high-impact AI research initiative with a leading AI lab. This role involves evaluating and improving cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) by contributing deep domain expertise and academic research insight to benchmark model performance in chemical engineering and technical disciplines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluate the accuracy, depth, and relevance of LLM-generated responses in your domain of expertise: Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in Chemical Engineering, Mass Transport and Separation Processes, Chemical Reaction Engineering.

• Design and review complex domain-specific tasks to rigorously test model capabilities.

• Provide structured, high-quality feedback on model strengths and weaknesses.

• Collaborate with AI researchers to identify model limitations and suggest improvements.

• Contribute to the development of benchmark datasets and evaluation protocols.

You're a Strong Fit if You Have:

• A PhD (or are currently a PhD candidate) in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related STEM field.

• Deep familiarity with current research, industrial applications, and open questions in:

  • Transport phenomena (momentum, heat, and mass transfer)

  • Reactor engineering and chemical kinetics

  • Separation technologies (distillation, extraction, adsorption, etc.)

• The ability to critically evaluate scientific reasoning, technical writing, and data-driven insights.

• Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail.

• Excellent written communication skills.

• Comfort working independently and asynchronously in remote teams.

Role Details:

• Part-time (10–20 hours/week), fully flexible hours.

• 100% remote and asynchronous—work on your own schedule from anywhere.

Compensation & Legal:

• Hourly contractor role via Mercor.

• Competitive pay based on expertise and domain, ranging from $20 to $50 per hour.

• Payments processed weekly through Stripe Connect.

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.